NEW EDITION
These rules will be valid from 1 October 2026.
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The International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) is an opportunity for arborists to come together to showcase the profession through five preliminary events and a Masters’ Challenge. This 2026 edition of the Rule Book has been written to align with current industry best practices, with the emphasis placed on safety. ISA chapters’ and associate organizations’ adherence to this Rule Book will allow them to send one male and one female competitor to their regional competition and ITCC.
The Rule Book outlines the setup requirements, rules, and scoring criteria for Ascent Event, Throwline, Aerial Rescue, Work Climb, Belayed Speed Climb, and Masters’ Challenge. Also included are the scoresheets for all six events.
Knowledge of these rules will help any competitor avoid penalties and disqualification, potentially improving their score and experience. Additionally, the skills learned during the competition may improve safety knowledge and day-to-day work performance.
A free digital copy of the rules is available here.
If you are holding an event and have questions about ordering rule books, email ISA Customer Service or call +1.678.367.0981.
If you have any questions or suggestions that you would like sent to the ITCC Rules Committee, would like to volunteer your assistance at ITCC, and/or have an idea for how the event could be improved, email the ISA office at [email protected], call +1.678.367.0981, or write to ISA, 270 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1900, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.