// BONUS ONLINE-ONLY COVERAGE Are you ready for a Stack the Brooms Bonspiel? By Carl Thomas, Kayuta Lake Curling Club


2000, you would have played a much longer game. It was common for games to last 16 or 18 ends and last all day. But, how could that be? Especially since these games were played outdoors? T e answer, they didn’t play the full game in a single session, they stacked the brooms, or broomstacked. Stacking the brooms


I It was common to stack the brooms – that is, all players leave the ice and


go get warm. T is typically included a hot snack and a chance to socialize with the other team. Aſt er the players warmed up and replenished their curling spirit, the


game would continue. While the teams were stacking brooms, lots of things would happen. Ice conditions would change, a team with momentum may lose it, etc. Games were typically played with several broomstacking breaks. T is resulted in game resets, much like the halſt ime break does in football. Club records indicate heated debate about shortening games and elimi-


nating broomstacking, with many advocating that those actions would ir- reparably harm the roaring game. But with curling moving indoors, time constraints and other considerations, games were eventually shortened to eight ends, and the tradition of broomstacking has been eliminated from standard play. Can broomstacking be reintroduced without eff ecting bonspiel sched-


’ve always been interested in how curling has changed over the years. One interesting aspect is the length of the game has consistently been shortened. If you curled around the turn of the century, 1900 not


ules? Yes, it can, by running two games simultaneously. A typical draws al-


lots two hours for a game followed by a second draw. Imagine instead, two draws scheduled for four hours with broomstacking aſt er four ends. Draw A plays four ends and stacks brooms; while Draw A is broomstacking, Draw B takes the ice for their fi rst four ends. Draw B then broomstacks while Draw A completes their game, followed by Draw B completing their game. T e traditional aſt er game roundtable is held as each draw completes their game respectfully.


T e result Each game has played eight ends, and both games have had a one-hour


broomstacking, then completed their game. T e total time for the two draws doesn’t change. T e time allocated to play two eight-end draws is still four hours. A bonspiel can easily be set up to accommodate these draw changes. T is restores the lost tradition of broomstacking without eff ecting bon-


spiel scheduling. It provides the game reset that was such an important part of curling, and allows additional opportunity for the teams to socialize, which is a major reason we all love this game. I can see this being implemented into a standard bonspiel or club event


easily, and it can create a fun change from the standard go out and play eight ends game. Spicing up the game is good to make events fun for your members. Are you planning your next club bonspiel? Make it a stack the brooms


bonspiel. ■


USCA Director profi le


Russ Brown, Illinois Region Who: Russ Brown Region representing: Illinois Curling Association Club: Exmoor Curling Club Education: Bachelor’s degree in fi nance from Indiana University Occupation: Director of fi nance with Highland Park Presbyterian Church


Married, one daughter


Club and regional committee positions: • •


Exmoor CC’s Curling Chairman Exmoor CC representative to Illinois Curling Association


National/World competitive curling achievements: • Ten Illinois state men’s titles •


Nine appearances at the U.S. Club National Championships • Represented U.S. at 2014 World Senior Championships


To view the full biographies for Russ and Bill, as well as other USCA directors, visit the USA Curling website, www.usacurl.org.


USCA Director profi le


Bill Stopera, Athletes Advisory Council Who: Bill Stopera Representative: Athletes Advisory Council Club: Ardsley CC (New York) Year started curling & where: 1976 at the Schenectady (New York) CC Education: Northeastern University Occupation: Works in the insurance industry Bill and his wife have two children USCA Committee(s): Site Selection Committee


Club, regional and other curling committee positions: • Ardsley CC Board of Directors • Briarcliff Little League Board member • Westchester County Independent Insurance Association


National/World Competitive Curling Achievements: •


• •


2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (bronze medal) 2016 Club Nationals champion


2012 U.S. Men’s National Champion (8th at World Champion- ship)


38 usacurl.org ))


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40