Curling for Dummies »

Bob Weeks is the award-winning curling columnist for the Globe and Mail. As well as participating in six provincial championships, he played for several years on the World Curling Tour.

Packed with easy-to-follow illustrations explaining curling strategy.

"Delivers all you need to know about the game..."
— John Kawaja, two-time world champion

From game fundamentals to complex strategy, this one-step reference has curling covered. Rookie or seasoned player, fan or coach, this is the book you've been waiting for. So step onto the ice and hone your skills. Armed with the many tips and pointers in this fun, friendly book, you'll have no excuse not to head down to your local club and get curling!

Discover how to:

• Understand curling rules
• Find a club to curl at
• Improve your delivery, shots, and sweeping
• Form a winning team
• Be a great coach on and off the ice
• Enjoy the unique spirit of the game

Foreword
Introduction
About This Book
Why You Need This Book
How to Use This Book
How This Bood Is Organized
Part I: Getting Started
Part II: Curling Fundamentals
Part III: Hurry Hard! Playing the Game
Part IV: Getting Better
Part V: Behind the Glass
Part VI: The Events
Part VII: The Part of Tens
Icons Used in This Book
Part I: Getting Started
Chapter 1: What Is Curling?
What's This Game of Rocks and Brooms About?
* It's about throwing rocks * It's about rocks that curl * It's about shooting and scoring * It's about sweeping-- more than just cleaning up around the house * It's a thinking person's game Why Curl? * You can play at any age * You can play with your wife-- or girlfriend, or husband, or boyfriend, or... * You can learn how to play in one day (really, you can) * You don't have to spend an arm and a leg (you need them to play, anyway) * You don't have to be in rip-roaring shape
A Game for Everyone
A Community's Heart and Soul
Chapter 2: Kilts and Cannonballs: Where Curling Comes From
Origins of the Game * Continental Europe * Scotland the brave
Canada Rocks * Prairie roots * The iron crowd in Quebec
Around the Globe * Oh, say, can you curl * Europe and the rest of the world
Part II: Curling Fundamentals
Chapter 3: The Equipment
Shoes and Sliders * Types of slider * The speed of your slider * Caring for your slider * The best shoes for the game
Brooms * Corn brooms * Push brooms * Types of push broom
Gloves
Sweaters
Pants
Chapter 4: The Ice
This Isn't Hockey Ice, You Know
Pebbling the Ice
Maintaining the Ice * Cleaning the ice * Breaking the ice * Scraping the ice * Burning the ice * What players can do
Chapter 5: Rock and Roll
Crafting a Rock * Ailsa Craig: Another Scottish connection * How rocks are made
Sizing Up Your Stone * The striking band * The running surface
How a Rock Curls
As Unique as a Snowflake (Just Heavier)
How Rocks Get Fixed * Fixing the striking band * Fixing the running surface
Chapter 6: The Rink
The Team as a Whole
The Lead * Throwing stones * Sweeping
The Second * Throwing stones * Sweeping
The Front End: Working Together
The Third * Throwing stones * Holding the broom * Keeping score * The coin toss
The Skip * Throwing stones * Understanding strategy * Reading the ice
Forming the Team
Putting It All Together
Chapter 7: Hogs and Hacks: Understanding the Playing Field
The Game
The Sheet
The House
The Lines * The Back line * The Tee line * The Hog line * The Sidelines * The Centre line
The Hacks
Chapter 8: The Rules
The Basic Rules
Common Infractions * Touched stone * Moved stationary stone
Rules Regarding Sweeping * When and where you sweep * How you sweep
Measuring Stones
The Free Guard Zone
Sizing Up the Scoreboard * The score after the first end * The score after the second end * The score after all eight ends
Etiquette
Part III: Hurry Hard! Playing the Game
Chapter 9: The Delivery
Setting Up * Feet first: Stepping into the hack * Keep your balance: Using your broom * Hold onto your stones
Delivering the Rock * Pressing ahead * The backswing * The forward swing * The slide * Sliding at the broom * The release
Chapter 10: The Shots
What Makes a Good Shot * Watching your weight * Staying in line * Waiting for the signal
The Draw * Throwing it * Getting good at it * Here a draw, there a draw
The Takeout * Throwing it * Getting good at it
The Guard
The Freeze
The Split
The Run-back
The Raise
Chapter 11: Sweeping
How to Sweep * Slip-sliding away * Holding the broom * Brushing the stone * Putting it all together
Where to Sweep * Stay in line! * You're not sweeping alone, you know
Why You Sweep * Special sweeping circumstances * Don't forget your stopwatch
Chapter 12: Stepping onto the Ice
Before First Rock Is Thrown
Warming Up * Legs * Upper body
Heading Out to the Sheet * Which sheet? * Practice slides
Shaking Hands
The Coin Toss * Choosing your rocks * Courtesy stones
Let the Game Begin * That's quite a pace! * The end of the end * The beginning of the next end
Oops...I Did It Again * Throwing the wrong colour * Playing out of order * Arriving late * Having an injured teammate
It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over
Before You Call It a Day
Chapter 13: Getting a Game
Types of Game * Signing up * Drawing conclusions-- make sure you know when you're playing
Club Games * League games * Skip's draw * Jitney * Doubles
Competitive Games * Super league * Cashspiels * Double rink
Playdowns
Bonspiels and Other Fun Stuff * Bonspiels * "And tonight's theme is...": Themed bonspiels * In-club events
Part IV: Getting Better
Chapter 14: Strategy
Curling Strategy in Theory
Last Rock * With last rock * Without last rock
Curling Strategy in Practice
Game Situations * When you're behind * When you're ahead * Not scoring
Strategic Thinking * Get inside your opposition's head * Play to your strengths
Chapter 15: Practising
Why You Need to Practise
Your Basic Routine
Training Alone * Practising your slide * Practising shots * Finishing up
Training with Your Team * Work in pairs * Work as a team * Sweeping * Finishing up
Drills
Adding an Element of Fun * The Howard game * The Short Game * Speed Play * Raises
Dryland Training
At the Gym * Cardiovascular training * Strength training * Flexibility
Your Weekly Workout * Monday * Tuesday * Wednesday * Thursday * Friday * The weekend
Eating Right
Part V: Behind the Glass
Chapter 16: Kids and Curling
Little Rocks
Juniors
Bantams
Teaching and Coaching Juniors
Giving Lessons to Beginners * How long? * Fun takes planning * Fun, fun, fundamentals * Good teacher, bad teacher
Send Me In, Coach * Singing from the same song book * Head games * At practice * During the game * Knowing the rules
A Few Final Words of Advice * The curling mom or dad * Coaching your own * Legal challenges
Chapter 17: Coaching
The Role of the Coach
Getting a Team * Training * Experience * Commitment
The Head Coach * Putting everybody on the same page * Setting up the season
Game Preparation * Before the game * Off the ice * On the ice * During the game
Metal Preparation * I don't need a shrink * Mind games that work
Chewing on Rocks
The Numbers Don't Lie
Chapter 18: Fun and Furor: Being a Fan
Watching a Game at Your Club * Know why you're there * Know when to be there * Know what you're watching for * Organizers: Make it a big draw
Watching a Game on Television * Know what you're watching for * Games worth watching * Know who's in the booth
Watching a Championship Game * Who needs a pair? * Rah, rah, sis boom bah * Wet your whistle * That volunteer spirit
Part VI: The Events
Chapter 19: Canadian Events, Eh?
The Nokia Brier * What is it? * Where is it held? * Who runs it? * The format * The spoils * The road to the Nokia Brier * More than a curling event
The Scott Tournament of Hearts * The spoils * The event * A big draw * The same, but different
The Canadian Junior Championships * The format * Boys will be boys * A girls' thing
Chapter 20: Rocking around the World
The World Curling Championships * The format * The history
The World Junior Championships * The format * The history * You're holding it where?
The Olympics * The format * The history * The champions
Part VII: The Part of Tens
Chapter 21: Ten Top-Notch Curling Skips
Matt Baldwin
Don Duguid
Elisabet Gustafson
Russ Howard
Ron Northcott
Ernie Richardson
Pat Ryan
Sandra Schmirler
Ken Watson
Ed Werenich
Chapter 22: Ten Memorable Curling Shots
Al Hackner's Double Takeout
Guy Hemmings's Draw to the Button
Russ Howard's Combination Shot
Eugene Hritzuk's Last-Shot Hog
Hammy McMillan's Round-the-House Triple
Orest Meleschuk's Hit and Roll
Pay Ryan's Triple Raise, Double Takeout
Sandra Schmirler's Hit and Roll
Billy Walsh's Extra-End Winner
Ed Werenich's Triple Takeout
Chapter 23: Ten Tremendous Curling Games
Hackner-Ryan
Hemmings-Shymko
Howard-Sparkes
Howard-Sparkes Again
Marin-Peters
Richardson-Baird
Ryan-Folk
Schmirler-Blach-Lavrsen
Walsh-Phillips
Werenich-Darte
Chapter 24: Ten Terrific Curling Information Sources
The Canadian Curling News
Curling.com
In the Hack.com
The Ontario Curling Report
Ontcurl.com
The Rulebook
Slam.ca
Sweep
TSN (The Sports Network)
Tsn.ca
Glossary
Index