Curling 101/Etiquette & Safety Tips

Curling Safety Tips

What to Wear

Helmets or headgear are highly recommended to prevent serious injury and are mandatory for participants in our Little Rocks (U12) program and any youth 12 years of age and under.

Wear comfortable clothing that gives you a full range of motion for sweeping and sliding. Avoid clothing that sheds fibers or lint easily.

The ice shed is cold, but you’ll feel warmer as you play. Dress in layers to avoid overheating.

If you do not have curling shoes, wear a pair of clean running shoes. Do not wear them when travelling to the club - instead, carry them and change before entering the ice shed.

Wear grippers on both shoes to avoid slipping. Grippers are available to borrow from the club.

Ensure that your grippers are tight enough over your shoes (running shoes and curling shoes) that they will not fall off as you walk on the ice. Loose grippers can be a tripping hazard.

Safety on the Ice

Take a few minutes to stretch before entering the ice shed, to avoid muscle pulls and strains.

Take extra care when stepping onto the ice.

Always step onto the ice with a gripped shoe first.

Never step onto the ice with your ‘slider foot’.

Do not step on or off the ice over the rocks as this increases your chance of slipping and injuring yourself on the rocks or handles.

Moving on the Ice

Walk, never run on the ice.

Use grippers on both feet when sweeping.

Carry your broom with the brush side down to help provide balance as you move on the ice.

When sweeping, only move as fast as you are comfortable moving. If the rock is moving too fast for you to keep up, stop sweeping and move to the side of the sheet.

When approaching rocks on the ice go around then instead of stepping over them.

Handling Rocks

Never pick up a curling rock off of the ice surface. It is not required to lift the stone to deliver your shot, nor should rocks be lifted to move them around the sheet. Push rocks with your broom to move them safely.

Use your broom to stop moving rocks - never your hand as your fingers can be crushed between rocks.

Never use your feet to stop a fast-moving rock. You could lose balance and fall.

Delivering your Rocks

Wait until your skip and sweepers are ready before throwing. Ensure no other players are in the path of where you intend to throw.

When using a step-on slider, push the slider away from your foot after releasing your rock so you have both gripped feet to stand.

Use your broom or stabilizer for balance when standing after delivery.

Healthy Curling

If you’re sick or recovering from an illness, find a spare to fill in until you are in good health.

Alcohol and drugs can affect your balance and make navigating the ice more difficult. Save the drink until after the game, or if necessary, sit out.

About the Sport

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

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”.

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.

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.

Compliment good shots, no matter which team makes them. Respect your opponent.

Be ready. 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 rock.

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 “house” or “rings”, except when sweeping or to remove the stones after the count has been determined by the vices.

Be courteous. Don’t distract your opponent in the hack. Sweepers should stay on the sidelines between the hog lines when not sweeping.

Place your skip’s rock in front of the hack to help speed up the game.

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 rock when their skip puts down the broom.

Here are some basic curling tips for curlers of all skill levels courtesy of; Curl up With Jamie Sinclair

Tip #1 Balance