Rope commands at the stance
Keyword SeaN — four commands, always in this order. The letter case tells who calls:
- CAPS = leader calls (at the stance above): „Stand!“ and „Nachkommen!“
- lower case = second calls (waiting below): „Seil ein!“ and „Seil aus!“
Sequence after DAV teaching — sources: DAV: stance sequences on multi-pitch routes · Ortovox Safety Academy: party sequence
The sequence on the wall
Leader · topSecond · bottomStance built, tether clipped: I’m fixed / off belay — you can take me off belay.
Belay is off, the rope is free: take in the rest of the rope promptly.
That’s me / rope is out (tight): put me on belay now.
Second is on belay and the device is in hand: you’re on belay — unclip the tether, strip the stance, climb.
Tip: tap or hover the speech bubbles for details.
Sequence in detail
- ·Leaderbuilds the stance, clips in
Stance ready, personal tether clipped.
- 1Leader„Stand!“
I’m fixed / off belay — you can take me off belay.
- ·Secondtakes the belay off
Unclip the belay device, free the rope.
- 2Second„Seil ein!“
Seil ein-ziehen
Rope is free — take in the rest (take in / pull up).
- ·Leadertakes the rope in promptly
Stack it cleanly (pile / loops) until it’s tight.
- 3Second„Seil aus!“
Seil aus-gegangen
That’s me / rope is out — put me on belay.
- ·Leaderputs the second on belay
Right after taking in — clip the device and belay.
- 4Leader„Nachkommen!“
You’re on belay — you can climb.
- ·Secondanswers „Ich komme!“, starts climbing
Unclip the tether, strip the stance, collect the gear.
Extra calls on the pitch
- „Seil!“— give slack
- „Zieh!“— take in slack
- „Zu!“— tight / hold me (e.g. rest, rethread the lower-off)
- „Halt! / Block!“— stop and lock off now — emergency
- „Stein!“— rock! — falling stone
Extra calls usually come from the climber. In wind or without sight: agree hand or rope signals first — or stick to the four SeaN commands.
Half ropes & command strand
- Give rope signals on the more visible strand — that’s the command strand. Both know which strand “talks”.
- After „Seil ein!“ take in 3–4 m first (contact), then stack the rest promptly and tidy.
Several parties on the rock?
Always put the name first: „Anna — Stand!“
Exception: „Zu!“ and „Stein!“ — speed before formality here.
Sequence after DAV teaching. Experienced parties sometimes skip „Seil ein!“ — for learning we call all four. Reply to „Nachkommen!“: „Ich komme!“