Understanding Basic Curling Rules and Terminology

My family enjoys watching the curling events in the Olympics. We first stumbled upon the sport during the 2006 winter games, struggling to understand even the basic rules. A week into the Vancouver Olympics, I still have a hard time understanding curling rules. I do know that they throw a rock or stone and try to knock the opponent's stone out. Sweeping makes the stones go faster. That is the extent of my knowledge of curling rules. Until now. Frustrated while watching the United States versus Sweden curling event, I wanted to truly understand the sport of curling. Here's what I've found out.

Object of the Game of Curling
The games consists of two four-man teams with each team throwing eight stones. The teams alternate delivering the stones until each team has thrown eight. This is called an end. Similar to an inning in baseball with curling having eight to ten ends. The stone is thrown toward the bulls eye or tee at the end of the of the playing field. The playing field is called sheet. The object of the game is to get as many of your stones closer to the tee than your opponent. Oftentimes knocking your opponent's stones out of the tee comes into play as much as getting your team's stones in the tee. Depending on the number of stones successfully delivered, a team can score zero, one or several points in an end. After all sixteen stones have been thrown, the score for that end is determined. The object is to out score your opponent by the conclusion of the entire game. A typical game of eight to ten ends last about two hours.

Curling Rules and Terminology
Sheet: The ice sheet is the area of play which is 150 feet long according to the World Curling Federation (138 feet in Canada) from the inside edges. The width is 16.5 feet according to WCF (15 feet in Canada). To see a diagram of the sheet, click here.

Stones: A curling stone is round and must weigh between 38 and 44 pounds. Each curling team has a set of 8 stones with the same color handle.

Sweeping: This is the side-to-side motion curling players use to move the stone down the sheet. Players vigorously sweep the ice creating friction between the ice and underneath the stone. This lubricates the sheet allowing the stone to travel more easily. It also allows the stone to travel straighter and curl less. Any debris or peaks in the surface are also removed by sweeping. This part of curling is very tactical and important as it determines whether your stone will hit the tee. You can also sweep at a specific angle to ensure that the stone will curl in that specific direction.

Teams: A curling team is comprised of four players. Each player delivers two stones down the sheet in consecutive order while alternating with their opponent. The team consists of the lead, the second, the skip and the vice-skip. The deliverer (or lead) is the person sending the stone down the sheet first and the next person in line is called the second and takes a stationary position to the side of the sheet while he waits his turn. The skip and the vice-skip take positions behind the back line at the end. The skip is the player that throws last and determines the strategy for the team.

Delivery: This is the process at which the stone is thrown down the sheet.

Hack: This is the rubber footrests where the curling delivery begins.

Center line: This is the line drawn from one hack to the other end of the sheet passing through the tee.

Circles: This is the round scoring area that is 12 feet in diameter with consecutive circles at 1, 4 and 8 feet distances.

Curl: The rotation that is caused by turning the handle of a stone.

Double: Removing two stones from play with one shot.

Hog: A stone that falls short of the far hog line.

These are just a few of the terms used in curling to get you started and give you a brief synopsis of the game. For a complete listing, click here.

To test your knowledge of curling, take the Olympic curling quiz here.

Try and keep these basic curling rules in mind while watching the next Olympic curling event. You will definitely continue to learn more with each event you watch but this will give you a good starting point.

Sources:
http://www.curldc.org/about/basics.php
http://www.curlingbasics.com/
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-curling/
http://www.worldcurling.org/