Vertical caving terminology and methods > Ladders, climbs and older techniques
An alternative to belaying, which can only be used for climbs that are not far from the ground, with a surface below that the climber can safely land on. The spotter is a person who stands beneath the climber. If the climber falls, the spotter's job is not normally to catch the climber (unless the climber is very light weight, and the fall is very short). Instead, they should help the climber land in a more comfortable position, preferably on their feet with their centre of gravity over them, rather than on their back or head. The spotter might also help the climber not to fall over after they have managed to land on their feet. Spotting only works if the spotter is strong enough to actually rotate the climber as they fall, and fast enough to react correctly without injuring either themselves or the climber. The usual spotting stance is with one foot in front of the other, with arms raised towards the climber, ready to guide the climber's fall or reorient them. Typically, this is accomplished by supporting their hips or lower back. Learning to spot a climber takes practice. The term comes from the climbing world, where it is typically used for bouldering, with a crash mat. The use of crash mats is unheard of in caving, and comfortable floors are an uncommon luxury, so while this approach is used underground, it is restricted to heights and locations where the climber is unlikely to get injured by landing directly on the cave floor.
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