Curling skips assessment of delivery

Troubleshooting

Applies to right handed curlers. Lefties mirror images

Symptom                         Problem                          Correction
Unbalanced delivery       Sliding foot misaligned     Move sliding foot under chest
Drifting to the right         Not balanced                  Move sliding foot left
My rocks curl more         Soft release                    Apply turn faster
Short release                  Recalibrate closer to hog
Turning in at release      Establish grip and maintain
LOD outside/in                Maintain LOD 
rocks curl less                Turned out at release      Establish grip and maintain
Hard release                   Apply turn slower
LOD inside/out               Maintain LOD
Not generating power    Weight not shifting           Shift weight back
Hips not elevated            Bring hips up and back
Improper body drop        Delay sliding foot
Too little leg drive           Push during body drop
Draw weight stinks         Delivery lacks tempo       Step back onto foot 1-2-3
Delivery too low             Raise House and torso
Can't hit the broom         Delivery too high             Lower House and torso

Curling skip's expectations of their own play

The skip:

Responsibilities: 

The skip's role is to provide overall leadership and strategic direction to the team. 

The biggest responsibility of the skip is to "close" the end. This 

could be the final execution of the tactics developed for the end. 

The skip is called upon to throw maintenance shots like guards, open takeouts, open draws 

etc. However, in many cases the skip is called upon to make key offensive shots like 

come-arounds, freezes, hit and rolls, and four foot draws under pressure.

Profile: 

The skip must have a stabilizing influence over the rest of the team. Even if 

the skip is not the best shooter on the team, he/she must be able to calmly execute the 

final shots. After the skip throws, the end is over. Because of this, the pressure of any 

given shot may be extremely high. 

The team must have the confidence that the skip will close the end (and sometimes the game) successfully.

Curling Skips expectations of the Vice Skip

The Vice Skip:

Responsibilities: 

The vice is called upon to make every type of shot from guards to peels, from freezes to doubles. The vice skip must have the skills to throw any type of shot at any time. The vice is often asked to make the "kill" shot. This is the shot that seals the end. In addition to shot-making skills, the vice must have excellent 
knowledge of strategy, house management and posse's good spatial skills for line calls. 

This is the most difficult job on the team because the vice is expected to make flawless sweep calls on the skip's rocks- only two shots per end. In most cases, the vice is the most well rounded player on the team.

Profile: 

The vice skip must also be a true team player. Because their skill level parallels the skip, they must support and have confidence in the skip as the team leader. 

The third has very few delivery problems. 

The vice skip controls the Score Board

The vice skip of the scoring team is responsible for posting the score after each end. On 

the curling scoreboard, numbers 1 through 16 (possibly 17, 18, 19 etc.) are painted 

horizontally from left to right. These numbers represent the rocks scored. At one end of 

the scoreboard, there is a stack of individual numbers from 1 to 10. These represent the 

ends and are hung either over or under the painted numbers. Since teams throw different 

colored rocks, the ends are hung above or below the painted numbers depending on color. 

In curling, the rocks scored are posted cumulatively, meaning two rocks scored in the 

second end are added to the what ever was scored in the first end (if any)

Curling skip's expectations of the second

The Second

Responsibilities: 

The second's primary responsibility is to maintain the tactical initiatives developed by the skip and set up by the lead. There are a wider variety of shots at the second position. 

The second often is asked to make the first offensive or aggressive move. This could be the first come-around of the end. 

Playing the free guard zone rule, the second is usually the one to "get under" first, meaning the first player 

to draw behind a guard or guards. On the other hand, the second may also play the role of 

clean-up person depending on how the lead performed. If the lead missed one or two shots, 

the second may be called upon to clear the area with heavy hits or double take outs. The 

second should have the ability to throw heavy weight take-outs while still being able to 
aim properly (hit the broom).

Profile: 

The second, like the lead,  fully understands the role and is a team player. Since the shot-making requirements are broader than the lead, the second must possess a well-rounded set of shot-making skills. 

The second is the position with strong power generating (long foot delay) potential. The delivery must still be fluid in the other categories for consistent draws.

Curling skips expectations of the lead

The lead:

Responsibilities: The lead is responsible for setting up the end. 

The lead rocks determine the tactical approach to any given end.  The outcome of the end is a direct result of the leads shots. 

Once the lead has thrown both rocks, the lead's responsibility is to be a supportive teammate for the others and to become one of the core sweepers.

Profile: 

The lead is the type of person that fully understands their role . The lead has usually been recognized as the least experienced  or skilled player. Not so.

 Leads generally throw draw shots with a few takeouts now and then. The ideal lead that has a fluid, all-body delivery, which results in very consistent draw weight.

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.