About Curling
Curling has a long and rich history. While its origins are lost in the mists of time, Scottish curlers already were playing the game by the beginning of the 16th century on frozen ponds and lochs.
Their earliest equipment included stones formed by nature, each one unique. These stones often curved, or “curled,” as they slid down the ice, and the players used besoms or brooms to clear snow and debris from the path of the stones.
Today, curling is a game of strategy, finesse and strength, contested by teams generally comprised of four players. The principle of curling is simple – get your stone closer the center of the target circles, called the “house,” than your opponent. Players of all skill levels can participate and compete even at older ages than most sports allow.
Respect, honor and tradition are core elements of the game. Curlers are close knit and you can rely on a warm welcome in curling clubs throughout the world. Camaraderie among players is inherent in the sport and tradition calls for both teams to sit together after a game, discussing what was and what might have been.
Come join us!
A 2 Minute Guide to Curling
Curling Etiquette
- Be ready to play your game at the scheduled time. Alert your skip if you are unable to play and find a spare.
- Start with a handshake. At the beginning of the game, greet the members of the opposing team with a handshake, tell them your name, and wish them “Good Curling”.
- Be ready to throw. Take your position in the hack as soon as your opponent has delivered his/her stone. Keep the game moving; delays detract from the sport.
- Be prepared to sweep as soon as your teammate releases the stone.
- After delivering your stone, move to the side of the sheet between the hog lines, unless you are the skip. Leads and seconds are not permitted in the house or behind the sheet, except when sweeping or to remove the stones after the count has been determined by the vices.
- Place your skip’s stone in front of the hack to help speed up the game.
- Be courteous. Don’t distract your opponent in the hack. Sweepers should stay on the sidelines between the hog lines when not sweeping. Opposing skip should remain still with their broom off the ice.
- Compliment good shots, no matter which team makes them. Respect your opponent.
- Keep the ice clean. Change your shoes. Sand, grit and dirt are the ice’s worst enemy. The shoes you wear should only be used for curling. Keep them clean. Use the provided brushes to clean your broom head.
- If your team's moving stone is touched between the hog lines by a player, equipment or any personal belongings, immediately stop the stone.
- If your team's moving stone has crossed the hog line at the playing end and is then touched, allow it to come to rest and alert your skip. The opposing team has the option to leave all stones where they came to rest, position the stones where they thought they would have come to rest had the stone not been touched or remove the stone and replacing all stones that were displaced.
- If you touch a stationary stone, alert your skip. If it did not effect the outcome of the moving stone, it is replaced in its original location. If it did effect the outcome, the opposing team has the same three options: let the play stand, try to position stones where they think they would have gone or remove the thrown stone and replace all displaced stones.
- All games on the ice should run approximately the same time. Therefore, if your game is an end or two behind all other games you should pick up the pace. Each player should be ready to deliver their stone when their skip puts down the broom. Refer to our League Rules for time limitations applied to all games.
- Finish with a handshake. When the game is over, offer each of the players a hearty handshake and move off the ice. The winning curlers traditionally offer their counterparts some refreshments.
Looking to get even better at curling? Check out our Advice for Curlers.
Curling Lingo
- Open – 4 members of any gender in any order
- Mixed – 4 members, 2 female and 2 male, genders must alternate throwing
- Mixed doubles – 2 members, 1 female and 1 male
- Mens – 4 male members
- Womens – 4 female members
- Fixed teams – the same members play together for the entire curling season, if you’re going to miss a game you’re going to have to find a spare
- Fixed draws – the same members play together for a single draw, then are remixed for the next draw according to the format of each particular league
- Drawn teams – teams are put together before each game based on the members who showed up to curl
- Fall session - runs from October to December
- Winter session - runs from January to April
YouTube
YouTube has many great videos with tips to improve your curling. For example, check out "Curl up With Jamie Sinclair".
