How to Compete at Curling

The origins of curling date back to the early 15th Century with the oldest curling club in North America beginning in 1807. While curling is most popular in Canada, it's popularity is growing in the United States, with over 135 clubs across the nation. Sometimes called "chess on ice," curling is a game of precision, timing and strategy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Throw the first rock to begin the game. Teams will alternate throwing rocks throughout the game with each team member throwing two for a total of sixteen throws. To throw, or "deliver" the rock, a player will slide out from the hack, a fixed push-off point on each backboard, and release the rock before reaching the near hogline, a line 37 feet from and parallel to the backboard. The team captain, or "skip," stands at the far end of the ice and directs the throwing of stones. Team members throw their two rocks before switching throwers and following the order of the Lead, Second, Vice and Skip.
2. Aim your rock to come to rest as close as possible to the center of the bull's-eye at the far end of the ice. The entire bull's-eye is called the "house." Scoring is done after the first eight rocks are thrown. The team with the rock closest to the center, or "button," gets one point for each rock that's closer to the center than the other team's closest rock. Only rocks in the house are scored. The surface is then cleared for the next eight rocks to be delivered.
3. Sweep a path for the rock if needed. When the Lead delivers the first rock, the Second and Vice accompany it down the ice and sweep the ice to guide it, listening to the Skip for directions. The sweepers usually stand on either side of the rock and sweep to help make the rock go straighter and faster. They can sweep up to the tee-line, the line that crosses the button and runs parallel to the backboard. The players change positions when the thrower changes, always having one thrower, two sweepers, and the fourth person directing the rock.
4. Strategize as the game progresses. Rocks can be delivered for three purposes: to score by being in the house, to knock the opposing team's rocks out of scoring position, and to guard your own rocks and prevent them from being knocked out of position by the other team. As you see where rocks come to rest you can determine which of these actions will help your team score the most points.