DISCOVER CURLING

DISCOVER CURLING

© 2015 Curling Canada & World Curling Federation

Notice of Liability

The information in this book is distributed on an “As Is” basis,

without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the
preparation of the book, neither the Curling Canada or the World
Curling Federation shall have any liability to any person or entity
with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be
caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this
book.

i
Interactive 1.1 Important Curling Terminology

Hog Line House

Hacks

Centre Line Tee Line

Side Line Free Guard Zone

Back Line

GAME ORIENTATION
To maximize your enjoyment of this great sport, We also recommend becoming familiar with all
it is important to become familiar with some of the basic rules and terminology of the game.
fundamental aspects of the game such as the
following:

Equipment and its proper care

Ice and Stones

Game Procedures and Objectives

Curling Etiquette

2
CURLING EQUIPMENT

during the delivery. Quickness of the sliding

Types of Equipment
surface becomes important as the curler’s ability
Curling, like every sport, requires the correct to slide develops and improves. While it is quite
equipment to ensure safety, success and acceptable to learn how to slide and to develop
comfort. There are various levels of quality confidence with a material that is not overly fast,
reflected by ranges in price. once the basics have been learned reasonably
well, the curler should progress to a less
Footwear resistant material that will allow for a much longer
slide delivery.
To b e a b l e t o
deliver a stone The sliding shoe should only be worn on the
with a flat footed curling ice. Protectors should be placed over the
slide, a curler slider to prevent damage to it while walking off
requires a proper the ice. A very effective type of slider protector
sliding shoe, one is made of soft rubber. It can also double as a
having a slick, low friction material that covers gripper or anti-slider for the sliding shoe when
the entire sole and heel. the curler is brushing.

Various types of slider materials are available. While a slider is essential, it is equally important
One example of a synthetic material that is very to have the non-sliding shoe equipped with a
popular is Teflon plastic. Teflon sliders come in a surface that will grip the ice well. Common types
variety of thicknesses. Generally, the thicker the of grippers/anti-sliders are soles made of a
Teflon, the faster the slider. Stainless steel pebbled type of rubber or those made of soft
sliders are the “fastest” sliders available and crepe-like rubber.
are used by a small percentage of players.
Brushes
Entry level curlers may begin with a low-friction
plastic tape applied to the sole of an athletic Synthetic brushes are the most popular and
shoe. Duct tape, or any type of plastic tape may are usually made with a nylon fabric. Brushes
be used. Plastic tape has reasonably good are also made with either hog hair or horse hair.
sliding properties but is not overly fast, allowing Various adaptations to the “standard” brush
the beginner to adjust to develop balance easily. including handle shape, handle width and brush
It is important that both the sole and the heel of head angle have been made by manufacturers
the sliding shoe are covered with the sliding in their attempts to make brushing easier and
material because both are in contact with the ice more effective.

3
Brush heads come in assorted sizes and Clothing
shapes. Variable handle/head angle brushes are
the most common. Brush handles come in Most of the top competitive teams
different sizes but common dimensions are forty- wear matching slacks and jackets.
eight inches (120 cm) in length and one inch (2.5 Slacks need to allow for easy
cm) in diameter. Handles may be made of wood movement during the delivery.
or fibreglass.
Jackets that allow for layers of
Gloves clothing underneath are very
popular. It is important
Gloves and mitts provide that the clothes are warm and
warmth and protection allow for ease of movement.
for the hands during
When choosing clothing it
brushing. The palm of
is important to choose
the glove should be made of
clothing that does not shed
a material that will grip the brush
lint on the ice. For that
handle and not slip.
reason, wool sweaters and

4
ICE AND STONES

Pebble actually be detrimental by slowing down the

stone because more of the running edge is in
contact with the ice and the cup must cut
through the rough, protruding edges of such
pebble.

There are three inevitable results as the crests of

pebble become worn down with the passage of
stones up and down the sheet and by
brushing:

The ice becomes keener (less stone speed

required).

It is important to have some idea of how and why The stone curls more as the pebble wears down
a sheet of curling ice is prepared prior to play. and more of the running surface contacts the
Factors that determine the “weight” or “speed” ice. With a large portion of the running edge in
and “curl” of the ice include ice temperature, contact with the ice surface, friction will be
humidity, and type of pebble applied to the ice increased.
surface.
When the pebble is worn down even more until it
Pebble is the many tiny frozen bumps found on is almost flat, the ice may become heavier since
the surface of the ice. They vary in size, texture much of the running surface is now contacting
and amount. Pebble is applied by a special type the ice.
of handheld sprinkler. Generally, pebble is put on
the ice surface before the start of each game. Curling Stones
Pebble has a tremendous influence on “draw
A curling stone is circular in shape, made of
weight” because the delivered stone, as it
hard, dense granite and weighs approximately
travels along the ice, rides on top of the pebble.
40 to 42 pounds (20kg). A curling stone must be
Without pebble most curlers would be unable to
able to resist abrasion, be uniform in colour and
throw the stone hard enough for it to reach the
non-absorbent. This latter quality is very
house at the distant end of the sheet. Pebble
important because moisture penetrating a stone
raises the cup at the bottom of the stone off the
and then freezing will cause chipping of the
surface and allows only a portion of the stone to
stone.
be in contact with the ice. Too much pebble can

5
 The dull grey band around the greatest
circumference of the stone is the striking band
and is designed to absorb the shock when one
stone strikes another. On a new stone the
striking band is a slightly convex shape.

Over years of pounding, the striking band may

wear away to a flatter contact surface. Flat spots
on the striking bands are caused when the
granite beneath the surface has been crushed
as a result of an extreme impact. Eventually the
outside granite will break loose and a large
Each side of a curling stone has a concave area
chunk will be missing from the outside of the
commonly referred to as the cup. The edge of
stone. When chunks come out of the striking
the cup is appropriately called the running edge
band, the stones are non-repairable.
and it is this thin edge that actually contacts the
ice surface. Proper care of curling stones is essential.
Curlers should not take the stones off the ice
The running edge is not polished like the rest of
surface. The running edges can be easily
the stone, but is comparatively rough. For
damaged from contact with abrasive surfaces.
curling to be played correctly the running edge
The ice technician is the only person who should
must never be allowed to wear smooth or be
decide where the stones are to be placed when
damaged. When the running surface has
they are off the ice surface. Curlers need to be
become smooth from wear, the stone must be
encouraged to keep the playing surface as clean
reconditioned to restore a like-new running edge.
as possible by ensuring their footwear is clean.
When the edge loses its texture, the stone will
curl very little because there is nothing on the
edge to cause friction with the ice. As a result,
the stones will glide a lot further when they are
slowing down, making it difficult to judge weight
when delivering or brushing.

6
GAME PROCEDURES & OBJECTIVES

A curling team consists of four players, each LEAD: The lead must be able to draw effectively
delivering two stones during an interval called at all times and to execute take-outs. Both the
an end. When completed, a total of sixteen lead and the second should be strong brushers
stones have been delivered. because they have the responsibility of brushing
stones delivered by both the third and skip.
The lead is the first player to deliver two
Effective brushers therefore, require strength and
stones, alternating with the opposing lead.
endurance.
When the lead has delivered his second stone,
he then takes over brushing duties with the SECOND: The second must be able to execute
number three player while the second player take-outs well. Good seconds are noted for
delivers two stones alternately with the opposing their ability to execute peels, run throughs,
second. In turn, the third delivers two stones double take-outs, hit and rolls, etc., and yet
that are brushed by the lead and second. The provide perfect draw weight when called upon.
fourth player, known as the skip, is the last to
THIRD: The third is usually the vice-skip and is
deliver two stones while a player designated by
a very key member on any successful team. The
the skip – called the vice-skip or mate takes
third must possess the knowledge and shot-
over the skipping duties. The skip stands within
making ability of the skip and also be an
the circles (called the “house”) at the end of the
effective brusher. Thirds must be able to execute
ice opposite to the delivery end and directs the
delicate shots with precision and hopefully make
play except when it is his/her turn to deliver.
the end easier for the skip who otherwise may
The opposing team must yield the ice to the have to function under great pressure. The third
team whose stone is being delivered and must must be able to anticipate the path of the skip’s
not interfere in any way. The opposing skip stones very well as they play a major role in
remains behind the house to watch the calling the line (direction) for their team’s last
opposition stone being played in order to study two stones.
the action of the stone in motion.
SKIP: The skip is the team leader who calls
Curling success depends upon the cooperative strategy and determines where the brush, which
efforts of all four players on a team. It is is the thrower’s target, should be placed. Skips
important that each player is content with his or must be able to execute shots with poise, finesse
her role. Because of the strategy required in and confidence. The skip’s responsibility is to
d i r e c t i n g t h e p l a y, t h e s k i p m u s t b e manage the overall performance of the team by
knowledgeable on strategy and have a good maximizing their various skills.
memory for ice reading.

7
 Baseball type score boards are used as well.
Game Objectives and Scoring
The numbers on the board represent the end,
The basic object of curling is to complete each numbers hung indicate points scored.
end with your stones closer to the centre of the
house (circles) than those of your opponent.
Generally, competitive games are ten ends and
most club games are eight ends. At the
conclusion of each end, the team with the stone
closest to the centre of the house scores one Measuring
point, and then scores an additional point for
every other stone closer to the centre than the At the conclusion of an end, if the two vice-skips
closest stone belonging to the opposing team. cannot agree as to which stone is closer to the
Stones must be in or touching the house to be centre, the stones must be measured. The vice-
potential counters. skips do the measuring in most games. In some
competitions however, an official will measure
The vice-skips determine the score at the the stones.
conclusion of the end, and must agree or
request a decision by an official or another
person not playing in the game. All other players
must stay out of the house at the conclusion of
an end until the vice-skips have determined the
score.

Score Boards

There are two types of score boards that are

currently in use. The traditional score board has
the score in the middle and a place to hang the
marker indicating in which end the scoring Prior to a measurement taking place:
occurred.
• Remove all other stones from the playing
surface.

• Only the vice-skips are in the house, all

other players move out of the house.

• Carefully place the feet of the measuring

stick on the ice and then the end of the
measuring stick in the centre hole location
(tee) and slide the instrumented end
slowly towards the first stone, get a

8
 reading, then move slowly forward to the At times, it is not possible to visually determine if
second stone to be measured. a stone is in the house or in the free guard
zone. This possible counter may be measured
• Opposition vice-skip should be on the during the end, if it is prior to the delivery of the
same side of the measuring stick as the
fifth stone and the skips need to determine if the
person doing the measuring, so that they
stone is in the free guard zone. A six-foot
can observe the reading.
measuring stick is used to determine if a stone
• Set the dial first on the odd coloured is in the house and therefore a potential
stone when performing a three stone counter.
measure.

9
CURLING ETIQUETTE & PROCEDURES

• Curlers must have clean, appropriate footwear • Players not involved in delivering or sweeping
that does not damage or affect the quality of should stand along the sides of the sheet
the playing surface. between the hog lines, well out of play. When
you finish sweeping, walk along the sides of
• Most curling clubs discourage players from
the sheet as you return to the delivery end.
bringing food and refreshments onto the ice
surface. • Only skips and vice-skips are allowed to
congregate behind the tee line. They should
• Curling games begin and end with all
stay still and ensure their brooms are not on
opposing players individually shaking hands.
the ice when the opposition is preparing to
• At the beginning of the game, opposing vice- throw.
skips (thirds, mates) will toss a coin to decide
• At the conclusion of an end, all players should
last stone advantage.
remain outside of the house until the vice-
• Always be ready when it is your turn to deliver. skips have agreed upon the score.

• When the opposition is preparing for delivery, • Be very careful when pushing stones into the
stand well to the side of the sheet between the corners in preparation for the next end. Ensure
hog lines (courtesy lines if installed) and be that all players are made aware of any stone
careful not to distract them in any way. being pushed in their direction.

10
2

DELIVERY
There are many variations of the delivery currently being employed by players across the world. We
suggest that the entry level curler use the flat footed, no lift delivery.

Learning Progression
The curling delivery is a complex activity that requires the coordination of a number of different body
movements. To correctly develop the delivery, every curler should divide the skill into specific
phases of development:

Delivery A Stance, forward slide from the hack (without a stone).

Delivery B Entire pullback and forward motion combined with the forward slide (initially without a

stone and then with a stone).

11
Delivery C Entire delivery motion (with a No Lift Delivery
stone) including grip, turns, release and line of
delivery. New curlers and experienced curlers alike, will
find that balance and timing problems are
Flat Foot Slide reduced when they do not have to concentrate
on swinging a 40 pound granite stone off the
The flat-footed slide is the recommended method
ice.
of delivery because it provides for optimum
balance by allowing the weight of the body to be Line of delivery problems are frequently
distributed over the entire under-surface of the reduced with a no lift delivery. The stone is
sliding foot. The flat foot slide places less stress placed on the line of delivery during the stance
on the knee than do a number of other deliveries. and it should stay on this line during the pullback
motion, forward slide and the release. This
approach makes consistently hitting the target
brush at the far end much easier to attain.

12
DELIVERY LESSON A

Delivery Lesson A introduces the stance, hip (metatarsus) firmly and squarely against the
elevation and the forward slide. back of the hack.

Stance Sliding Foot

The initial positioning of the body in the hack

prior to the delivery is commonly referred to as
stance, and is of primary importance if the
delivery is to be successful.

Proper stance involves:

• placement of hack and sliding foot

• positioning of knees, hips and thighs

The sliding foot is positioned flat on the ice,
• position of delivery arm and brush arm
parallel to but slightly ahead of the hack foot.
Hack Foot The heel of the sliding foot is approximately
adjacent to the toe of the hack foot. Body type
may impact the positioning slightly for each
curler. It is necessary to have some body weight
on both feet, so that both legs can assist in
elevating the hips.

The sliding foot needs to be parallel to the hack

foot and placed so that during the pullback and
back-step motions the foot can move straight
back.

One of the keys to the line of delivery in the

slide is the placement of the gripper foot in the
hack. Always step into the hack from behind.
While stepping into the hack, ensure that the foot
is pointing to the target. Place the ball of the foot

13
Shoulders and Hips Delivery Arm

When the curler enters the hack ready to assume The delivery arm must be comfortably extended
the stance position, the shoulders and hips at all times, without rigidity or tension. The arm is
should be parallel with the line of delivery. in front of the body, elbow down and hand in a
handshake position. The stone is placed just far
When lowering the body into the stance position,
enough forward to allow for the comfortable
it is important to keep the thighs parallel to the
extension of the arm. During the Delivery Lesson
line of delivery to help keep the hips square to
A, you will deliver without a stone. When the
the target.
stone is introduced later, the stone will be
placed directly on the line of delivery. The line
Upper Body
of delivery extends from the target at the far end
to the middle of the hack foot.

Balance Arm

The knee of the hack foot is kept off the ice,

enabling the trunk, head and shoulders to
maintain a fairly upright position. The shoulders
must be level and square. The head should be
The major sources for balance in the stance
erect with the eyes concentrated on the target.
position are the positioning of the hack foot and
the sliding foot. However, positioning of the
balance arm during the stance and forward slide
is also important. There are at least three

14
positions for the balance arm that will assist with 3. Some curlers prefer to have the brush
balance. flat on the ice. This method will assist
with stability but in many cases it forces
1. Stretch the brush arm out comfortably
the upper part of the curler’s body to be
from the body with the brush handle
very low. An adaptation to the brush flat
extending under the arm toward the
on the ice is to use a delivery device
back. The head of the brush should be
such as “The Crutch” or “The Stabilizer”.
resting lightly on the ice, slightly ahead
of the sliding foot. The brush head is
inverted so that the brush head is facing
up and the wooden/plastic part of the
brush is resting on the ice. The wooden/
plastic side of the brush head sliding on
the ice produces less friction than if the
brush head was in contact with the ice.


2. Curlers who have difficulty keeping the


brush handle against their back during
The top bar of these delivery aids is the
the forward slide should bend the arm
same height as the stone handle. They
slightly so that the upper arm may be
therefore assist the curler to keep the
used to hold the brush handle tightly
upper body erect and their shoulders
against the back to assist in achieving
level.
stability.

15
Stance Review

• Step into the hack from the rear.

• Line up hack foot with the target.

• Place ball of the gripper foot firmly against

the back of the hack.

• Place sliding foot slightly ahead and

parallel to the hack foot.

• Ensure both thighs are parallel to the line

of delivery.

• Position shoulders level and square to the

line of delivery.

• Position the upper body in an erect

position with eyes looking at the target.

• Place the stone directly on the line of

delivery.

• Ensure your balance arm is correctly

positioned.

16
Forward Slide Balance Arm Position

The key to a successful curling delivery is to

develop a smooth, balanced forward slide. From
a balanced position it will be easier to
accomplish the consistent line of delivery and
release motion needed to make shots.

Sliding Foot Position

As the body comes forward from the hack, the

brush should be positioned with the handle
extending toward the small of the back and the
brush head resting along the top of the ice. The
brush head must be positioned ahead of the
sliding foot during the entire sliding motion. A
brush head, even with or behind the sliding foot,
may have a tendency to turn the curler’s
The main element for balance in the delivery is shoulders off line. Curlers using a sliding device
the position of the sliding foot. The sliding foot also need to keep the hand position slightly
should be positioned under the body’s vertical ahead of the sliding foot.
axis between the chest and the abdomen during
the entire sliding motion. The sliding foot is flat Delivery Arm
on the ice with the weight of the body distributed
The delivery arm and hand should remain
over the sole and heel. The sliding foot should
comfortably extended in front of the curler, with
be turned out slightly to increase the surface
the hand off the ice surface once balance has
base and therefore enhance the stability of the
been achieved.
slide.

17
Trailing Leg Upper Body Position

The trailing leg and foot should be extended A fairly upright position is preferred as it allows a
behind the body as far as possible during the correct grip and a high wrist position over the
f o r w a rd s l i d e . T h e p o s i t i o n i s i n i t i a l l y handle of the stone to produce a consistent
accomplished by flipping the hack foot back into release of the stone. The shoulders should
the hack as leg drive reaches completion, thus remain level and square to the skip’s brush.
providing a complete extension of the trailing
leg. In most cases, this motion turns the trailing Forward Slide Review
foot over into one of 3 desirable positions:
• Sliding foot flat on the ice under the
1. Turned over and slightly in. centre axis of the body.

2. Straight up and down. • Sliding foot slightly toed out to provide a

wider base for balance.
3. Turned slightly out. The heel should not
be in contact with the ice surface. • Trailing leg extended out behind —
preferably toed in or straight.
Note: Curlers may find that the resistance on the
trailing foot may be reduced with the application • Upper body erect, hips low.
of sliding tape or toe dip.
• Shoulders and hips square to the line of
delivery.

• Brush head resting lightly on the ice,

slightly ahead of the sliding foot.

18
Development Drills Development Drill #3

Now that you have developed a certain comfort

Development Drill #1
level with sliding with your brush on the ice in
• Find a position along the sideboards. front of you, it is time to place your brush under
your balance arm.
• Place your brush on the sideboards.
• Assume the correct stance position.
• Slowly stretch out into a final slide position
while holding on to the boards with both • You may now repeat Drill #2 from the
hands. sideboards with the brush in the correct
position.
• Check for a balanced position by trying to
lift the delivery hand off the boards, Each time you slide from the sideboards, focus
directly in front of the body. Lift the on one aspect of your slide. Since the key to
balance arm, off the boards to the side. balance is the sliding foot position, this is the
primary focus of the drill.
• Check the slide foot and trail leg
positions. Development Drill #4

• Hold the slide position for 10 to 15 Once you have gained a comfort level sliding
seconds and then stand up. you can move to the hacks.

Development Drill #2 • You will now progress to performing the

stance, hip elevation and slide from the
• Pick up your brush and turn around so hack.
that you face away from the sideboards.
Another drill may include:
• Assume the stance position but with your
brush flat on the ice, sideways in front of • Stretching out into the slide position and
your body. grasping the brush handle of a second
curler (wearing 2 grippers).
• Elevate your hips into a semi-crouch
position and stretch out into the slide • The curler with the brush will then pull the
position using two hands on the brush curler in the slide position down the ice.
handle for easier balance.

• Add a small amount of leg drive after 3 or

4 stretches from the sideboards.

19
DELIVERY LESSON B

This lesson adds the pullback motion and the back movement position assists with keeping the
forward slide motion skills to the delivery. hips square to the line of delivery.

This component teaches the sequencing (timing) The sliding foot moves straight back so that the
and weight transfers necessary to perform the toe of the sliding foot is parallel or slightly behind
whole skill. Good technique and timing are the heel of the hack foot. The body weight moves
essential to ensure that both stone and body back with slightly more weight being transferred
movements are coordinated into a smooth, to the sliding foot. At this point there is a very
consistent execution. definite pause or stop in the motion.

Pull Back Motion

As both legs begin to elevate the hips into a
semi-crouch position, the stone is pulled back
on the line of delivery. The line of delivery is a
line traveling from the target brush at the far end
to the middle of the hack foot. During the hip
elevation into the semi-crouch position both legs
are supporting the body weight.

Once this hip elevation has occurred, a motion

backwards with the delivery arm is followed by
the sliding foot beginning to move straight back.
The sliding foot should remain flat on the ice and
continue to point toward the target. This straight

20
Pull Back Motion Review Forward Motion
• Elevate hips into a semi-crouch position
(hack knee bent approximately 90
degrees).

• Pull stone back directly on line of

delivery.

• Move sliding foot straight back.

• Definite pause or stop in the motion.

Commence the forward motion of the stone by

shifting some body weight forward on to the hack
foot while maintaining a semi-crouch position
with the hack knee remaining bent at
approximately 90 degrees. As the transfer of the
body weight proceeds, the upper body will
continue to lean forward and gradually begin to
drop down behind the stone. The forward
movement of the sliding foot should be delayed
slightly to allow the stone to get out in front of the
body and to create space for its eventual
position which will be behind the stone and
under the chest. The sliding foot will now move

gradually forward under the chest to provide

balance and slowly in behind the stone in the
direction of the target brush. As this is occurring
the hack leg will provide the necessary leg drive
to produce body and stone momentum as the

21
majority of body weight is transferred on to the Forward Motion Review
sliding foot.
• Transfer upper body weight forward.
The sliding foot, after staying in the back position
for so long, must move quickly forward to take its • Move stone along line of delivery.
position under the body.
• Delay movement of sliding foot.
Once the sliding foot has moved forward, under
• Move sliding foot forward.
the body, the body weight is transferred to the
sliding foot. At this time, the hack leg provides • Provide thrust with hack leg.
the forward thrust from the hack. The leg drive
should occur as the hack leg approaches the
extended position.

22
DELIVERY LESSON C

Grip, Turns, Release and Line Turns

of Delivery Clockwise or In-turn for Right Handed
This lesson completes the delivery instruction Curler
for the no lift delivery by adding the grip, turns,
In order to determine which direction a stone will
release and line of delivery.
bend or curl, you must apply a turn to the stone.
For many new curlers, the terminology of in-turn
The Grip and out-turn can be confusing. It may be easier
to classify turns as either a clockwise rotation or
a counterclockwise rotation. Using this
terminology makes the turn the same for left
handed curlers and right handed curlers.

For a clockwise rotation (commonly referred to

as the in-turn), place the handle while in the
stance position so that the handle is slightly
counter-rotated (approximately 60 degrees)
against the turn. The handle position must
remain in the same position during the pull back
You should grip the handle of the curling stone
and the forward slide. Approximately one meter
firmly. The index finger and the thumb provide
before release, the handle is turned with a
the major guiding force. Place the index finger
distinct clockwise rotation of the wrist and
close to the gooseneck (the front part of the
forearm.
handle) followed closely by the other fingers.
The thumb presses firmly against the other side This handshake position is used as a point of
of the handle and combines with the index finger reference to allow the stone to be released in
to provide grip control. The “V” found between exactly the same manner every time. Some
the thumb and the index finger should point to curlers may have difficulty in relating to the use
the opposite shoulder. The handle should rest on of degrees to describe relative position. Another
the second joint of the fingers. The wrist must be way to describe the turn is to relate to 12:00
kept in a “high” position above the handle. The being at the front of the stone. In the stance
palm of the hand should not be in contact with position adjust the handle so that the gooseneck
the handle. is positioned pointing at approximately 10:00.

23
The handle remains at 10:00 during the pull Position of the Delivery Arm
back and forward slide. One metre prior to
release, the handle is rotated in a positive At the beginning of the forward slide, the delivery
manner to the 12:00 position [diagram]. The arm is comfortably extended. As the body moves
thumb and forefinger release the stone at the forward from the hack, the delivery arm should
same time. This rotation will cause the stone to develop a small bend at the elbow (hardly
rotate in a clockwise direction. The stone should noticeable). During the forward slide, the arm
rotate 2 to 3 times as it travels the length of the must remain in this position until just prior to
sheet of ice on a draw shot. A consistent release release when the arm is extended slightly
is necessary in order for the stone to react in a towards the skip’s brush. This slight extension
predictable manner. If there are too many of the delivery arm assists in developing the
rotations (a spinner) the stone will not curl. If the correct release motion. Keep in mind that the
stone does not have a positive rotation it may controlled extension of the delivery arm during
lose its turn or act in an unpredictable manner. release is not a push.

Counterclockwise or Out-turn for Right

Handed Curler

It is desirable to use the same reference point at

release for both turns, that is the handshake
position. The counter-clockwise turn (commonly
referred to as the out-turn) begins by adjusting
the handle approximately 60 degrees against
the turn. This adjustment must be maintained
during the pull back motion and the forward slide
Position of Body
. One metre prior to release, the
counterclockwise turn (out-turn) is applied by a As the body slides forward from the hack, the
distinct rotation of the wrist and forearm to the hips are fairly low. The upper body remains in a
handshake position. fairly upright position allowing for a correct grip
and a high wrist position over the handle of the
To use the analogy of the clock again, the
stone. The upper body may lower gradually
handle is positioned in the stance at 2:00 and
during the final release motion.
one metre prior to release the handle is rotated
to the 12:00 position.

24
Release Point To develop similar slides from the hack, the
players should determine the ideal zone for their
team. Factors that will influence how far you slide
include: the force you push from the hack, the
quickness of the slider and the amount of friction
produced by the trailing foot.

The stone must be released before it reaches

the hog line. You should develop a release point
that is well back of the line. Occasionally a curler
may drive too hard out of the hack and need this
extra space in order to release without violating
The release point is that location on the ice when the hog line rule.
the stone leaves your hand. In actual fact, the
release occurs over a distance of approximately Follow Through
one metre.

The release point will vary depending on the

amount of forward momentum applied to the
delivery. It is important that the point of release
be relatively consistent. A curler releasing draw
shots near the hog line and take-out shots near
the tee line is not releasing in the preferred
manner. The type of shot requested by the skip
governs the speed at which the curler leaves the
hack, whereas the release zone should remain
A proper follow through requires that the eyes
relatively constant.
concentrate on the skip’s brush, the delivery
Curlers on competitive teams should strive to arm reaches forward and the sliding motion
develop a similar release zone. When all four continues behind the stone. The delivery arm,
players release in the same manner and in the hand and fingers are still pointing along the line
same zone their stones should react in a similar of delivery to the brush until the stone is at
manner. It is much easier for the skip to least a metre away from the release point.
determine the amount of ice required for specific
Many shots may be unsuccessful as a result of
shots when all four curlers’ stones react in a
an improper follow through. Actions such as
similar manner. If one curler uses the same
quickly dropping the delivery hand or attempting
release motion but in a much earlier zone, their
to stand up immediately after release can affect
stones will have more time to curl. As a result of
a shot if they commence just prior to release. The
an early release they may require more ice.
delivery hand dropping to the ice after release
often indicates a balance problem. A quick

25
motion at follow through may make the release of Line of Delivery
the stone inconsistent.

Curlers are urged to allow the slide to come to a

stop and to then stand up. Curlers who put their
hands or knees on the ice at the end of their
delivery may slightly melt the ice producing a
flat spot. When a stone moves over a flat spot on
the ice the direction and line may be affected.
The stone will act as if there is a piece of debris
under the stone.

The line of delivery is a line extending from the

hack foot to the skip’s brush or target at the
playing end. During the course of a curling
game, the target is moved across the sheet. You
should visualize an imaginary line running from
the target to the middle of your hack foot. To
correctly deliver a stone at the target, you must
also position the stone on this line.

26
Development Drills
Turn: Handle counter-rotated 30 degrees in the
You and your partner can line up on both sides
stance.
of the sheet, between the tee line and the hog
line. The purpose of this drill is to practice grip, Handle released at 12:00.
turn and release while pushing stones back and
forth between partners. Drill #1 may be repeated from the hack. Curlers
will execute deliveries with a target on centre
line at the top of the near house. You are
Grips, Turns & Release Drill
encouraged to maintain the handle adjustment
throughout the pull back and forward slide prior
Development Drill #1
to applying the turn.
• Curlers should position themselves in two
rows, facing each other. Line of Delivery Drills
• A stone is provided to curlers on one The purpose of this drill is to learn how to direct
sideline. the body and stone at the target.

• Assume the stance and grip the stone. Development Drill #2

• Signal for desired turn given by partner.
• Position an object, like a plastic cup on
[need a definition of the signal]
the ice at the front of the house and
• Adjust the handle for a turn. Perform the directly between the hack foot and a
pull back and slide the stone forward brush held between the near hog line
rotating the handle to the handshake and the top of the house.
position sliding the stone to the partner.
• Slide at the target and attempt to hit the
• Repeat the drill with both turns and each target with the sliding foot.
partner taking a turn as the thrower and
• Reposition the “target” at various points
the skip.
on the ice within the maximum line of
While you are performing the drill, you should delivery adjustments.
focus on:
Development Drill #3
Grip: Thumb on side of handle.
• Position target (plastic cup) at near hog
Forefinger close to the gooseneck. line or closer for curlers with a shorter
slide.
Fingers close together.
• Slide at target without stone.
Wrist high, palm off the handle.
• Visualize line of delivery.

27
 • Take stance, close eyes and repeat slide.

• Visualize line of delivery.

Development Drill #4

• Position a plastic cup at near hog line on

centre line.

• Deliver stones at the cup. When the line

of delivery is accurate the stone will
travel directly in a straight line and hit the
cup.

• Execute deliveries with both turns.

• Reposition the target at various points on

the ice within the maximum line of
delivery adjustments.

• Deliver stones at target (paper cup)

positioned 6 feet (2 metres) past near hog
line.

28
WEIGHT CONTROL

It is important for curlers to understand how to position will ensure that the ball of the foot has a
control the weight (speed) of the curling stone solid foundation to push against.
relative to the shot requested. Weight control
During the pullback motion for take-out weights,
skills should be developed after you have spent
the hips must remain low and move further
time practicing line of delivery skills and the
backward. As a result of the hips moving further
release of both turns.
back the sliding foot must move further back. (To
support the weight of the hips, so that the body
Take-Out Weights
doesn’t tip over backward.) The sliding foot
In order to increase weight (speed from the should move straight back. At all times, the
hack) for take-out shots, you must apply more sliding foot must remain pointing at the target.
thrust or leg drive. This can be accomplished by: The hack foot may actually rock out of the hack
as the body weight is transferred to the sliding
• Positioning the gripper foot higher in the foot.
hack.
At the beginning of the forward motion, both
• Transferring the body weight further back knees bend slightly. This knee bend causes the
in the pullback motion. upper body to lean forward and starts the stone
moving forward. The shoulders and upper body
• Transferring more body weight on to the
move forward. The sliding foot stays back as
sliding foot in the pull back motion.
long as possible before beginning the forward
• Delay sliding foot during forward motion. The longer the sliding foot stays in the
movement. back position the stronger the effect of weight
transfer. Therefore, the heavier the desired
• Increase leg drive from the hack. weight, the longer the sliding foot remains back.
The sliding foot, after staying behind the hack,
The position of the hack foot will vary with the
quickly moves forward to take its position behind
amount of momentum required to make the
the stone. In order to move quickly enough on
desired shot. For draw shots on quick ice, the
heavy weight hits, the foot may actually be lifted
hack foot may need to be placed lower in the
off the ice in order to increase the speed of
hack. With the foot lower in the hack, your ability
movement and to facilitate its positioning.
to drive out of the hack will be reduced. For
shots requiring increased momentum, leg drive
can be increased by placing the ball of the
gripper foot higher in the hack. This higher

29
Draw Shots
The majority of stone momentum in the no-lift
delivery is produced by leg drive and body
weight transfer. The muscles that produce this
forward momentum are part of large muscle
groups. These large muscle groups are capable
of producing stone and body momentum close
to the desired weight. For finesse shots, close
may not be good enough. To apply a finer control
of draw weight, some curlers use smaller
muscle groups to fine tune the control provided
by large muscles. You may add small amounts of
stone momentum by using either an arm
extension, a shoulder drop or a gradual lowering
of the upper body.

30
Development Drills Development Drill #3

Take-out Shots or Draw Shots

Development Drill #1
• Deliver take-out shot.
Take-out Weight or Draw Weight
• Partner will use a stopwatch to time stone
• Position gripper foot appropriately in the from first hog line to far hog line.
hack.
• Repeat delivery, attempting to deliver
• Slide from the hack without a stone. stones with the same traveling time.
• Allow the slide to come to a complete
stop.

• Place a plastic cup at the spot where the

sliding foot came to rest.

• Experiment with gripper foot position.

• Repeat slide, transfer body weight further

back.

• Observe where sliding foot came to rest.

• Repeat drill attempting to slide to

predetermined spots.

Development Drill #2

Take-out Shots or Draw Shots

• Deliver a stone with predetermined

weight.

• Allow slide to come to a stop.

• Mark spot where slide finished.

• Repeat delivery attempting to duplicate

amount of momentum.

31
FINE TUNING MECHANISM

Finesse shots require a slightly different is traveling. You have not applied any extra
mechanism for adjusting the weight (speed) of weight to the stone. If the you determine that the
the stone. The large muscles of the delivery stone is not traveling quickly enough, you will
shoulder and arm and the leg drive from the extend your arm faster than the stone is
h a c k a re u s e d t o m a k e m a j o r w e i g h t traveling. This extension will add some weight to
adjustments. The smaller muscles of the arm are the stone. If you determine that the stone is
used to make minor weight adjustments in draw traveling too quickly, you need to slide farther
weight. What do we mean by minor than normal and this extra distance will decrease
adjustments? A minor adjustment is perhaps the the momentum of the stone. You would be well
difference of 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 metres). It is advised to develop a release zone that is well
difficult to make minor adjustments with large back from the hog line. Incorporating this extra
muscle groups. To make small weight room into the delivery allows you to occasionally
adjustments, curlers use a fine tuning slide farther if needed without fear of violating
mechanism. The two major methods to achieve the hog line.
fine tuning are using an arm extension or a
In order to use an arm extension as a fine tuning
lowering of the upper body.
mechanism, you must keep the upper body high
during the forward slide. A high upper body
position also allows the wrist to be maintained in
a high position so that the turn can be applied in
a positive manner.

Using the arm extension method, you will

develop a bend in the delivery elbow once
balance has been achieved.

As you approach the release area and apply the

rotation on the handle, extend your arm. If the Another method used to add a small amount of
weight of the delivered stone is correct, you will weight is by gradually lowering your upper body.
extend your arm at the same speed as the stone Slide forward with your upper body in a high

32
position during the final release motion and
gradually lower your upper body. If you
determine that an additional amount of stone
speed is required, lower your upper body faster
than normal.

33
STICK DELIVERY

Curling with a delivery stick is an alternative Clothing

way for curlers to enjoy or continue the sport. It is
appropriate for people with physical disabilities Clean, non-shedding, flexible clothing is
such as knee, back, heart, shoulder, elbow, wrist, recommended for any curlers. Curlers should
hip, ankle, or foot problems, or just simply dress warmly in layers. Gloves or mittens with
advanced age. The stones are delivered with a leather palms should be used for proper grip on
delivery stick from a standing or sitting position the delivery stick. (Many stick curlers, like their
(i.e., wheelchairs) enabling everyone to continue traditional delivery fellow athletes, remove the
to participate. glove on the delivery hand when delivering the
stone.)
Curlers can use delivery sticks within their
regular club games as an alternative to the Delivery Device/Stick
traditional delivery and continue to brush or
skip. Alternately, leagues, bonspiels and Like other curling equipment there are many
championships are being created across the different delivery sticks on the market for
world composed only of curlers using the purchase. Each has their own merits and some
delivery stick. These competitions do not are easier to use than others. Be sure to do some
always involve brushing and many have their research before purchasing a stick.
own rules. Currently, stick curling is only allowed
A stick that resembles a brush handle with an
in wheelchair championships at the world level.
attachment on the end that secures over the
stone handle to deliver the stone.
Equipment
Footwear
Cleaning the Stone
Footwear with two gripping surfaces is
recommended even for the most seasoned Bend over in the hack, rotate the stone over and
curler. It allows the curler to safely maneuver on clean with a mitten or with a brush. (Standing
the ice. Curlers can use clean athletic shoes with behind the hack, placing he stone between the
two removable grippers covering the soles or hacks and using the hacks to help tilt the
actual curling shoes with a permanent gripper stone’s running surface for cleaning is a
surface and a removable gripper covering the suggestion for some who find this task difficult.)
sliding surface.

34
 Rotate your wrist/forearm so that the handle of
Delivery of the Stone
the stone is positioned at either the 10 or 2
Technique for delivering a stone with a curling o’clock position depending on the rotation
stick is an adaptation of the normal curling slide indicated by the skip. The handle of the stone
delivery. The fundamentals are the same: should remain in this position until the stone is
just about to be released.
Line - direct the stone to the target (the skip’s
brush) Slowly move the stone forward on the intended
line until you have placed the appropriate foot in
Weight - release the stone at the appropriate the hack. Attention should be given to pointing
speed the toe in the hack towards the skip’s brush.
Your other foot should be parallel to the hack
Rotate - release the stone with the rotation that
foot with the hips and shoulders square to the
will cause it to curl in the intended direction, as it
line of delivery.
moves down the ice.
The delivery device should be positioned on the
Stance line of delivery and the arm should be bent (soft
elbow) so that the hand of the delivery arm is
The rules of curling state that the curling
touching the body at the hip joint.
delivery must be initiated from the hack. This
applies to curlers who use delivery sticks as At this point, the forward motion must be applied
well. Right handed curlers must start with their using either — the long delivery or the short
right foot in the left hack and left handed curlers delivery.
must start with their left foot in the right hack.

While standing behind the hacks, place the

stone so that the stone is centred on the
imaginary line between the centre of the
appropriate delivery hack and the skip’s brush
head (target). Begin with the handle of the stone
placed so that the gooseneck of the handle is at
the 12 o’clock position.

Grip

Grip the delivery stick so that the “V” formed by

your thumb and index finger is on the top of the
handle — this grip should remain the same
during the entire delivery. Place the delivery
stick on the handle of the stone.

35
Forward Motion the line of delivery. Like the conventional
curling delivery 2 to 3 rotations down the ice is
Long Delivery desired for a draw shot. Remember the stick
must be removed from the stone’s handle prior
to the leading edge of the stone touching the
near side of the hog line.

Short Delivery (WCF Rules)

WCF rules state that the stone must be clearly

released from the delivery stick before either
foot of the player delivering the stone has
reached the tee line at the delivery end. The
short delivery abides by this rule and will
accommodate curlers who are not comfortable
The long delivery consists of pushing off the walking or running to the hog line.
hack and walking/running forward to gain
momentum before releasing the stone. It is the At the same time the delivery arm extends
common form of delivery in Canada, Scotland forward on the line of delivery, imparting the
and the United States. rotation during the extension. To impart the
rotation the “V” of the hand comes back to the
From the stance position the delivery arm must top of the stick, or the gooseneck of the handle
remain bent but firm so that the stone begins to re-rotates to the 12 o’clock position.
move before the body, the stone must precede
the curler so that both the stone and curler can The short delivery makes judging weight a little
remain on the line of delivery. tougher, but with practice curlers can become
quite good at it. The long delivery can also allow
The curler must walk on the line of delivery. The for some fine tuning with regard to weight by
speed at which they walk or run will determine adding more or less arm push upon extension.
the speed of the stone. i.e. for a guard the curler Regardless of the technique used, curlers must
will walk slower, whereas if a double take-out is ensure the stone is kept on the line of delivery.
required, the curler may walk quickly or run
slowly to create enough momentum for the stone
to complete the intended shot.

At least 6 or more feet before the stone reaches

the hog line, smoothly rotate the stick (in about 2
seconds) so that the “V” of your hand comes
back to the top of the stick, or the gooseneck of
the handle re-rotates to the 12 o’clock position.
At the same time the delivery arm is extended on

36
3

BRUSHING
Brushing is an important aspect of the game of
curling. Too often curlers spend most or all of
their practice time delivering stones and spend
very little time perfecting their brushing
techniques.

Effective brushing enables the stone to

maintain its momentum longer than it would
have had it not been brushed thus allowing the
stone to travel further. Since the amount the
stone curls is dependent on time, a brushed
stone will not have as much time to curl and,
as a result, the stone will travel straighter.

37
 stone, the use of grippers/anti sliders on both
Learning Progression
feet is highly recommended. A slip-on gripper is
Brushing is a skill that should be developed in placed on the sliding shoe when the curler is not
specific segments: delivering.

• Brushing effectiveness. Grippers should be inspected prior to each and

every game, to ensure that they are in a suitable
• Equipment and its care. condition. Any equipment that comes in contact
with the ice surface must not cause any damage
• Stance.
to the ice surface or leave debris on the ice
• Grip. surface. Grippers are generally made of a soft
crepe-like rubber or a pebbled type of rubber.
• Footwork. Grippers made of a pebbled type of rubber
eventually tend to shed small pieces as they
• Brushing action.
become worn. Examine your gripper to ensure
that it is not shedding. Grippers should be
Brushing Effectiveness washed regularly
on the inside and
There have been many theories regarding the
the outside with
effectiveness of brushing and what it actually
soap and water to
does. Brushing reduces the friction between the
remove loose
stone and the ice surface in three ways:
debris and dirt
1. Smoothing the pebble. buildup.

2. Removing frost and debris. There are many types of brushes on the market
today. Brushes may be made of hog hair, horse
3. Causing the pebble to warm briefly to hair or a fabric covered brush head. The brush
create a thin film of moisture that acts as heads come in a variety of sizes and shapes,
a lubricant between the ice and the some with a fixed angle between the shaft of the
stone. brush and some with a flexible angle. New
curlers are encouraged to try a variety of
To become an effective brusher, the curler must
different brushes to determine which brush
develop endurance, brush head speed,
“feels” right for them.
downward pressure on the brush head, weight
judgement skills and the ability to communicate Regardless of the type of brush that the curler
the weight to the skip or vice-skip in the house. selects, the brush must be cared for.

Equipment Hair brushes should be inspected after every

shot that involved brushing. This is done simply
In order to develop an effective style of footwork by rubbing their hand across the bristles to
that can be used to brush on both sides of the remove any frost or debris from the brush. A

38
quick glance will also allow the curler to inspect Synthetic brushes need to be cleaned on a
the brush for loose hairs – those that appear regular basis. Between shots the brush head is
to have “grown” since the last time that it was scrubbed with a small brush similar to a nail
checked. These long hairs should be pulled brush. This will help to remove any loose
out and deposited in a refuse container, not debris that has collected on the surface. Do
on the ice. Periodically, the curler should this over a refuse container.
check to see if the adhesive holding the
Between games, when the brush head
bristles in place is still in good condition.
has dried, the head may be vacuumed.
After a period of time, the glue may break
This will remove dust that has
down, allowing hairs to fall out,
accumulated in the brush head. When
potentially causing the stone to slow
the surface of the head is dirty, it can
down or travel off line.
be washed. Spray a small amount of

39
TECHNIQUE

top hand a further one-third of the way up the

Stance
handle, palm up.
Stand beside the path of the stone. Position your
Hold the top part of the handle against the rib
feet so that they are shoulder width apart,
cage with the upper part of the arm. Lean
parallel to the centre line (path of the stone).
forward and place the brush head on the ice.
Bend your knees so that your weight is on the
Transfer some body weight onto the brush head
balls of your feet. The heels may be raised
by lifting the heels slightly off the ice. The bottom
slightly off the ice. This stance position will
arm should be relatively straight. Remember the
permit you to move efficiently down the ice and
weight is on the balls of the feet. [metatarsal]
ensure that you have a clear line of vision toward
the target and your skip or vice-skip. A clear
line of vision enables the brushers to see
Footwork
stationary stones and is beneficial for weight Bend your knees slightly and place some body
judgement and communication. weight on the head of the brush. Take a step
(with the outside foot) to initiate forward
momentum down the sheet. From there you will
use a gliding cross country (nordic) ski style of
footwork down the ice.

Both feet remain in contact with the ice at all

times. Remember to remain on the balls of your
feet (metatarsus) to ensure that the upper body
weight remains on the brush head.

Alternate Footwork Method

Grip
Curlers are strongly encouraged to use double
Place the brush handle across the front of your
grippers for footwork. If this is not possible due
body. Grip the handle with both hands, dividing
to the lack of a second gripper, you may need to
the handle of the brush into thirds. Position the
learn a push-glide motion to propel yourself
hands so that the hand closest to the stone is
down the ice. With this type of footwork, the new
approximately one third of the way up the handle
curler will only be able to brush from one side of
from the brush head. This hand is the bottom
the stone.
hand and is in a palm down position. Place the

40
The side of the stone you brush on will be
Brushing Action
determined by the sliding foot. If your slider is
on your left foot, then you must brush on the left
side of the stone.

Position your hips at a 45 degree angle to the

path of the stone. Your feet should be slightly
more than shoulder width apart. Lean forward so
that most of your body weight is on your sliding
foot, leaving the gripper foot free to provide
momentum. Simply push with the gripper foot,
slide on the sliding foot and brush in front of the
stone. When more speed is required to keep up Apply as much downward pressure as possible
with the stone, bring the gripper foot up to the through your lower arm onto the brush head.
sliding foot and extend the back leg to produce Implement a small push-pull action with your top
momentum. hand/arm onto the brush handle. Develop a
series of short (6 inch / 15 cm) rapid strokes to
brush/scrub the path of the stone.

41
 • Apply a slow back and forth motion with
Development Drills
the top hand.
The objective of the on-ice drills is to develop
• Vary the speed on the strokes; slow/
confidence with the stance, grip, footwork and
medium/fast.
brushing action on both sides of the stone. The
objective will be accomplished by the following • Repeat the drill positioned to the right of
drill procedures. the centre line.

Development Drill #1 Development Drill #3

Footwork (no brushing yet) Footwork and Brushing

• Position yourself on the left of the centre When you have practiced stance, footwork and
line facing down the sheet. stationary brushing as individual drills, it is time
to combine footwork and brushing. Using the
• Assume the correct stance and the same format as the footwork drill, move along the
correct grip on the brush handle.
ice on the left side of the stone and then perform
• Place the brush head on the ice on the the mirror image of the drill from the right side.
centre line.
• Position yourself to the left of the centre
• Implement footwork action without line.
brushing.
• Practice slow stationary scrubbing.
• Travel slowly with the cross-country ski
• Incorporate slow cross-country ski
style of footwork. Gradually increase the
footwork.
travel speed.
• Increase/vary travel speeds for draws
• Repeat the drill on the right side of the and take-outs.
centre line.
• At the far end of the sheet move to the
Development Drill #2 right side of the centre line and repeat
the drill from the other side.
Stationary Brushing (no footwork motion)

• Position yourself to the left of the centre

Development Drill #4
line.
Add Stones
• Hold the top part of the handle tightly It’s time to incorporate the stone into the
against your body with your upper arm.
practice.
• Apply downward pressure through the
• Repeat Drill #3 using a stone. The curlers
lower arm onto the brush head.
work in pairs. One curler pushes the

42
 stone slowly down the ice with a brush close. The outside brusher must observe the
while their partner brushes. Gradually path of the stone and be cautious not to interfere
increase the speed of the stone so that a with the inside brusher. The outside brusher will
more realistic brushing action is assist the inside brusher in judging the speed of
experienced. The partner can help to the stone.
monitor the brusher’s brushing action –
When the two brushers are waiting to commence
stroke length. When the stone has
brushing, they should stand well to the side and
traveled the length of the sheet of ice,
position themselves between the back line and
repeat the drill reversing the positions of
the tee line. As the thrower begins the forward
brusher and pusher. Repeat drill on the
motion, both brushers begin to move forward,
opposite side of the stone.
slightly ahead of the player delivering the stone,
• The next step is to arrange the curlers into so both may begin brushing as soon as the
groups of three. One curler pushes the stone is released. Both brushers must be sure
stone, one brusher brushes from the left that they brush directly in front of the stone at all
side and one brusher brushes from the times.
right side.

Right from the beginning the curler is

encouraged to learn to brush from both sides of
the stone. Footwork is easier when the two
brushers are on opposite sides of the stone.
From a safety point of view, brushers on opposite
sides is much preferable. There is less chance
that one brusher will trip the other brusher. The
closer the two brushes are to the stone, the
more effective they will be. It is easier to get the
brushes close together when they are on
opposite sides of the stone.

Repeat the drill with a curler delivering stones

rather than pushing the stone.

The curler brushing next to the stone is referred

to as the inside brusher. The inside brusher has
the main responsibility of judging the traveling
speed (weight) of the stone, and to do so must
consistently scan the distance from the stone to
the final destination. The inside brusher should
position their brush head close to the stone.
This allows the outside brusher to also move in

43
BRUSHING TIPS

• Practice brushing on both sides. • Brush all shots lightly to keep the path clean.

• Be prepared to brush from the hog to the tee • Check brushes after each shot. Ensure that
line and beyond if necessary. they have not accumulated debris. Deposit
debris in the refuse container, not on the ice.
• Follow all stones to their conclusion. Don’t give
up on them part way down the ice! • As you brush down the ice, remember to
breathe normally. Do not hold your breath.
• Know what shot is being called to understand
what weight is wanted. • Alternate your vision from the stone to the far
end and continually judge and rejudge the
• Develop good communication with the skip. weight.
Let the skip know what weight was delivered.
• The brushers are responsible for judging the
• Prior to every shot, check the intended path of weight of the delivered stone. The skip/vice-
the stone. Remove all visible debris.
skip is responsible for judging the line or path
• The inside brusher should brush as close as of the stone. Communication between the
possible to the stone. The outside brusher brushers and skip is vital.
should brush as close as possible to the inside
brusher.

44
WEIGHT JUDGEMENT

Many times throughout the course of a curling • Has the speed of the ice changed from
game, the question is asked “What is the the previous end?
weight?”
The lead and second are the primary judges of
The person asking the question may be the weight because they stand near the hog line at
thrower. The thrower needs assistance to the delivery end of the ice, and therefore are in
determine how hard to deliver the stone. In a position to see the released weight of every
many instances, the person asking may be the stone. There are several ways of reading
skip. The skip needs to know the speed of the weight: using a stopwatch, comparing the
stone to determine if the delivered stone will weight with your home club draw weight and
finish in the desired location. Weight judgement comparing the weight with a previous game’s
skills and the ability to communicate this weight.
knowledge are a primary responsibility of the
Many brushers use a stopwatch to aid their
lead and second. Their judgement must include
judgement. Curlers time a variety of aspects of
knowing the speed of both draw shots and take-
the game but we must remember that the
outs. Excellent weight judgement skills are
stopwatch is a tool to assist them to judge.
critical to the success of teams playing a finesse
game.
Timing Draw Shots
Curlers need to develop their observation skills
and memory of various paths on the sheet of ice. Many curlers time draw shots to give the thrower
a good indication of the weight/speed needed to
Observations include: deliver a specific draw shot. Timing the draw
shot would assist the thrower with:
• How many stones have been played in
the area? • comparing the speed to well known ice;
• Has the pebble been worn? • identifying any changes in ice conditions;
and
• Is there frost present?
• identifying paths that may be fast or slow.
• Is the stone moving from an area of quick
ice into an area of slower ice? There are a variety of systems used to time
draws:
• How much impact does sweeping have?

45
 1. Hog line at the delivery end to stop in Knowledge of upcoming ice conditions is very
the house. useful for practice planning. Call ahead to
competition sites and ask the ice technician
2. Back line at delivery end to stop in the
what interval time is required for a draw shot to
house.
stop on the tee line. (Make sure that you know
3. Hog line to hog line. where he is starting the stop watch – back line,
tee line or hog line.)
4. Back line at delivery end to hog line at
delivery end. Timing from hog line at the delivery end to stop
in the house assists the thrower prior to delivery
Once the curler knows the time it takes a draw of a draw.
shot to travel over a specific distance interval,
they can use this information to deliver a stone Interval Timing for Sweepers
of the same speed. Curlers must practice
Interval timing was developed to assist brushers
delivering stones that take specific lengths of
to evaluate where the delivered draw shot would
time to travel the length of the sheet. The key
stop. This type of timing is useful for the stone
word here is “practice”. In order for the
that is currently in motion.
information to be useful, the curler must practice
delivering stones of different weights or speeds. • START the stopwatch at the first back
line.
If a draw shot requires substantial speed and
therefore a short period of time to travel down the • STOP the watch at the first hog line.
ice, it requires a relatively significant amount of
force. Therefore the ice is “slow” or “heavy”. If a • Note the time on the stopwatch.
stone takes a longer period of time to travel the
• Observe where the stone comes to rest.
same distance, it requires less force and is
moving slowly. The ice is, therefore, relatively For Example: The first stone is delivered at a
“quick” or “fast”. time of 3.5 seconds and it comes to rest in the
top of the 12 foot circle. The next stone
During a practice, the team may determine that it
delivered down the same path is timed at 3.6
takes a stone 23 seconds to travel from hog line
seconds. The brushers would expect that the
to tee line. If they were to practice for ice that is
second stone would stop short of the rings.
24 seconds, they would practice delivering
stones that would stop just short of the house. The longer a stone takes to travel from the back
Each extra second of time is equal to about 6 to line to the hog line, the slower it is thrown and
8 feet (2 to 2½ metres) of distance. Practicing on hence the momentum is decreased.
23 second ice, for 25 second ice is a matter of
delivering draws which stop 12 feet (plus) Stopwatch timing, using interval times, is a
(approximately 4 metres) short of the house. technique that helps the brushers develop their
skill in judging the delivered weight. The
brushers must constantly observe the stone as it

46
 Near Hog Line Near Hog Line Near Back Line Near Back Line
to Far Hog Line to Far Tee Line to Far Tee Line to Near Hog Line
12 seconds 21.5 seconds 24.8 seconds 3.3 seconds
13 seconds 23 seconds 26.5 seconds 3.5 seconds
14 seconds 24.5 seconds 28.2 seconds 3.7 seconds
15 seconds 26 seconds 29.9 seconds 3.90 seconds

travels down the ice and re-evaluate their initial The second brusher should be observing the
judgement. delivery of the stone. Did the curler add a push
at the end or pull back at release? This brusher
Many factors may influence the accuracy of the
must watch carefully as the stone is released.
interval method of judging weight.
The timer will confirm or deny the initial
• Curlers who slide out slowly and then give judgement. As the stone travels down the ice,
a push to the stone will have different the two brushers need to constantly fluctuate
times than curlers who deliver with only a their line of sight from the stone to the house
small amount of fine tuning mechanism. and evaluate the final destination of the shot.

• The running surface of the stones may

vary and as a result the stones may vary
Timing Take-outs
in speed and curl.
Competitive teams select three or four distinct
• The number of stones delivered down a
take-out weights to use. These specific weights
particular path in the sheet of ice will
must be communicated, during a game, to each
influence the speed of ice in that path.
team member and must be understood by each
• Human error may occur in stopping and team member.
starting the stopwatch. (It is advisable that
To promote consistency in weights for take-
the same person on a team does all the
outs, a team may use timing. Timing take-outs
interval timing. Some curlers may start
is usually used in practice situations. We can all
and stop the watch early or late. A
see what a skip means by hack weight –
difference of 1/10 of a second is
enough weight for the stone to reach the hack.
significant. The error is not important as
What does the skip mean by normal, control or
long as the error is consistent. If the same
peel?
curler times all their teammates’ shots, the
error will be constant.) During practices, take-out weights are
predetermined so that everybody on the team
Note: When timing stones, use your first finger to
understands what weight is requested.
stop and start the watch. The finger is more
accurate than the thumb.

47
When working on a set team weight for a Shots delivered with the requested weight
specific weight, for example “normal”: present fewer problems for the skip when he is
calling line. Shots that do vary from the
• Team members deliver take-outs. designated weight may present problems.
• Time shot from hog line to tee line. Communication of the exact weight delivered is
vital.
• Determine a comfortable time for all team
members. Weight judgement and communication of the
exact delivered weight is vital for success.
• Identify the time (for example 11 Brushers must practice observing and
seconds). determining the weight of the delivered stone.

• All team members attempt to deliver Near Hog Line

stones with this speed (within 1/2 second Weight
to Far Hog Line
of the designated time.) Developing a
Peel 7 to 8.5 seconds
consistent speed assists in making more
Normal 8.5 to 9.5 seconds
shots.
Control 9.5 to 10.5 seconds
The drill is repeated for other weights (control, Bumper / Barrier 10.5 to 11.5 seconds
peel). Take-out weights should be at least two- Hack 11.5 to 12.5 seconds
seconds apart.

48
READING THE ICE

Each team member must know the layout or • The brushers must know the path of the
shape of the sheet of ice. Even though the skip stone.
takes prime responsibility for reading the ice,
each team member must observe each delivered • Brushers must know whether the stone
curls quickly from the keener, used ice
shot. On occasion, skips need help to remember
onto the heavier, pebbled side ice so that
what happened at a particular time or at a
they can judge and brush the ice.
specific spot on the ice. All team members must
therefore watch all shots that are thrown (their • Brushers must be able to judge when the
own and their opponents’) in case the skip ice has gone flat (the pebble has been
needs assistance. worn down too much.)

• Brushers must have knowledge of how Experienced brushers generally display good
the ice is reacting. anticipation when brushing. If a draw shot is
expected to curl from fast ice to heavier ice, it is
• Brushers need to be able to anticipate
often necessary to begin brushing before the
where the break (sudden curl) occurs on
curl begins. Furthermore, on many take-outs,
shots.
brushing must begin before the anticipated
• Brushers need to know where the pebble curling occurs. Inexperienced brushers too often
has worn down. do not use their brushes until the stone begins
to curl quickly – and then it may be too late. The
A draw that travels straight down the “well used”
ice usually changes during the game.
middle section of the sheet might require less
Knowledgeable brushers recognize when this
weight than a draw that initially travels down the
change occurs and use their skills to adjust to
middle and then curls over the unused ice on the
the new conditions.
outside of the sheet. On the other hand, a draw
down the unused, outside section of the sheet in
the early ends usually requires much more
weight than one that travels down the used or
broken-in centre section. A draw shot that has a
pronounced curl needs more weight than a
straight running draw (assuming uniform ice)
because a curling draw shot has a slightly
longer path and digs into the ice more as it takes
on its curl than a straight running draw.

49
BRUSHING COMMUNICATION

Good communication during brushing may give Before the Shot

an advantage to a team succeed that does not
deliver as well as another. The skip’s ability to The skip must communicate to the thrower and
communicate the intended shot clearly to each the brushers the specific shot and weight
team member ensures that each curler is aware desired. The specific weight should be signaled
of the team’s primary objective. It is important for and the signal returned by the teammates. The
all four players to take on an active role in brushers, knowing both the intended shot and
communication. the required weight, must visualize the intended
path of the stone. It is very beneficial if the team
Signals knows what Plan B (back-up plan) is as well.
Knowing the game plan is a must. The brushers
Verbal instructions can be used very effectively
and thrower must know: what do we want, what
in some situations. However, in most cases, it is
are we prepared to accept and what is not
difficult to hear instructions that are shouted from
acceptable. If we are not sure of the exact
one end of the sheet to the other. An appropriate
weight, is it better to be a little light or a little on
solution is to develop a set of hand signals to
the heavy side?
signify specific weights (touch shoulder – throw
peel weight, touch hip – throw control weight). During the Shot
Each member of the team can see exactly what
weight is requested and the appropriate Once the thrower has initiated the delivery, both
decisions can be made by the thrower and the brushers move down the ice with the stone. On
brushers. draw shots, one of the brushers may be timing
the back line to hog line interval. The other
It is a good practice to have the thrower and the brusher is observing the slide and release to
brushers return the signal to the skip. This return judge the speed of the delivered stone.
signal tells the skip that all team members know Immediately at release, one of the brushers will
exactly what weight is being requested. Giving inform the skip of the speed. The skip will use a
the weight signal back to the skip assists the short command to inform the brushers of any off-
other team members to focus on the desired line delivery (wide or narrow). Communication
weight. At release, the outside brusher should should continue as the stone moves down the
quickly signal the delivered speed of the stone. sheet. Brushers must always be prepared to
The weight signal improves communication and brush until all stones have stopped. Brushers
increases the chance for a team’s success. must continually move their line of sight between
the stone and the intended target.

50
Shots requiring judgment for weight and line are After the Shot
the most challenging. The person in the circles
usually has control. Such shots might go as The team must communicate upon completion of
follows: the shot. The thrower should recognize the
efforts of the brushers. “Well done, thanks.” The
A come around hit is being played; as the skip should congratulate both thrower and
s t o n e i s re l e a s e d , t h e s k i p c a l l s brushers if the comment is appropriate or say
“sweep” (the stone is narrow). The “My error” if it applies. Positive communication
brushers respond with “control weight”. If after each shot makes each member feel as if he
the skip continues to call “sweep” the played an important role in the execution of the
brushers identify that the call is for line. shot.

A come around draw is released and both On the other hand, if a shot was missed, a
brushers immediately start brushing. The simple “Tough luck, sorry” should be conveyed
skip knows the stone has to curl a to the appropriate members. The reason for the
considerable amount and for that reason miss should be determined and expressed by
calls “whoa” (the stone is wide). The those who erred so that if the same shot is called
brushers originally started brushing later, everyone will know the adjustment
because they knew the stone was light required. Negative comments should not be
and therefore reply “not enough weight”. uttered at any time unless they are constructive
The skip must then decide whether to criticisms.
continue brushing and get the stone into
the circles without cover or to not brush
and allow the stone to curl and probably
stop short.

Many inexperienced skips and vice-skips tend

to call brushing too late. Curlers should not wait
to call brushing; rather, they should develop the
habit of calling at the first indication of need.

51
RESPONSIBILITIES DURING BRUSHING

The thrower, brushers and skip or vice-skip Hits and rolls and freezes demand precise
have distinct responsibilities during brushing. teamwork. Line is vital, but calling line requires
that weight be identified accurately. Any
Thrower deviation of weight from the expected will cause
the stone to take a path different from that which
When determining whether or not a stone
the skip expects. Thus, both the skip and the
requires brushing, the team should use the
brushers must communicate well during the shot
thrower’s opinion as an initial indication of
to achieve the desired result.
execution. Curlers with experience usually know
at the time of release whether they have made an Guards are a difficult shot to execute perfectly:
error, that is, turned the stone in, flipped it out, or both line called by the skip and weight judged
thrown the wrong weight. In such cases, the by the brushers are important. A joint effort is
thrower will offer advice to the brushers at therefore necessary to produce the desired
release. result. However, because the most critical factor
on a guard is the line, the skip should have the
Brushers final decision on this shot.

The primary function of the brushers is to judge On tap-backs, come arounds and draws, both
the weight of the shots and to brush accordingly. weight and line are important but the skip
Both brushers must function as a unit in judging should have the final say in calling because of
weight. One may be the timer and the other the importance of the line call.
judges by feel and observation. On open draws,
the brushers have complete responsibility for In conclusion, the skip makes the final decision
brushing, but on line calls, direction on about line and the brushers have primary
brushing comes from the person in the house. responsibility for weight. In cases where an
interaction of weight and line judgement is
Skip or Vice-Skip needed, good communication between the skip
and brushers greatly increases the team’s ability
On all shots on which line is a consideration, the
to produce excellent shots.
acting skip has total control. The brushers
advise him of the weight and he must believe
their call and use that information to call the
correct brushing for line. Teamwork is very
important because many shots require both line
and weight calls.

52
4

STRATEGY
Strategy is commonly defined as "deciding what shot to play". Although this is an important element,
it is not all there is to strategy. More broadly defined, it is "the decision making process a team goes
through before, during and after a game". This includes setting goals, making game plans, deciding
game style, shot selection, and game evaluation. With this in mind it is essential that all team
members contribute to "team strategy" and as a result require a solid understanding of the following:

1. Basic terminology relative to strategy.

2. The factors that influence shot selection decisions.

3. How the Free Guard Zone Rule affects strategy and shot selection.

4. Basic strategy relative to the advantage of last stone.

5. Methods for playing different ice conditions.

53
TERMINOLOGY

When considering strategy, the terms used for The following table provides for a clearer
different styles of play must be clearly defined understanding of this terminology:
and understood. The words offensive and
aggressive generally means that the game has Offense First Defense First
more stones in play and involves guards, aggressive cautious
raises, come arounds and freezes. Teams
finesse conservative
using this strategy are attempting to score more
than one point or to steal points. Associated stones in play open
with this style of play is the word finesse, guards hits
referring to a more delicate type of shot such as freezes peels
come around draw shots. Other terms
come around draws run throughs
synonymous with this strategy are risky or
complicated. A general name for this kind of Most teams will combine offensive strategy with
strategy is the offensive approach or “offense defensive strategy and will therefore have a
first” approach. “balanced attack”.
On the other hand, the words defensive and
cautious generally refer to a take-out style of
play where there are relatively few stones in
play. Other terms used for this style are
conservative, safe and open; as a result of very
few stones being in play most shots are
relatively simple. A general name for this kind of
strategy is the defensive approach or “defense
first” approach.

54
FACTORS INFLUENCING SHOT SELECTION

The six major factors that influence shot Knowing the position by position strengths and
selection are: weaknesses of your team and your opposition
will have a great impact on the strategy you
F ! Free Guard Zone Rule employ. The key element is knowing how to
maximize your own team’s strengths.
The Free Guard Zone Rule influences shot
selection relative to the first four stones of an The strategy you design for your team and the
end and impacts strategy decisions throughout shot selections you make during a game should
the course of a game. be based on the abilities of the individual players
and the team as a unit.
E! End
I! Ice
The FGZ Rule provides substantial opportunities
for offense including comebacks in the middle Ice conditions will play a key factor in
and late ends of a game with or without last determining the strategy a team is able to apply.
stone. Fast, swingy ice will produce optimum playing
conditions. Straight ice conditions will restrict the
S! Score aggressive come around approach and may
dictate a raise style game plan.
The score in relation to the end you are playing
will greatly influence shot selection decisions. It is important to note that, of these factors, last
stone advantage and the relative skills of both
R! Last Rock/Stone
your team and the opposing team are the main
Last stone advantage plays a key role in shot factors that influence shot selections for the
selection decisions. Having last stone developing curler. To be successful however, all
advantage may result in a more offensive team members, but especially the skip, must
approach. Not having last stone may dictate a have a good understanding of how the six
defensive approach. factors influence shot selection.

A! Ability

The skills of opponents and teammates required

to successfully play both offense and defense
are critical to planning strategy and making
appropriate shot selection.

55
BASIC CONCEPTS

The Free Guard Zone Rule provides a number 5. Establishing the relative ability of your
of offensive and defensive options to well team compared to the opposition and
prepared skips. Strategy and shot selection the “playability” of the ice surface will
relative to the first four stones of each end will play a major role in developing your
provide teams with numerous interesting and team strategy.
challenging decisions.
6. The ability of a team to score 2+ points
1. The ability to think on your feet and make with last stone or give up only 1 point
shot selection decisions based on without last stone will have a significant
"FESRAI" is very demanding and is effect on shot selection, particularly in
influenced by the number of stones in mid to late ends. A two to four point
play. Teams are constantly faced with variance with two or three ends
reevaluating their game plan and shot remaining cannot be considered an
selection options as they analyze the insurmountable lead.
relative “risk vs reward”.
7. Teams with last stone may prefer to
2. "Flexibility" plays an important role in score their 2+ points to the side of the
designing game plans and developing sheet but will often find themselves
strategy as teams are faced with having forced to the centre in search of
to change their strategy within many offensive opportunities and to defend
ends as they move from defense to against a potential steal. Teams without
offense and vice versa. last stone will be presented with many
opportunities to steal but will also be
3. The terms "patience" and "caution"
challenged with trying to defend against
cannot be ignored an over-creative skip.
multi point ends being scored against
Teams who cannot back up their
them by offensive-minded last stone
creative and aggressive strategy with
skips.
p r e c i s i o n s h o t m a k i n g w i l l fin d
themselves on their way home ahead of 8. The main challenge will be on how to
schedule. defend against an offensively adept
team.
4. Effective skipping requires the ability to
think two or three shots ahead, thus the
common reference that curling is “chess
on ice”.

56
GENERAL STRATEGIES

Without Last Stone Offense

Orchestrating offense without last stone is very

Defense
easy with the Free Guard Zone Rule. The
In situations where the score is close or a team placement of centre guards which cannot be
is ahead in points, defense is the word that will removed by the opposition until the 5th stone of
best describe the approach of teams without last the end can produce a number of opportunities
stone. In these situations, skips will attempt to for a team to control centre ice and potentially
apply a strategy that will limit the opposition to steal a point(s). The only major concern the skip
the scoring of only one point. To accomplish without last stone is faced with relative to the
this, knowledgeable skips will direct play placement of a centre guard is "if" the last stone
towards the centre of the sheet, thus restricting skip will elect to come around it. The further out
the opposition's ability to spread their stones the centre guard is the more likely the last stone
out. This may ultimately block the opposition's skip is to play an aggressive come around
path to the four-foot circle, thus enhancing the draw in search of 2+ points.
opportunity to steal a point(s). Teams without
last stone are usually more cautious in their shot
selection, in that take-outs are played rather
than draw shots when opponents have stones in
With Last Stone
the house.
Offense
Teams without last stone, who as a result of
In situations when early ends have passed and
score, end, ice or opposition, would prefer to
the score is close or a team is down in points,
play a defensive style of game are faced with an
offense is the word that best describes the
interesting dilemma. Their lead cannot remove
approach of teams with last stone advantage. In
any opposition stone from the FGZ and as a
these situations, skips will attempt to apply a
result, they have a few shot selection options
strategy that will result in the scoring of more
available with the final decision being greatly
t h a n o n e p o i n t . To a c c o m p l i s h t h i s ,
dependent upon the skill level of the lead.
knowledgeable skips may direct play to the
Remember - giving up two points in many
sides of the sheet, thus enabling them to spread
situations will be perfectly acceptable.
their stones out. This also tends to keep the path
to the four foot circle open for a possible end-
saving last stone draw shot.

57
Last stone teams will attempt to initiate their Defense
offense to the side of the sheet by establishing a
corner guard(s) but may also find themselves Teams with last stone advantage who would
developing offensive opportunities on centre ice prefer a defensive style of play because of
as a result of attempting to prevent a potential score, ice conditions or the relative abilities of
steal. Aggressive last stone skips will take the opposing teams have a number of shot
advantage of centre guards by playing come selection options available to them. Their
around draws in an effort to score 2+ points, objective may well be to ensure the opposition
even though this strategy will put them at greater does not have the opportunity to steal a point(s)
risk to a potential steal. Ice conditions may also and therefore controlling centre ice will be a key
force last stone skips to direct play towards the factor. If the opposition lead places a centre
centre of the sheet if stones are not curling guard the last stone skip will have to decide
much from the centre line out. which of several defensive options best suits the
situation.
It is important to note that it is common practice
for a skip who cannot score more than a single
point to throw the final stone through the house
or to hit and roll out, thus blanking the end and
keeping last stone advantage.

58
GROUPING OF ENDS

Game strategy may vary dramatically as the Note: In all situations, your team's familiarity with
game progresses. For the purpose of developing the game plan and ability of the opposition and
a game plan including shot selection, we knowledge of ice conditions may influence your
recommend dividing the game into segments decision to be more offensive or defensive in
based on an 8 to 10 end game. your shot selections.

Shot Selection Options Early Ends (1 - 3) - With Last Stone

Teams may be a little more aggressive in early

Early ends (1 - 3) - Without Last Stone
ends when they have the advantage of last
Most teams will attempt to implement a stone but generally speaking, still try to avoid
defensive game plan during this segment of the risky situations that require the making of finesse
game especially as it pertains to avoiding high shots. Last stone skips will also tend to play a
risk finesse shots. Remember, you do not have to defensive style of play as they build the
score (steal) in the early ends without last stone confidence of their teammates while assessing
to ensure victory. It is more important to keep the the ability of the opposition and learning the ice.
score close as you build your team's confidence They will attempt to score their 2+ points to the
while learning the ice and assessing the abilities side of the sheet but will not be overly
of the opposition. A general objective is to limit concerned about scoring a single point,
the opposition to scoring a single point when blanking the end or giving up a steal of one.
you do not have last stone. Even allowing two There are three situations teams with last stone
points is acceptable. There are three basic are likely to face when they go to throw their first
options relative to the placement of the first stone of the end:
stone of the end:
Situation #1 - long centre guard
Shot option #1 - long centre guard
Situation #2 - short centre guard
Shot option #2 - short centre guard
Situation #3 - top of four foot or eight foot
Shot option #3 - top of the four foot or eight
The following early end shot selection
foot
suggestions represent the safest choice
The safest choice is selection #3 (defensive). (defense first).

59
Shot option - situation #1 - draw to the 8 foot There are three basic options relative to the
behind the tee line and to the side of the sheet placement of the first stone of the end when the
score is reasonably close:
Shot option - situation #2 - draw to the 8 foot
behind the tee line and to the side of the sheet Shot option #1 - long centre guard
or bump the short guard into the house on an
Shot option #2 - short centre guard
angle
Shot option #3 - top of four foot or eight foot
Shot option - situation #3 - hit and stay on
opposition stone Teams who are comfortable with the score
relative to the end of play will probably stay with
There are many other options that last stone
shot selection #3 or consider #2 as the option
teams have when presented with the above
with the potential for a safe steal.
situations. Remember to apply the FESRAI
factors and choose the shot that best suits your Teams who are either down in points or
team. prepared to move to a more aggressive draw
style game will choose shot selection #1 or #2.
Middle Ends (4 - 6) & Late Ends (7 - 9) -
Without Last Stone Teams who are protecting a substantial lead late
in a game may well choose to throw their first two
The middle and late ends of a curling game stones of the end through the house.
often present teams without last stone many
interesting and difficult strategy situations. Skips Remember, your team's strategy in the middle to
must continually analyze the situation, apply the late ends of a curling game should be to
FESRAI factors and determine the most position yourself for the win. Aggressive shot
appropriate shot for their team. The ability to selection must be backed up with excellent shot
"think on your feet" is critical as game situations making.
will force teams to switch back and forth
between offense and defense. Middle Ends (4 - 6) & Late Ends (7 - 9) -
With Last Stone
Teams who are comfortable with the score
relative to the end of play may well continue their The middle and late ends provide last stone
defensive approach and attempt to limit the teams with their greatest opportunity to take
opposition to only one point or try to develop a control of the game and position themselves for
safe steal. Teams who are either down in points the victory. The ability of the opposition and
or prepared for the challenges of finesse shot condition of the ice should no longer be a
making will move to a more offensive style of mystery. Your team should be mentally and
game. physically prepared to implement both the
strategy and shot making required by the game
situation.

60
In games where the score is close or the last Most common “defense first” approaches:
stone team is down in points, the ultimate
Shot option - situation #1 - draw to the 8 foot
objective will be to score two or more points. As
behind the tee line and to the side of the sheet
a result, skips will apply offensive minded tactics
while attempting to avoid the steal. The more Shot option - situation #2 - draw to the 8 foot
desperate the situation relative to score and end behind the tee line and to the side of the sheet
of play the more offensive the shot selections will or bump the short guard into the house on an
be. angle
When the score is close, last stone skips would Shot option - situation #3 - hit and stay on
likely prefer to develop their offense to the side opposition stone
of the sheet. Last stone skips who are down in
points will take their offensive opportunities There are many other options that last stone
wherever they can find them. "To take a chance teams have when presented with the above
or not take a chance" will be the most often situations. Remember to apply the FESRAI
asked question. factors and choose the shot that best suits your
team.
Teams who enjoy a comfortable lead during this
stage of the game or wish to avoid a draw style Final End - Without Last Stone
game will maintain the defensive tactics of the
early ends. The intricate strategies applied in the final end
with the game on the line will provide skips with
There are three situations teams with last stone their greatest challenges. Teams without last
are likely to face when they go to throw their first stone with a one or two point lead will be faced
stone of the end: with some interesting choices as the end
progresses. Those teams who initiate the end
Situation #1 - long centre guard
with defensive tactics designed to provide them
Situation #2 - short centre guard with last stone in the extra end may well find
themselves having to switch to offense in fear of
Situation #3 - top of four foot or eight foot not making it to the extra end. Most teams who
do enjoy a two point lead will probably start the
Most common “offense first” approaches:
end with defensive tactics while some teams
Shot option - situation #1 - come around draw with a one point lead will play the final end to
shot steal a point. The four basic shot selection
options for all situations remain the same.
Shot option - situation #2 - come around draw
shot

Shot option - situation #3 - corner guard Shot option #1 - long centre guard

61
 Shot option #2 - short centre guard

Shot option #3 - top of four foot or eight foot Last stone teams will typically face four
situations in the final end when their lead plays
Shot option #4 - through the house
his/her first shot.
Teams who are tied or down in points will
Situation #1 - long centre guard
choose either shot selection #1 or #2.
Situation #2 - short centre guard
Teams who are one point up have the choice of
all four shot selections with #2 and #3 being the Situation #3 - top of four foot or eight foot
most common choices.
Situation #4 - stone through the house
Teams who are 2 or more points up in score will
Teams who are either tied or up in points will
probably choose shot selection #3 or #4.
probably be looking at situation #1 or #2. A
The ability to immediately recognize situations defensive approach is recommended early in the
that warrant a change in game plan will be a skill end as the key factor is controlling the four foot
critical for final end success. A flexible game area. A light weight “chip” or “tick” on the
plan is critical to winning in these situations. stone in the Free Guard Zone that only pushes
the stone off to the side of the sheet or into the
Final End - With Last Stone house on an angle is the best choice of shot.

Every skip dreams of having the opportunity to Teams that are one point down playing the 10th
win the game with a dramatic last stone. The end should anticipate having to deal with any
trick is to create this oppor tunity by one of the four situations.
implementing sound strategy.
Teams that face situations #1 or #2 have some
Last stone skips who enter the final end interesting choices to make. There will be a great
anywhere from two points up to two points deal of variation in the way that last stone teams
down are going to be in for some fun. The shot skip this scenario. A couple of the shot options
selection options will be endless with the game are:
hanging in the balance. A one or two point lead
may prove to be difficult to defend even with last Shot option #1 - situation #1 or #2 - play a corner
stone and yet a one or two point deficit may well guard
put the last stone team in a position to win.
Shot option #2 - situation #1 or #2 - play a come
around

The most interesting situation will be a one point Shot option #3 - situation #1 or #2 - play the
variance on the score board and two offensive open side in the house
minded skips dictating the strategy!
Teams that face situations #3 or #4 will usually
respond with a corner guard. Remember, in

62
analyzing last end situations it is a good idea to Basic Summary:
base your strategy on the opposition making
their shots, not missing them! As well, you Offense First Defense First
should be playing to your own team’s strengths.
after early ends early in the game
There are many other options that last stone
with last stone without last stone
teams have when presented with the above
situations. Remember to apply the FESRAI down in points up in points
factors and choose the shot that best suits your
team strengths team strengths
team.

63
THE HUMAN FACTOR

One of the key ingredients to being a good skip Reading of Ice

is maximizing the abilities of your team while
trying to take advantage of any opposition The reading of ice is every player's responsibility.
weaknesses you may be aware of or knowledge Players should make an effort to familiarize
you may have relative to their game plan. themselves with the curl of both turns from the
centre of the sheet to the outside, and from the
Your Team outside towards centre. Learn the ice for both
draws and take-outs, commit this knowledge to
The recommended approach to developing a
memory and update it as the game progresses.
team game plan and making shot selection
decisions is to factor in the strengths of your From the start of the game, the skip must gather
individual players. This approach should include information from every shot. This task can be
consideration of type of shot, preferred weight, made easier by calling shots while using the tee
most consistent turn and even weight judging line as a reference point and watching closely
skills and sweeping ability. Confidence comes when the opposition delivers. The skip must
with success and is the key factor in developing memorize where the stone stops relative to the
a winning attitude. Whenever possible, allow type of release as release may vary from player
your players to play the shots they have the to player.
greatest chance of making!
The importance of reading ice cannot be
The Opposition overemphasized. It is often the difference
between making and missing shots and
Like other sports, knowledge of the opposition is separates the great skips from the rest of the
essential for the development of a winning game field. The key is to concentrate for the entire
plan. The type of information that will assist you game because ice conditions may vary from
in developing your strategy includes individual early to middle and from middle to late ends.
strengths and weaknesses in all components of This critical skill can be improved with practice.
the game as well as an analysis of their
strategical approach to the game in a variety of
situations. Scouting the opposition prior to a big
game is well worth the time and should provide
you with the opportunity to enter the game
completely prepared regarding your opponent.

64
Key Team / Athlete Factors “Release” Controlling the release will play a
major role for teams striving for consistency
“Attitude” A positive attitude and knowing your when ice conditions do not lend themselves to a
team’s strengths are strongly recommended. come around game. Players will need to
develop the ability to vary the release and thus
“Confidence” Your confidence in delivering the
influence the amount a stone will curl. This is a
shots and making the right strategical choices
high performance area.
will increase with experience and comfort.
“Creativity” Creative skipping is a key factor
“Game Plan” Your game plan should be
as the ability to think on your feet while the game
based on what works best for your team.
hangs in the balance will be critical.
Developing pre-determined responses to
specific game situations is the recommended “Ice Reading” The ability to consistently
strategy. execute finesse shots is, to a great degree,
based on ice reading skills. This requires a total
“Scouting” K n o w i n g t h e s t r e n g t h s a n d
team effort.
weaknesses of your opposition on a player by
player basis will positively affect your game plan. “Ego” Too much ego can prove to be a
major detriment to teams who cannot back up
“Flexibility” There will be a need to remain
“risk vs. reward” strategy with consistent
flexible within your game plan as you will often
execution.
be kept hopping from offense to defense and
vice versa. “Team Strengths” Maximizing the abilities of
your players will contribute greatly to your
“Communication” Both sweeping and shot
success.
communication are of great importance given the
number of precision shots that are attempted. “Risk vs Reward” The ability to consistently
evaluate “risk vs reward” will always have a
“Conditioning” Physical conditioning will lend
positive impact on strategy discussions.
itself not only to the vigorous demands of
sweeping but the strain of a long tough
competition.

“Mental Toughness” T h e n u m b e r o f k e y
decisions and difficult shots places great
importance on all of the mental components.

“Finesse” Depending on your game plan, your

ability to execute difficult shots requiring the
combination of touch and accuracy will be of
paramount importance.

65
5

PHYSICAL PREPARATION
Curling, like other sports, requires players to perform skills using movements that go beyond normal
everyday activities. A warm-up provides a stepwise progression to prepare a player for the transition
from pre-game to game activity. Failure to properly warm-up can lead to discomfort, poor
performance, and possible injury.

66
WARM-UP

Warm-ups, prior to getting on the ice, can play • 5 to 10 minutes general and specific drills
an important role in preparation as a means of – to excite the neuromuscular system
performance enhancement. An appropriate (slide)
Warm-up may improve performance by:
• Technical aspects such as slide and
1. Activating the body’s circulatory system brushing
by enhancing blood flow will improve the
body’s ability to utilize oxygen and Development of a Warm-up Routine:

remove waste product. Blood vessels The “Step-Stretch-Slide” Approach
open up increasing blood flow thereby
maintaining muscle temperature. Curling, like other sports, requires players to
perform skills using movements that go beyond
2. Engaging the musculoskeletal system normal everyday activities. A warm-up provides
will further Warm-up muscles to reduce a stepwise progression to prepare a player for
muscle stiffness, to provide a more the transition from pre-game to game activity.
forceful contraction and to help prevent Failure to properly warm-up can lead to
injuries. discomfort, poor performance, and possible
injury.
3. Exciting the neuromuscular system
allows the brain to coordinate the A proper warm-up has three components:
nervous system’s ability to fire muscles
effectively and efficiently. It will also 1. Vigorous whole body aerobic exercises –
increase speed of contraction and affecting the circulatory system.
relaxation of warmed muscles. Warm-
2. Dynamic stretching exercises – affecting
ups are also known to delay fatigue.
the musculoskeletal system.
Warming up should at least consist of the
3. Simulation exercises – affecting the
following:
neuromuscular system.
• 5 to 10 minutes of continuous movement We can apply each of these three components to
such as jogging, stepping, stair climbing -
curling in a warm-up routine that we call “step-
to activate the circulatory system (step)
stretch-slide”.
• 5 to 10 minutes dynamic stretching
exercises – to engage the
musculoskeletal system (stretch)

67
Step: • stepping up and down on a stair tread

The first phase of a proper curling warm-up is a • stepping up and down on a low bench
whole body aerobic activity such as stepping
• hop scotching on the patterns of a rug
exercises. The purpose of these exercises is to
generate body heat and to raise the level of • hop scotching over a number of brushes
function of the cardiovascular system. These
exercises should be done for approximately 5 to • walking rapidly backward, forward, and
10 minutes just prior to the 5 to 10 minutes of side ways in a limited space
stretching that should occur before going on the
• dancing to music supplied on a personal
ice. The stepping movement should initially be
listening device
light and rhythmical and gradually progress in
intensity, but not to the point of “breaking a • rapid free movement exercises
sweat”.
• shadow boxing while facing a glass
The goal is to elevate the heart rate, increase trophy case
blood flow, and heat the deep parts of the body
such as the muscles and joints. While warming Stretch:
up, the intensity should be mild, with a good rule
Dynamic Stretching is defined as slow controlled
of thumb being that the curler should be able to
movements through the full range of motion.
maintain a regular conversation without working
Dynamic stretching is the most appropriate form
up too much of a sweat. Progressive exercises
of exercises for the Warm-up. By contrast, static
such as skipping, stair climbing, jogging/
stretches are more appropriate for the Cool-
marching on the spot, or full body calisthenics
down. Dynamic stretching involves moving parts
might be suitable to a curling venue. The
of your body and gradually increasing reach,
participant starts slowly and steadily increases
speed of movement, or both. In dynamic
the pace. The athlete should be provided the
stretches, there are no bounces or "jerky"
opportunity to develop his/her own routine as
movements. An example of dynamic stretching
long as it meets the aerobic content requirement.
would be slow, controlled leg swings, arm
The imagination and creativity of the coach, swings, or torso twists.
instructor and athlete can find many possibilities
Dynamic stretching should be done immediately
when designing a “step” routine to be done in a
after the “step” portion of the warm-up and for 5
curling facility. Here are a few activities that
to 10 minutes before going on the ice. Perform
could take place in a club:
your exercises (leg raises, arm swings, etc...) in
• marching on the spot sets of six to ten repetitions. If after a few sets
you feel tired - stop. Tired muscles produce
• alternating bum kicks on the spot waste product, which causes a decrease in the
coordination of your movements. Do only the
• jogging on the spot
number of repetitions that you can do without

68
becoming fatigued. For best results, athletes backwards, down and then up again in a
should run through their dynamic stretching smooth action.
routine twice.
• Complete 6 to 10 repetitions.
If static stretching is to be used at all as part of
Arm Circles
the warm-up, the static stretch should only be
held for a few seconds (3-5) or no longer than it • Stand tall and relaxed with your hands 12
would be used in the sport. Static stretches held inches from your sides.
longer than 10 or 15 seconds will induce a
relaxation response and will not allow powerful • Keeping your body still, move your hands
muscles to contract as forcefully at the start of in small circles gradually increasing the

the game. speed up to 10 repetitions. Reverse the
direction for 10 repetitions.
D yn a mi c S tr e tc h i n g a n d M o b i l i ty
• Repeat the small arm circle action with
Exercises:
your arms straight out at 90° from your

The following are examples of dynamic sides. Complete 10 repetitions.
stretching and mobility exercises, which could
• Finally complete large arm circles both
form part of the Warm-up program in a training
forwards and backwards for 6 to 10
session.
repetitions.
Neck Mobility
Overhead Reach
• Flexion/Extension - Tuck your chin into
• Stand tall with good posture, feet slightly
your chest and then lift your chin upward
wider than shoulder-width apart.
as far as possible without straining.
Complete 6 to 10 repetitions. • Bend smoothly first to one side while
reaching overhead with the arm on the
• Lateral Flexion - Lower your left ear
s i d e

toward your left shoulder and then your
that you are stretching and then repeat on
right ear to your right shoulder. Complete
the other.
6 to 10 repetitions.
• Repeat 6-10 times on each side with a
• Rotation - Turn your chin laterally toward
slow rhythm, breathing out as you bend to

your left shoulder and then rotate it toward
the side, and in as you return to the
your right shoulder. Complete 6 to 10
centre.
repetitions.
Golfers Twist
Shoulder Rolls
• Extend your arms out to your sides, and
• Stand tall and relaxed. Raise your
twist your torso and hips to the left,
shoulders towards your ears, take them
shifting your weight on to the left foot.

69
 Then twist your torso to the right while • Repeat with the left leg and alternate for 6
shifting your weight to the right foot. to 10 repetitions on each leg.

• Complete 6-10 repetitions on each side. Heel Raises

Leg Swings – Backward and Forward • Leaning forward with your hands on the
wall and your weight on your toes, raise
• Stand sideways to the wall place your and lower both heels in a controlled
hand on the wall for balance.
manner.
• Swing your leg furthest from the wall
• Each time, lift your heels one to two
forward and backwards for 6 to 10
inches from the ground while maintaining
repetitions.
ground contact with the ball of your feet.
• Turn and repeat with the other leg.
• C o m p l e t e 6 t o 1 0 r e p e t i t i o n s .

• Leaning slightly forward with both hands
on a wall and your weight on your left leg,
Slide:
swing your right leg to the left in front of
your body, pointing your toes upwards as The final phase of the curling warm-up is done
your foot reaches its furthest point of on-ice using the sliding movements associated
motion. with the delivery and brushing skills. These are
the most traditional of curling warm-up
• Then swing the right leg back to the right
exercises. Sliding from the hack should progress
as far as comfortable, again pointing your
from an initial easy leg drive and high upper
toes up as your foot reaches its final point
body position to a full take-out leg drive with the
of movement.
upper body in the actual delivery position.
• Complete 10 to 12 repetitions on each Footwork during simulated brushing should
leg. progress from short to long foot strokes with a
gradual increase in broom pressure.
Half Lunges
If a curling team meets at a designated time
• Standing tall both feet together (starting before a game in order to warm-up together,
position). several other benefits can happen. The overall
standardization of the warm-up habit can be
• Keeping the back straight, lunge forward
helpful in developing the pre-game routine. This
with the right leg approximately 1 metre.
routine has been shown to be successful in
• Bend knees to slightly load the optimum preparation for competitive
quadriceps muscles and return to start performance.
position.

70
COOL DOWN

The goal of the Cool-down is to return the body waste products from the working muscles
to its original state of homeostasis or equilibrium. and to increase range of movement.

Curling can leave the body with a build up of Static stretches are more appropriate to
cellular waste product such as lactic acid, the Cool-down as they help muscles to
carbon dioxide and other products that can relax and increase their range of
hamper recovery. Intense brushing and stressful movement. Studies have concluded that
delivery positions can also push the body to its little benefit occurs prior to 15 seconds in
limits resulting in fatigue, stiff and sore muscles holding a static stretch and that 30
as well as micro-tears or other injuries. seconds will provide a much better result.

What are the benefits of a Cool-down? Decreasing Aerobic Intensity

An appropriate Cool-down will: In the Cool-down, the reverse of the aerobic

component of the Warm-up routine should be
• aid in the dissipation of waste products - employed. If the heart rate and body
including lactic acid which may have built
temperature are high, then work to gradually
up during activity
bring the heart rate down by starting the activity
• reduce the chances of dizziness or briskly for a minute or two and then gradually
fainting caused by the pooling of venous slowing down. This should take between 5 to 10
blood at the extremities minutes depending on the body temperature and
heart rate at the end of the game/training
• relaxing muscles and returning them to session. Dynamic, no impact exercise can also
their ideal range of motion be incorporated to attain the required results.

• if necessary, icing aches and pains to Static Stretching

facilitate recovery
Static stretching is more commonly and correctly
Cooling down period should consist of the used after the curling game or practice session.
following: Since sliding and brushing stress the muscles at
a high intensity, some tightening of the muscles
• 5 to 10 minutes jogging/walking -
are expected after playing or practicing. A
decrease body temperature and remove
chronic tightening of muscles, due to not
waste products from the working muscles
stretching them back to their original flexibility,
• 5 to 10 minutes static stretching exercises will eventually create an overuse injury. Muscles
- decrease body temperature, remove that continually get tighter will eventually create a

71
misalignment thus creating a weakness in the Calf Stretch
body. As soon as that weakness is stressed
beyond its capacity, an injury will occur. • Stand tall with one leg in front of the other,
hands flat and at shoulder height against
Therefore, to prevent chronic tightening, regular
a wall.
stretching should become a part of a team’s
routine once a game or practice has finished. • Ease your back leg further away from the
wall, keeping it straight and press the heel
Static Stretching Exercises
firmly into the floor – hold 20-30 seconds.
The following are examples of general static
• Keep your hips facing the wall and the
stretching and mobility exercises, which could
rear leg and spine in a straight line.
form part of the Cool-down program at the end of
a training session. The aim is to relax the • You will feel the stretch in the calf of the
muscles and facilitate a return to pre-game/pre- rear leg.
training range of motion. In all exercises breathe
easily while performing them and hold the static • Repeat with the other leg.
stretches for 20 to 30 seconds.
Lunge Stretch
Hamstring Stretch
• Kneel on your right knee with your left leg
• Sit on the ground with both legs straight further forward.
out in front of you.
• Keep your back straight and gradually
• Bend the left leg and place the sole of the move your hips forward until you feel a
left foot alongside the knee of the right gentle stretch along the front of the right
leg. thigh and/or along the hamstrings of the
left leg – hold 20-30 seconds.
• Allow the left leg to lie relaxed on the
ground. • Repeat by turning and facing the opposite
direction.
• Bend forward keeping the back straight
and hold for 20-30 seconds. Cobra Stretch

• You will feel the stretch in the hamstring of • Lie face down on the floor, fully
the right leg. outstretched.

• Repeat with the other leg. • Bring your hands to the sides of your
shoulders and ease your chest off the
floor, keeping your hips firmly pressed into
the ground – hold 20-30 seconds.

• You will feel the stretch in the front of the

trunk.

72
Inner Thigh Stretch Worship Stretch

• Sit with tall posture. • With your hands and knees on the floor,
slide hands forward and sit back onto
• Ease both of your feet up towards your your heels.
body and place the soles of your feet
together, allowing your knees to come up • Place your forehead on the floor and hold
and out to the side for 20-30 seconds.

• Resting your hands on your lower legs or • Keeping your forehead on the floor, reach
ankles and ease both knees towards the your left hand to the left followed by your
ground – hold for 20-30 seconds right hand to the left and the rest of your
upper body - hold 20-30 seconds.
• You will feel the stretch along the inside of
your thighs and groin • You will feel the back stretch under your
right arm.
• Bring your hands to the sides of your
shoulders and ease your chest off the • Repeat in the other direction and hold for
floor, keeping your hips firmly pressed into 20-30 seconds.
the ground – hold 20-30 seconds.
Chest Stretch
• You will feel the stretch in the front of the
trunk. • Stand tall, feet slightly wider than
shoulder-width apart with knees slightly
Quadriceps Stretch bent.

• Lie face down on the floor, resting your • Hold your arms out to the side parallel
forehead on your right hand. with the ground and the palms of the
hand facing forward.
• Press your hips firmly into the floor and
bring your left foot up towards your • Stretch the arms back as far as possible –
buttocks. hold 20-30 seconds.

• Take hold of the left foot with the left hand • You should feel the stretch across your
and ease the foot closer to your buttocks chest.
– hold for 20-30 seconds.

• Repeat with the other side of the body.

• You will feel the stretch along the front of

the thigh.

73
Posterior Shoulder Stretch • You will feel the stretch in the back of the
shoulder.
• Stand tall, feet slightly wider than
shoulder-width apart with your knees • Repeat with the other arm.
slightly bent.
Triceps Stretch
• Place your right hand on your left
shoulder and your left hand on your right • Stand sideways to a wall and place your
elbow on the wall with your hand behind
elbow.
your neck.
• Ease the right arm closer to you chest and
across your body – hold 20-30 seconds. • Gradually move your elbow up the wall
until you feel a gentle stretch – hold 20-30
• You will feel the stretch in the back of the seconds.
shoulder.
• You will feel the stretch in the shoulders
• Repeat with the other arm. and the triceps.

Upper Back Stretch • Repeat on other arm.

• Stand tall, feet slightly wider than Forearm Stretch

shoulder-width apart with knees slightly
bent. • Standing with your right arm held out
directly in front of you, and your palm
• Interlock your fingers and push your facing down, place your left hand on top
hands as far away from your chest as of your right hand.
possible, allowing your upper back to
relax – hold 20-30 seconds. • Gently apply pressure downwards until a
stretch is felt on top of your arm towards
• You should feel the stretch between your your elbow, hold 20-30 seconds and
shoulder blades. repeat on other arm.

• Stand tall, feet slightly wider than

shoulder-width apart with your knees
slightly bent.

• Place your right hand on your left

shoulder and your left hand on your right
elbow.

• Ease the right arm closer to you chest and

across your body – hold 20-30 seconds.

74
PHYSICAL PREPARATION

20 minutes at a mild-to-moderate pace. The

Introduction
average heart rate during such activity should be
There are four components of physical training approximately 80% of age-adjusted maximum
for curling that are required for all four positions: (220 - age). This type of training should be done
three times per week, on alternate days, during
• Aerobics the summer pre-season months. Progression in
training should be accomplished by adding
• Flexibility
about 5% per week to the original time of
• Strength exercise.

• Nutrition Example: At the end of the season, John has a

few weeks rest and now has started jogging
Aerobics is needed for stamina, weight control again. He can jog for 20 minutes, after a proper
and general health. warm-up, before beginning to feel tired. His
aerobic program starts with 20 minutes jogging 3
Flexibility is required for proper technique and
times a week and he adds 1 minute (20 minutes
injury prevention.
x 5%) to his time each week.
Strength is needed because of the forces
required to deliver the stone and sweep under
various (particularly heavy) ice conditions.

Nutrition is needed to generally provide the

necessary energy to perform and particularly to
provide stable energy to the brain for prolonged
mental activity.

Aerobics

The particular form of aerobic training required

for general fitness for curling is the sub-threshold
type, i.e. intensity below anaerobic threshold.
Usually this consists of some form(s) of
rhythmical, whole-body activity such as running,
brisk walking, swimming, biking, rowing, etc.
which the curler can do continuously for at least

75
Flexibility Calisthenics should concentrate on ankle, knee
and hip movements which simulate the angles at
The particular form of flexibility training for which the leg drive action occurs. Examples of
general curling fitness is a combination of static suitable calisthenics would be stair-climbing or
active used during warm-up and dynamic used stride walking uphill.
during cool-down.
Four to six sets of 6-8 such exercises is sufficient
A good routine of static stretches systematically for one work-out.
progresses from one end of the body to the
other, i.e. head-to-toe, center-to-ends, etc. For abdominal strength use sit-up “crunches”
where curlers lie on their back, thighs
Dynamic stretching exercises used as a part of perpendicular to the floor, knees bent, feet
cool-down should emphasize stretching using supported on a chair or bench, and raise their
curling specific movements in the following trunk about halfway to their knees. Sets of 20
joints: crunches can be alternated with back raises
where curlers lie on their stomach, hands behind
• ankle
head, and arch up so that the trunk is lifted off
• knee the floor.

• hip, including groin Like aerobics, strength exercises should be

done 3 times a week on alternate days.
• shoulder Gradually increase the number of sets from your
starting point to a maximum of six.
Strength

Strength training increases the ability of muscles

to produce force. Strength is generally needed
in curling, particularly in the leg drive movement
within the delivery and in the abdominals and
low back to stabilize the body during sweeping.
These strength requirements are increased on
slow (heavy) ice.

Abdominal-low back strength may be particularly

useful in preventing low back pain, one of the
most common complaints among curlers.

Strength training for curling can best be

accomplished by initially using calisthenics and
then progressing to free weights (isotonics) if
needed.

76
NUTRITION

nervous system to send blood to the stomach to

Introduction
participate in the digestive process. This is
The purpose of this section is to build on the detrimental to performance because that blood
base of information below with two additional is better used elsewhere, either in the working
concepts specific to the nutritional requirements muscles or the brain especially.
for curling:
The level of circulating blood sugar has a direct
• fast and slow carbohydrates effect on mental function. This is because blood
sugar is the primary fuel of the brain. Low blood
• stimulants sugar results in reduced mental performance
and can affect how you feel, how you interact
• a well balanced diet
with others, how you remember, and how well
• the carbohydrate pre-competition meal you solve problems.

• adjusting the carbo pre-competition meal The presence of easy to obtain stimulants such
relative to the time available from meal to as caffeine, nicotine, and fast acting sugars in
performance our everyday diets produces a stress on the
nervous system. This happens because our
• maintaining fluid intake nervous system tries to smooth out the rise and
fall of body functions between activation and
• sugar and salt (electrolyte) replacement
relaxation. Stimulants tend to push the activation
drinks
cycle and the nervous system will try to
• things to avoid in the pre-competition compensate by creating rebound effects to offset
meal the stimulation. During the rebound (down)
periods performance is impaired particularly in
Nutritional Requirements for Curling the more complex mental functions.

As with all competitive types of performance, Curling requires some complex mental functions
both the training for, and the playing of, the sport combined with physical performance.
of curling increases nutritional requirements over Visualization of the ice pattern, memorization of
basic levels. characteristics of individual players, and the
complexities of strategy are a few examples of
Activation of the stretch receptors in the stomach such mental function. The need for a stable
by the presence of an amount of food sufficient physical basis for mental function lies in
to distend it (full stomach feeling) causes the nutritional practices which provide sufficient

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blood sugar over 2 - 3 hours without rebound Fast carbohydrates eaten alone are rapidly
effect. absorbed, causing the blood glucose levels to
rise sharply. In turn the pancreas is stimulated
Good nutrition and good training go hand in
and secretes insulin to return the glucose levels
hand and allow the athlete to enter training and
to normal. Often in response to a rapid rise in
competition at peak ability. During the training
blood, levels will drop below normal. This
season what you do and do not eat is important.
condition can produce dizziness, lack of
If an athlete’s diet is deficient in a specific
steadiness, nausea and low energy.
nutrient, body reserves will decline and physical
capabilities will be limited. During competition It would be better to eat nothing prior to a game
however, most often what you do eat is the than to eat fast carbohydrates.
critical element. If you eat the wrong kinds of
Fast carbohydrates may be eaten after
foods, or the right foods at the wrong time work
c o m p e t i t i o n b u t n o t b e f o re o r d u r i n g
output can be adversely affected.
competition. Protein meals are best served
No single food or “magic meal” will ensure top after competition or on days when the curler is
performance, however some foods taken in the 2 not competing.
- 3 hours prior to training or competition can
If you have less than 2 hours until competing
hinder an athlete’s performance. The goal is to
only eat small amounts of slow carbohydrates.
ensure adequate energy for exertion without any
discomfort or fatigue.
Water
Too much food causes the nervous system to
Water is often a neglected part of an athlete’s
send blood to the stomach to help with
diet. Water is very important for an exercising
digestion. This is detrimental because we want
athlete. It supplies the body with necessary
the food going to the muscles.
blood volume and therefore, oxygen to the
A protein meal takes 3 to 4 hours to digest. muscles. Water makes up 60 percent of your
total body weight and 70 percent of your
A fat meal takes 3 to 4 hours to digest muscles. Without enough water you can’t work
at your top level of performance.
A carbohydrate meal takes 2 hours to
digest. If you start a game or a practice without having
enough water in your body or if you sweat during
A good meal the day of competition (to store
a game or practice and do not replace the lost
energy) would include a high proportion of
water, you may become dehydrated. You can
carbohydrates (grains, pastas, cereals). Snacks
become dehydrated even when you lose just a
prior to and during competition should be small
few pounds as sweat.
in quantity and include carbohydrate foods that
are slow to moderate in speed. How can you avoid dehydration?

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 • Drink plain, cool water before, during and those requiring fine muscular coordination and
after the game even if you do not feel intense concentration such as curling) since it
thirsty. may cause increased heart and respiratory rates
and associated increases in psychological
• Avoid sports drinks before or during the tension which may be detrimental to
game. Because they contain salt or sugar,
performance.
they are not absorbed by the body as
quickly as water. Caffeine is a stimulus for acid secretion in the
stomach. Restrict caffeine ingestion when
• When you exercise in a cool environment traveling abroad since it may add to gastro-
(arena or curling club) your body still
intestinal upset already brought about by foreign
sweats. To keep warm and yet allow the
foods, drinks and climate. Avoid caffeine
sweat to evaporate wear several layers of
ingestion while flying since it causes increased
loose clothing. Layers of clothing will trap
urine production and water loss and adds further
the war mth from your body while
to the condition of dehydration which is prevalent
absorbing your sweat. If you become too
during most high altitude flights.
warm a layer can be removed. Curlers
would be advised to drink approximately Limit the amount of caffeine ingested at all times,
a third of a cup of water during every end. but particularly just prior to competition and
when the stomach is relatively empty.
Caffeine

Caffeine is contained in varying amounts in

several foods and beverages. Tea, coffee, colas
and cocoa all contain caffeine. As with most
drugs, caffeine has both favourable and
unfavourable effects on the body. Coffee does
appear to relieve psychological fatigue. Studies
have shown that caffeine ingestion may impair
learning of new manual skills and movements
requiring fine muscular coordination (such as the
curling delivery). As a result of these studies a
curler who normally relies on caffeine to calm his
nerves should then try it in a weaker form
(diluted tea).

Caffeine ingestion causes an increase in resting

heart rate, possibly stimulates cardiac muscle
and tends to increase the amount of work done
by the heart. Ingestion of caffeine should be
limited prior to some sports competitions (e.g.

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6

PRACTICE PLANNING
Planning is an essential part of any successful activity and planning practices is no exception. If you
and your team are to achieve the goals that you have set together, you need to know where you are
headed and what you have to do to get there. Many teams and individuals never develop as they
should in curling because they spend hours in meaningless practice. Practice time must be planned
so that the entire time is spent profitably.

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FACTORS TO CONSIDER

When planning your practices, there are a The practices should consist of three types of
number of factors to consider if they are to be activities:
effective and meaningful. Practices should:
1. Warm-up – consists of stretching and
• Be consistent with season goals. simulation exercises which will prepare
the player for activity and reduce the
• Be well planned. chances of injury.
• Have a specific function. 2. Skill development – the players practice
• Have a variety of activities. conditioning, delivery, brushing/
sweeping, and strategy skills with the
• Meet team and individual needs. coach providing feedback on
performance.
• Vary according to season.
3. Cool-down – consists of progressively
• Be meaningful and beneficial.
less physical activity and stretching
• Be enjoyable. exercises to bring the player to a resting
state.
• Keep players active.

• Build confidence.

The practice plan should contain the following:

1. List of objectives – what this particular

practice is designed for.

2. List of activities – the drills and routines

that will accomplish the objectives.

3. Description of each activity – a detail of

how each activity is to be run.

4. T i m e f r a m e f o r e a c h a c t i v i t y –
appropriate times set so that objectives
can be met.

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VARIATIONS IN PRACTICES

The plan for the season should include practice Notice that the emphasis here is in identifying all
sessions designed to identify and to eliminate major faults and then designing practices to
faults. The corrections needed depend largely eliminate them. Drills used should include
on the individual, his or her ability and the conditioning elements. At this time of year,
amount of time left before an upcoming strategy training can be introduced.
competition. When planning practices, consider
the time of the season and the schedule of Mid-Season
important competitions. Early season practices
will focus on fundamentals and elimination of Mid-season planning should focus on:
major faults. At this time of the year, you will have
• Conditioning.
a good deal of time to work on major changes in
technique, if they are required. On the other • Fault correction.
hand, in the late season you will have time for
only very minor corrections. Practices prior to • Expanding strategy.
competition must focus on being positive and
• Finer shot-making drills.
attempting to instill confidence in all team
members, and therefore should vary according • Solving major problems that have
to the time of the year. They can be categorized developed.
under early, mid and late season.
• Developing communication skills.
Early-Season At this time of the year, major competitions are
approaching. Major faults should be largely
Early season planning should take into account
corrected by now. Finer shot-making drills should
the following elements:
now be used in practice. Strategy goals for the
• Conditioning – improve fitness. season should be largely accomplished by this
time.
• Emphasizing fundamentals.

• Focusing on major faults.

• Introductory strategy.

• Simple shot-making drills.

• Introduction of communication skills.

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Late-Season Pre-Competition
Late-season planning should incorporate the Practice sessions just prior to competition
following elements: should consider the following:

• Conditioning – maintenance. • No conditioning.

• Focusing on minor faults correction. • Only very minor corrections.

• Strategy to meet different situations. • Strategy for competition itself.

• Specific shot-making drills. • Simple shots for confidence.

• Competitive practice sessions. • Positive feedback.

• Fine tuning communication skills. • Team meeting for the competition.

Now only minor corrections in technique can be During any pre-competition practice, the main
made. It is too late in the season to work on objective is to instill confidence in team
major faults if any are still present. Because this members. Drills based on simple shots are
is the time of major competition, strategy confidence builders. The coach also can be very
sessions now can be quite specific. Competitive instrumental in instilling positive feelings
practice sessions are used as simulation for amongst the team members. If the practice is at
actual game situations. the competition site, players should concentrate
on getting a feel for the ice.

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