Information
about Curling
Curlers get their “sea legs” on the
ice after their first several games.
It’s normally not difficult to get around on the ice. However, ice is ice, and if a curler is
careless, a fall can result in serious injury. New curlers are cautioned to be
very careful while moving or standing on the ice. Even experienced curlers should pay attention
to these cautions:
Step onto the ice with your “gripper” shoe,
and be careful! Never use your slider
foot to step onto the ice.
Always be very careful when stepping off the
ice. Curlers are more likely to slip or
fall when stepping onto or off the ice.
Never stop a stone with your hand. Your fingers can be crushed, especially if
the stone hits another stone while you’re trying to stop it! Never use your feet to stop a fast moving
stone. You could lose your balance and
fall. Use your broom or brush to stop a
stone.
Always carry your broom or brush, which you
can use to avoid or break a fall in case you lose your balance.
Never go onto the ice when your balance is
impaired from sickness, excessive alcohol, etc.
A fall can cause serious injury!
While sweeping, if you can’t keep up with a
fast shot, back off! Don’t risk a fall
on the ice.
When you first step onto the ice, take note of
the ice conditions. Sometimes the ice is
more slippery than normal. If so, use
extra caution while walking on the ice.
Always watch where you walk!
Responsibilities of the Skip:
The Skip is responsible for:
1. Having his/her rink present and
ready to curl at the appointed time.
2. Arranging a substitute as far in
advance as possible when he/she will be absent for a match and advising the third
of said substitution
3.
Ensuring the Match Secretary is advised of the match
result
Responsibilities
of the Third:
The Third is responsible for:
1. Knowing when s/he is to curl and
being on hand at the appointed time.
2. Arranging a substitute as far in
advance as possible when he/she will be absent for a match and advising the
skip of said substitution
3.
Posting
the score at the completion of each end and measuring stones when necessary to
determine scoring.
Responsibilities of the Second
1. Knowing when s/he is to curl and being on hand
at the appointed time.
2. Arranging a substitute as far in
advance as possible when he/she will be absent for a match and advising the
skip of said substitution
3.
Updating
the scorecard following the third’s agreement on the number of shots scored at
the completion of each end.
Responsibilities of the Lead
1. Knowing when s/he is to curl and being on hand
at the appointed time.
2. Arranging a substitute as far in
advance as possible when he/she will be absent for a match and advising the
skip of said substitution
3.
Tossing
coin with opposition lead to decide order of play and colour
of stones to be played.
General Rules:
§
In
delivering a stone, once you cross the tee line the stone is in play and your
may not return to the hack for another delivery
§
The
hand must be clearly off the handle before the stone completely (i.e. back
edge) passes over the near hog line.
§
A
stone must finish inside the inner edge (closest to the rings) of the far hog
line to be in play, except when it has hit another stone in play.
§
A
stone that completely crosses the back line or touches the side board or side
line is taken out of play.
§
Only
one player from each team may sweep behind the tee line. Only the Skip or Third
of the non-delivering team may sweep behind the tee line.
§
An
opposing team’s stone may only be swept behind the tee line.
§
The
delivering team has first right to sweep its stone behind the tee line, but
shall not prevent the non-delivering team from doing so.
§
Only
the Skip or Third of the non-delivering team may sweep their stones set in
motion by the delivering team.
§
The
sweeping motion must be from side to side across the stone’s running surface
and must not leave debris in front of a moving stone.
§
All
sweeping must take place no more than six feet in front of a stone in motion.
§ If you are sweeping and you burn a stone
(i.e. touch the stone with your broom, foot or any part of your body or
clothing) immediately remove the stone from play.
§ Only visual measurement of a stone,
to determine which is shot stone is permitted while an end is in play. A measuring device may be used only after an
end is completed. It should be used only
by the Third or neutral referee. No
object such as a hat, glove, broom etc. should be placed on a stone to identify
it for measurement.
§ Only the Third should be in the
house when the score for an end is being decided. Only they decide the score and post it on the
scoreboard.
§ If any stone in question is moved
before the agreement by both Thirds then the team moving the stone is assumed
to have lost the measurement.
§ It is everyone's responsibility to
keep their sheet of ice clean and free of loose broom hair, lint, etc.
§ The toss of a coin will determine
position (first or last stone) and color of stones played.
§ Winner of the coin toss selects
either to have the first or last stone in the first end OR choice of stone
colour.
§ Loser of the coin toss has remaining
choice (position or colour).
§ Stones touching the sidelines or
sideboards should immediately be taken out of play.
The Spirit of
Curling
Curling is
a game of skill and traditions. A shot well executed is a delight to see and
so, too, it is a fine thing to observe the time-honored tradition of curling
being applied in the true spirit of the game.
Curlers play to win but
never to humble their opponents. A true curler would prefer to lose rather than
win unfairly. A good curler never attempts to distract an opponent or otherwise
prevent him/her from playing his/her best.
No curler ever deliberately
breaks a rule of the game or any of its traditions. But, if he/she should do so
inadvertently and be aware of it, he/she is the first to divulge the
breach.
While the main object of
curling is to determine the relative skills of the players, the spirit of the
game demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling, and honorable conduct.
This spirit should
influence both the interpretation and application of the rules of the game, and
also the conduct of all participants on and off the ice.
General Curling Etiquette
In addition to the “Rules of the Game”, there are rules of
etiquette that every conscientious curler should observe. These unwritten rules give a curler a feeling
of well being and aid in the retention of the historic dignity of the
game. Every highly respected curler
observes these courtesies.
1.
Be on time! You should be at the
ice rink at least 15 minutes before your game. If you are late, you hold up
seven other curlers. Delays can be very
annoying and upsetting. If you must be
late, or absent, let your skip know as soon as possible so s/he can take
appropriate action.
2.
If you are the skip and your team is unable to play a scheduled event,
advise the opposing skip as soon as possible.
Avoid the hard feelings created when one team is waiting to play and the
other team fails to show.
3.
All curlers should appear on the ice with clean footwear. Footwear used outdoors should not be used on
the ice.
4.
When you arrive at the appointed time on the scheduled ice, greet each member
of the opposing team with a hearty handshake, wishing him/her good curling.
5.
Once the game has started, avoid disturbing a curler in the hack. Keep a reasonable distance, be silent, and
motionless. S/he must be able to
concentrate on the shot.
6.
By deed or word, do nothing to distract or disturb the concentration of a
player, particularly your opponents.
7.
Be ready to take your position in the hack as soon as your opponent has
delivered his/her stone..
8.
Under no circumstances cross the ice when a stone is being played or when a
player is in the hack.. When not sweeping or throwing their stones, the Lead
and Second should remain between the hog lines and well to the side of the ice
lane.
9.
When your turn comes to sweep, look as though you are interested. Be on the ice ready to sweep.
10.
Keep your mind on your own game, never mind the score on the big game next
door. Keep alert and pay attention to
every shot played in your game. Paying
attention to your own game will help with your knowledge of the ice.
11.
Be ready to commence sweeping immediately after your teammate releases the
stone. Avoid having to run from one hog
line to the other before your can start seeping.
12.
Avoid gathering around the hack or house when the opponent is preparing to make
a shot. As a sweeper, your position is
on the side lines between the hog lines.
13.
A Skip standing in the house should keep reasonably still, doing nothing to
disturb concentration of the opposing player in the hack.
14.
Compliment a good shot by either side. A
curler never passes an adverse remark about a poor shot nor does s/he smile at
an opponent’s misfortune.
15.
Encourage your teammates and build their confidence, but avoid giving advice,
unless it is asked for.
16.
As a gentleman/woman – extend the same courtesy and consideration to other
curlers that you would expect of them.
17. Once you have delivered a stone, do not lie, kneel or
press your fingers on the ice as your body heat will melt into the ice.
18. At the end of the game, win or lose, give each of your opponents a
hearty handshake, thanking him/her for the game.
Stones are identified by the color
of the large disc on the top. E.g. one
team plays the red stones and the opposing team uses the yellow
In curling, each stone represents a
potential point as long as it is anywhere in or touching the rings. If a stone, say red, is to count, it must be
closer to the center of the rings than any yellow stone. Even if there are five or six yellows in the
house, but a red stone is closer to the center, the red team will count a
single point. A team will receive one
point for each of its stones that is closer to the center of the house than the
opponent’s closet stone.
The Scoreboard
|
RED |
4 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCORE |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
Blank Ends |
|
YELLOW |
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
The Score – the score is represented by the
numerals in the center strip of the scoreboard.
The Ends – A tab bearing the number of the
end played is placed above or below the center numerals to represent the total
points scored by the team up to and including that end. For instance, in the 6th end, the
red team scored five points, bringing their total score up to 7. The red team had previously scored a point in
each of the 4th and 5th ends.
Scoring – For any end in which the red team
scores, a tab bearing the number of the end is hung above the numeral
representing the total score for the red team up to that point. Similarly, the score for the yellow team is
recorded below the numerals. Thus the
scoreboard above reveals that at the conclusion of the 8th end, the
score is 10-7 in favor of the yellow team.
Blank Ends – In case of a blank end where
neither team has scored, the tab bearing the number of the end is hung on a
nail provided on the left side or right side of the scoreboard. In the game scored above, the third end was
blank.
Summary – Although this system is somewhat
complex, it is nevertheless possible, once you understand it, to enter a rink
late in the match and a glance at the scoreboard will give you an end by end
account of the game up to that point. It
is really simple if you remember this:
There are two sets of numbers:
1.
Center numbers representing the total score
2.
Numbers above and below center, representing the ends.