Curling skip team selection

Building a Team

 The curling teamis more than simply four individuals since everyone on the team has some responsibility on every shot.


1. Ensure players are comfortable with the position they are playing. This means a comfort level with mechanics of the position, but most importantly the positional hierarchy (playing lead or second) is in no way a reflection of their skill level or their value on the team.

2. Ensure players have similar releases and release points.

3. Ensure players throw the rock on the same "line of delivery".

4. Ensure players recognize the value of team communication, sweeping and positioning systems.

Team Development

 Play and practice together


"Skip syndrome" means that more than one player on the team thinks they should skip - sort this out! Four great shot-makers will make a great team if they have become a cohesive unit with similar goals and expectations.

Any player that doubts the others in the positions will immediately become the catalyst for failure.

Curling skips sweeping signals

The skip calls the line, and inquires about where the sweepers think the rock will end up.

1. Sweep signal

The hand is held palm up, gesturing in a beckoning motion.

2. No sweeping signal

The hand is help palm up, gesturing  a stationary traffic stop

Sweeping rocks after the curl begins does two things:

1. It reduces the amount of additional curl.

2. It keeps the rock moving on its current path.

Curling skip's attire

You're basically standing around - dress warmly, with warm socks.

Curling skips strategy

YOU HAVE THE HAMMER

Try to score more than one point.

 You will be throwing the very last rock of the end. 

Try for a simple draw to the house without any stone in the way.

The lead's  shots should be on the side of the house, either in or just in front. Later, you can draw some shots behind those guards to try to score more than one point. Otherwise the opponent will simply try to remove your shots.

If the opponent places rocks on the center line, get rid of them, or replace them your own that can be raised later. 

Keep the center of the ice free for your last shot.
Blank the end if there are no stones in the house or take out a single opposition stone in the house.

OPPONENTS HAVE THE HAMMER

Try to steal one or more points, or allow your opponent to score only one point.

The best way to steal a point is to be able to curl a stone behind some guards. 

Position the leads stones on the center line about 4 to 8 feet in front of the house. 

Come around it the center guard and placing your second's stone on the button. 

Skips stones guard if you are shot or good second shot. If the opposition is first shot, consider a freeze to limit the damage or a guard to keep them from scoring two.

Curling Skip Shot Signals

These are signals used the curling skip to communicate to his team what shot is being called:

If you're not sure of what the skip wants you to do, stand up outside of the hack and ask the skip to repeat the signals!!!!

Repeat the signal!

 1. Corner Guard 

The shot is indicated by tapping the area at top of the house where the rock is expected to stop, followed by crossed arms.

Centre Guard

 2. Freeze 


For the freeze (shooter comes to rest exactly in front of another stone), the skip taps the ice immediately in front of the stone he wants frozen. 


For takeouts I call three standard weights: that's it, Bumper, Peel and Hack. Also known as Control, Board, and Normal respectively)

 3.  Takeout - Bumper weight (weight sufficient to hit the button) sometimes called 'control' weight 

For the takeout, the skip taps the rock that your shot is to remove from play and holds his broom on the desired line.  Skip holds his hand across his stomach touching the opposite wrist, it means he wants the stone thrown lighter than normal - control weight. 

Note: 


I realize this one is controversial. People use the term bumper and board interchangeably.  In the C leagues, I don't feel it is reasonable to get the curlers to judge more than three weights so I'm sticking to this for the time being.  

 

 4. Takeout - Peel Weight (weight sufficient to hit the back board) 

For the takeout, the skip taps the rock that your shot is to remove from play and holds 
his broom on the desired line.

If the skip places his hand across his shoulder, that means he wants his teammate to 
throw the stone very hard (PEEL WEIGHT)

 5. Takeout - Hack Weight ( weight sufficient to hit the hack and stop) sometimes called 'normal' weight  

For the takeout, the skip taps the rock that your shot is to remove from play and holds his broom on the desired line. The skip's hand is held across his chest touching opposite elbow, it means he wants normal takeout weight. 

Note: A rock that will slide beyond the Hack, also has sufficient energy to remove another rock.  This is normal takeout weight.

6.  Draw - In Turn 

The skip taps the ice where the rock is expected to stop and holds the broom vertically over the target spot on the ice that the thrower aims for.  The skip holds out his right arm he wants an inturn (stone rotates clockwise)

 

Note: this is an out turn signal for "LEFTIES"

7. Draw - Out Turn

The skip taps the ice where the rock is expected to stop and holds the broom vertically over the target spot on the ice that the thrower aims for.Skip holds out his left arm he wants an outturn (stone rotates counter clockwise)

 Note:this in an in turn for "LEFTIES"

8. Raise (Tap back)

For the raise (gently moving a rock), the skip taps the stone and then holds his broom across his chest with both hands. The distance between his hands is the approximate distance that he wants the stationary stone to move. He will next tap the spot where he wants you to bump it. For all intents and purposes this is bumper weight.

9. Tick

10. Split

For the split, the skip will tap the stationary stone and the ice on either side of it. This indicates that he wants both the shooter and stationary rock to stay in the house.









The slower the rock, the more it tends to curl and conversely, 
the faster it travels, the straighter it goes.