photo by Jon Oropeza
In curling there are two teams of four, playing against each other. Each player slides two rocks down the ice towards a target. The teams alternate delivering the stones. Once all 16 stones have been delivered, the team with the stone closest to the center scores points. The number of points the team scores is dependent on the number of stones they have closer to the center than their opponent. For each stone they have that is at least touching the target and is closer than their opponent’s closest stone, the team scores a point. There is no point value assigned to different colors or circles of the target.
Once all the stones are thrown and points are scored it is called an end which is similar to an inning in baseball. At the completion of an end they then slide the stones the other direction towards a target on the other side of the sheet of ice. Play continues like this until the number of ends agreed upon, are played. Usually for club curling 8 ends are played, while tournaments are usually played to 10 ends. It can vary depending on the number of teams in a tournament and how much time they have to complete the game/tournament.
There are 4 different positions on a team. There is the lead, the second, the third, and the skip. The lead throws the first two stones, the second throws the next two stones, the third throws the third two stones, and the skip throws the last two stones.
There is a line called a hog line painted on the ice. Since stones are delivered both ways on the ice and targets are on both sides, likewise there is a hog line on both sides. When delivering a stone, it must be released before touching the line. After released the stone must be fully across the line to remain in play. The stone also is taken out of play if it touches a sideline, or if it goes fully across a line that is drawn at the end of the sheet of ice called a back line.
When a player isn’t throwing the stone they usually are positioned as sweepers and move down the ice with the stone. When delivering the stone a player spins the stone slightly causing it to take a curved path down the ice. Players sweeping are allowed to sweep in front of the stone to cause it to go further and straighter. The targets have a line going across the middle of them. This is called a T-line. Only player on the team is allowed to sweep a stone that is behind the T-line. Also your opponent is allowed to sweep your stone once it crosses the T-line.
The skip never goes down the ice with a stone sweeping. Instead the skip stands on the opposite end of the ice holding their broom as a target for the person throwing. They are in charge of calling the strategy of the game and tell the players sweeping whether or not to sweep. When the skip is throwing, the third takes over his duties holding his broom as a target for the skip and saying whether or not to sweep the stone.
In general if a moving stone is touched by the team who threw it, it is removed from play. If it is touched by the opponent, stones are arranged how they would be if it were not touched. If a stationary stone is bumped and is moved by any player it is placed back where it was by the other team.
For more in depth rules you can go to www.worldcurling.org/rules-and-regulations .
Once all the stones are thrown and points are scored it is called an end which is similar to an inning in baseball. At the completion of an end they then slide the stones the other direction towards a target on the other side of the sheet of ice. Play continues like this until the number of ends agreed upon, are played. Usually for club curling 8 ends are played, while tournaments are usually played to 10 ends. It can vary depending on the number of teams in a tournament and how much time they have to complete the game/tournament.
There are 4 different positions on a team. There is the lead, the second, the third, and the skip. The lead throws the first two stones, the second throws the next two stones, the third throws the third two stones, and the skip throws the last two stones.
There is a line called a hog line painted on the ice. Since stones are delivered both ways on the ice and targets are on both sides, likewise there is a hog line on both sides. When delivering a stone, it must be released before touching the line. After released the stone must be fully across the line to remain in play. The stone also is taken out of play if it touches a sideline, or if it goes fully across a line that is drawn at the end of the sheet of ice called a back line.
When a player isn’t throwing the stone they usually are positioned as sweepers and move down the ice with the stone. When delivering the stone a player spins the stone slightly causing it to take a curved path down the ice. Players sweeping are allowed to sweep in front of the stone to cause it to go further and straighter. The targets have a line going across the middle of them. This is called a T-line. Only player on the team is allowed to sweep a stone that is behind the T-line. Also your opponent is allowed to sweep your stone once it crosses the T-line.
The skip never goes down the ice with a stone sweeping. Instead the skip stands on the opposite end of the ice holding their broom as a target for the person throwing. They are in charge of calling the strategy of the game and tell the players sweeping whether or not to sweep. When the skip is throwing, the third takes over his duties holding his broom as a target for the skip and saying whether or not to sweep the stone.
In general if a moving stone is touched by the team who threw it, it is removed from play. If it is touched by the opponent, stones are arranged how they would be if it were not touched. If a stationary stone is bumped and is moved by any player it is placed back where it was by the other team.
For more in depth rules you can go to www.worldcurling.org/rules-and-regulations .