GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT // REPORTS FROM THE WARM ROOM What's your club's approach?


By Kim Nawyn, Director of Growth & Development, kim.nawyn@usacurl.org


capitalize on the surge in interest the Games typically bring to the sport. Some clubs will likely end up with dozens of new curlers joining leagues. According to results from the recent USCA Growth & Development Survey, approaches to training these new curlers will vary among member clubs. While some groups rely on informal assistance by club members to train


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new curlers in open houses or leagues, a growing number of organizations are providing structured training options. Several respondents suggested that classes or new curler training leagues are a necessary component of successful recruitment and retention efforts. One club in the Midwest noted, “We put a lot of focus on providing training for first year curlers because we think it helps retention.”Another stressed that training rook- ies is “critical.” A club on the East Coast described its training program as follows: “We hold ‘curling school,’ which is divided into six segments. Te first two are strongly encouraged for all of our first-year curlers. Te remaining four are voluntary, but cover many more topics in-depth. At the end of the season, the ‘graduates’ (those who attend five or six of the ses- sions) are recognized and given a pin and certificate at the annual closing meeting and awards presentation.” Another club stated, “Two years ago we converted the Tuesday night league to a first half instructional league. Te second half is a new curler league skipped by experienced club members.” As shown in Table 1: Training Programs Available to Rookie Curlers,


about half of all respondents hold one time only learn-to-curl classes that are not part of an open house. For some clubs, this is just one component of a broader training initiative. A respondent from a dedicated club on the East Coast described their clinic, which is now offered in lieu of traditional open houses formerly hosted by the club. “[W]e give them a 20-30 minute speed lesson in safety, delivery, sweeping & rules then [introduce them to] a game simulation. We have eliminated open houses in favor of this model – which generated substantial revenue while creating a membership wait- ing list pool.” A club in the Midwest has expanded this concept to a series of two classes held in conjunction with a multiple week rookie league.


pon publication of this edition of the U.S. Curling News, the 2014 Olympic Winter Games should be well underway. Many clubs will be in the midst of recruitment efforts designed to


“[L]ast season we had multiple [learn-


to-curl events], each session consist- ing of 2 Friday nights of more intensive training for beginners (typically non club members) than time and logistics will allow at an open house.” Several clubs stressed the difficulty of finding ice time for training and/or


volunteers willing and able to run such programs. One respondent noted, “Because of limitations in access to arena ice, the most common approach is learning as they play with help from experienced curlers.” Working with experienced curlers who are willing to actively and constructively mentor new curlers can be a very effective learning tool. Assigning new curlers to teams willing to put in the effort is key. Several examples of training programs previously developed by clubs


have been posted to the “Growing a Club” link on the USA Curling website, which can be found in the Clubs/Growth and Development section (http:// www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Clubs/Growth-and-Development/Grow- ing-a-Club). As the USCA attempts to grow the library of such resources available to members, we encourage all member clubs to share additional programs and materials. Please feel free to contact me at kim.nawyn@ usacurl.org if your club has program outlines or other resources it would be willing to share with fellow curlers throughout the nation. Table 1: Training Programs Available to Rookie Curlers


Type of Program


One-Time Only Learn to Curl Class (e.g., not part of open house, curlers must sign up to attend)


Series of Two or More Learn-to-Curls Classes


New Curler League (e.g., league designed for rookie curlers with built in training componenents, 5-and-under league with training)


Formal Skill Development Programs Clinics for Novice Curlers


Formal Mentorship


Dedicated Ice Arena Ice 48%


62.5% 32% 38% 40.6% 28.1%


28% 9.8%


28.1% 46.9%


6 )) usacurl.org


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