For indoor rock climbing, are my feet suppose to stay on the route or can I put my feet on any route hold

Of all the sad questions, on all of the sites...

It depends on your goal. You need to use only the marked holds if your aim is to climb the route to achieve that route is rating. Otherwise, if you use extra non-designated holds to climb it, then the rating becomes moot.

Use marked holds if you want to achieve a rated route. If you're a beginner and want to get familiar with holds, techniques, etc. then it does not matter what holds you use.

Happy climbing!

The colored tags on the bolted holds in an indoor rock climbing are designed to be an etude, or a puzzle, so obviously using any other tagged holds defeats the purpose of it, not that it is against any law. Cimbers will frequently stand on or grab another hold if they get in a bad way, sure. However, you're allowed to make any use of the WALL itself, such as smear holds. That is fair game.

First & foremost climbing is an interpretive dance -do what feels comfortable, especially when beginning. Climbing is about exploring possiblities & gaining confidence which should be ur primary focus before entering the ego world of grades & ratings (5.whatever v-whatever). However to formally answer ur question; typically gym problems or routes r taped to narrow the choice of usable holds. In the world of plastic/indoor climbing there r 2 standard methods of climbing a taped route 1. Follow the tape with ur hands (any feet allowed) 2. Follow taped holds with hands & feet -tracking. Usually the problem will specify this.

depends, are you just trying to make it up the wall or are you trying to stick to that particular marked route? If your goal is to accomplish a particular route, then your hands and feet must not stray from the color tagged holds. and if a route is marked near a crack or opposing wall, it will tell you whether or not the route is intended for use of the crack or opposing wall. it is all about what you're trying to accomplish.

it depends on who put up the route. Using any holds for feet is called ''open feet''. Other routes r made for ''tracking'' which means only the marked hold for hands & feet. Climbing a tracking route using open feet means u have not really done the route, but maybe it brings a tough route down to ur level. Vice-versa, & you're styling!

Ask the staff person who set up the route, or any staff person, as the gym probably has a standard. Usually it is tracking only, but some of the bouldering routes could be open feet.