GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT // TRAINING TIPS FROM JON
to do with the prospects of winning or losing. I love playing teams where it doesn’t take all four players to repeatedly decide what shot to play and with players who are always ready to go when it is their turn to shoot. Against teams like this, we are assured of play-
Who is the teacher? T
By Jon Mielke, U.S. Curling News Columnist
here are teams that I love playing against in league games and others that I hate playing – and it has nothing
ing a full eight-end game in less than two hours. On the other hand, teams with players who are never ready when it is their turn – and where it oſten takes a caucus of all four team members to make basic strategy calls – make it difficult to get in even a six-end game before time runs out. Standing out on the ice to time-and-again wait for the other team to do something takes a lot of the fun out of the game. But how do new curlers learn basic rules and
proper etiquette? Some clubs wisely make basic rules and etiquette a part of their introductory Learn to Curl sessions. Tey may even have re- lated handouts for new members. In most cases, however, new curlers learn how to play the game and how to conduct themselves based on instruc- tions that they receive from their teammates. For a variety of reasons related instructions are never delivered or assimilated. It is hard to fault some- one for inappropriate behavior if he or she simply do not know any better. With these thoughts in mind, here are some
suggestions on rules and etiquette for both new and not-so-new curlers: Start on time – Many curlers seem to think
that a 7 p.m. start time means getting to the club by 7 p.m. It doesn’t! Get to the club early enough to get dressed, stretch, get to your sheet, shake hands, and be ready to deliver the first rock at the prescribed start time. Starting late means you probably won’t be able to play a whole game. Keeping everyone else waiting is not cool. Be ready to shoot when the preceding rock
comes to rest – Players are oſten out of position when it is their turn to shoot. Tey may be sit- ting on a bench at mid-sheet or they are off some- where looking for their slider. Except for skips, the next shooter on a team
4 ))
usacurl.org
should ideally be behind the hack when the op- posing player is delivering his/her stone. As soon as that player is sliding down the ice, the next shooter should move his/her rock into position next to the hack. Te rock should be cleaned and the player should be standing behind the hack waiting for the skip to call the next shot. As soon as the shot is called, the shooter should step into the hack and be ready to go. Quick math illus- trates that wasting an average of 10 seconds per shot will delay an eight-end game by 21 minutes (16 rocks per end x 8 ends x 10 seconds = 21 min- utes). Sweepers should also be in position and ready
for the next shot. Tey should be waiting just out- side the near hog line. When the opponent’s shot passes them, they should move toward the hack and be ready to go. Don’t waste everybody’s time by being out of position when it is your team’s turn to shoot. Yield the ice – All players need to remember
that the ice belongs to the opposing team as soon as your team’s rock comes to rest. Your team’s skip should get out of the house and stand behind the back line and the rest of your players should move to the sidelines between the hoglines. Don’t walk down the middle of the sheet toward the other end. Get out of the way and stand still. Don’t make the other team wait because you are in the way. Skips should think ahead – Skips need to pay
attention to what the other skip is calling. Even before their shot is thrown, think about what you will do if they make the shot. Don’t wait until their rock is thrown to start thinking about what you want to do. Skips can hone related skills by being famil-
iar with and employing SHEETZ (shot calling is influenced by the Score, who has the Ham- mer, what End is being played, the Environment [ice conditions, unmatched stones, etc.], Team’s abilities [yours and theirs], and Free Guard Zone strategies and tactics). Skips – think ahead and be ready to call the next shot. It is a huge time saver. Tirds contribute to shot calling only when
asked. Tey should constantly evaluate what is going on and should have their own idea of what shot to play. If the skip asks – have a quick and
definitive answer. Leads and seconds almost never go into the house to discuss shot options. Tese front-end players should go to the other end of the ice and move the skip’s stone to the hack in preparation for the next shot. Stay out of the house when the end is over –
When an end is over it is up to the thirds to agree on the resulting score. Other players should stay out of the house. Everyone is anxious to know the outcome, but it doesn’t speed things up if front- end players are in the house trying to measure stones with their brooms. Skips should move to the other end and leads and seconds should care- fully remove rocks that are not in question and get in position to start the next end. Timely play is everyone’s job – Make it one
of your personal and team goals to contribute to quick play. Playing fast does not mean that you have to hurry. It just means that you are paying attention to things that waste time. By paying attention to these details, you will actually find the game more enjoyable and you will be taking a major step toward honoring the spirit of the game. Curling ice is sacred – Curling ice is unlike
any other ice in the world. It is scraped flat and then pebbled with purified/deionized water that is heated to precise temperatures in an attempt to drive out oxygen and produce harder pebble that will last a whole game. Club volunteers go to great lengths to produce good ice that makes the game fun. Don’t spoil it by wearing dirty shoes or by kneeling on the ice at the end of your de- livery. Warm knees and hands melt pebble and produce flat spots in the ice. Tese flat spots even- tually lead to missed shots by both teams. And, remember to thank ice makers for all their work – they are universally over-worked, under-paid and under-appreciated. So, who is the teacher? Who helps new curl-
ers learn proper etiquette? Te quick and easy answer – we all do. Teaching and learning take place at Learn to Curl sessions, during games, and aſter games during broomstacking. It is done
Continued on Next Page
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