Calls for climbers and belayers

When climbing or rappelling, it’s very important for the person on the rock to communicate well with his belayer. To do this, they use “calls.”

Here are some of the generally accepted signals for belaying climbers and rappellers.

For more on climbing, see “About Time” in the March 2008 issue of Boys’ Life magazine.

Signals for Belaying Climbers

• “On Belay?” — Is the belay ready?
• “Belay on.” — Your belay is ready.
• “Climbing.” — Here I come.
• “Climb” or “Climb on.” — Come ahead.
• “Slack.” — I need some slack in the rope.
• “Up rope.” — Take in the loose rope.
• “Falling!” — I’m falling! Brake the rope!
• “Tension.” — Hold the rope tightly in case I fall.
• “Got you.” — There’s tension on the rope.
• “Ready to lower.” — Lower me down the route.
• “Lowering.” — I’m letting you down now.
• “Rock!” — Look out for falling objects.
• “Rope!” — Rope being thrown down.
• “Off Belay.” — I’m in a safe place and no longer need a belay.
• “Off Belay.” — I’m no longer belaying you.

Signals for Belaying Rappellers

• “On belay?” — Is the belay ready?
• “Belay on.” — I’m ready to belay.
• “Rappelling.” — Your belay is ready.
• “Rappel on.” — Go ahead.
• “Falling!” — I’m falling! Brake the rope!
• “Off belay.” — I am done rappelling and am in a safe place.
• “Belay off.” — I’m no longer belaying you.
• “Off rappel” or “Off rope.” — The rope is free of hardware and is ready for the next rappeller, and I am in a safe place out of the fall zone.