Curling 101 How to Teach Curling in a Middle School Physical Education Class

Curling 101The essentials to participating in an Olympic sportPED 199 Beginning Curling

Dr. Britton Johnson

EquipmentSheet of ice for play (rink holds 4 sheets)

Curling stones (8 per team)

Brooms (1 per player)

Hacks (2 per sheet)

Shoes

Tee and Tee-LineTee spot that is exactly center of the house (scoring zone). Also called the button

Tee line- This is the line that runs through the center of the house. Hog Line21 feet from tee line

This line serves two purposes:Delivery - Stone must be released before crossing this line (on your own side).

Scoring Stone must completely pass this line (on opposite side) to be in play.Side lines and Back lineSide line - Stone must not touch the sideline at all, or it will be considered out of play.

Back line A stone must be completely over the line to be considered out of play.The House

HouseThe house is a 12 foot in diameter circle.It is described by its various rings1 foot circle (Inner White ring)(or 6 inch semicircle)

4 foot circle (Red ring)(or 2 foot semicircle)

8 foot circle (Outer White ring)(or 4 foot semicircle)

12 foot circle (Blue ring)(or 6 foot semicircle)

Ice ConditionsSurface must be perfectly level. Any change in level will result in unwanted curl, or speeding up or slowing of the stone.

Pebble - The surface of the sheet is covered with small drops of ice, called a pebble, which is sprayed on beforehand.This is what allows the stone to catch and curl based on the spin of the delivery.Sweepers try to melt the pebble to keep a stone on-line longer, or to delay the slowing of the stone.The Old Stone

The New Stone

The Brooms

The Hack

The Shoes

ScoringStone must be touching the house to countClosest stone to Button receives a point (only 1 team)Next closest receives a point if from the same team (no point if opposite team)

Red scores 2, Yellow scores 0.

Yellow 4 Red 0

Red 2 Yellow 0

Yellow 3 Red 0

Red 3 Yellow 0

Yellow 1 Red 0

Total ScoreTeam123456Final

Red247 7

Yellow478 8

Score is tied 7-7 after 5 ends. Yellow wins 8-7 after 6 ends

Only the team that scores receives the pointTotal score is added, not individual ends.How to PlayOne player releases stone from hackStone slides down ice2 players sweep (if needed) to help stone into positionStone may curl (change direction) to move around other stones.Type of shot depends on situationSweepingAny offensive player can sweep at any time.Players sweep as close to the stone as possible.If they touch the stone, it must immediately be removed.Sweeping melts the pebble on the ice, allowing the stone to:Not slow down as fast (good sweepers can get an extra 15 feet out of a throw)Not curl as soon (in order to go around a stone)

Only the skip can sweep defensivelyCan only sweep after stone passes the Tee line.Types of ShotsDraw Shooting for the button Stone stops in middle of house.Takeout Shot hits opposing teams stone and knocks it out of play (own stone may stay in play, or go out of playOut-turn Elbow rotates away from bodyRight handed Stone turns counter-clockwiseIn-turn Elbow rotates in to the body on deliveryRight handed stone turns clockwiseRaise Team bumps a stone and moves it forward into the house or into a better scoring positionCurling's Michael JordanKevin Martin - Canada

The Release

Sweeping

Strategies of CurlingFree guard zoneNot allowed to remove first 2 stones in Free guard zoneThe HammerThrowing the last stone in an endBlank EndsTeam who has hammer throws last. Keep hammer and score 0 points, or score 1 point and lose hammer?Take-outs vs. DrawsRemoving a stone means less points available, but wastes one of your stonesProtecting your stonesPlacing a stone so that the opposition can not remove your other stoneAim and curlAiming your stone appropriately and allowing for the proper amount of curl is critical to a successful shot.GAME TIMELETS PLAY