Kansas City Curling Club

WHAT

A volunteer club member will show you the fundamentals to sliding a stone and sweeping. This will introduce you to the game, make you comfortable on the ice, and ready to try playing a match your next time out.

WHEN

Anytime we have an extra curling sheet during our normal curling leagues. Typically posted about 2- 3 weeks in advance of actual date. Check back often.

Typically available between the months of (October-April) and (June-July). We also offer special events around Christmas, Valentine Day and the Olympics as well as a Free OPEN HOUSE in the beginning of October.

WHO

Anyone who can physically play. Curlers are typically 8-80+ years, both men or women. Class size limited to 10 curlers per curling sheet. Groups signing up with less than 10 will have to share the sheet.

Cost

$25 if you are one and done
$15 if you join and pay for the current or next league
$150 for a group of up to 10

All you need to play

rubber-soled shoes to grip the ice, clean of debris
layered loose fitted clothes to keep you warm at roughly 45 degrees
bike or skate helmet optional (we have limited helmets for your use if you want the additional safety)
Waiver forAdult (PDF) or Youth (PDF)

Leagues

about our leagues

General Information

No team required to play. Most curlers sign up as individuals, though we have family and friends who play together and some complete teams with subs have registered.
No equipment needed, as we have curling equipment available, simply dress in appropriate attire outlined when you registered.
- Those looking to buy their own broom, slider ,shoes etc. can check out these websites
All Leagues are for all ages, gender and level of play. Beginners are always welcomed.
League and Season registered curlers are guarenteed a spot in one league and can curl any simultaneous leagues at no extra charge.
- As a registered curler you are responsible for finding your own subs. If you do not have a sub of your own, Please update your sub availability to add your name if you want to sub.
Leagues are team based so you can get use to playing with the same people each week, but since we do not turn anyone down who shows up, we may move a person or two around in any given match to ensure enough players for each match.
While most information can be learned on the ice, Check out curling "rules and etiquette" and "terminology" to enhance your understanding of our sport.

Subbing/Practice Ice

Subbing (if looking for a sub or want to sub, use "my subbing availability" to add your name)
- Family and Friends can sub for any league or season curler at no cost as long as they have prior curling experience or taken our Learn to Curl program
- League and Season curlers can sub at no cost in other leagues
- Non League and Season curlers can play for $25. Simply use the sub sheet.
Practice ice maybe available and is posted here should you want to reserve time.

Rules for how we track scoring

1. A minimum of two (2) non-substitute members of a team must be present at a match. If less than two (2) non-substitute members of a team are present, the match will result in a forfeit for that team.

2. A team must have a minimum of three (3) curlers. If a team cannot field three (3) curlers it will result in a forfeit for that team.

3. It is the skips responsibility to organize the team and engaging in communication with the League. Each skip shall be responsible for providing notice of a need for substitutes and coordinating with the individuals in the substitutes pool to fill in on their team. The league will not take an active role in providing substitutes for individual teams.

4. Each team is responsible for recording their post match score. If a team fails to provide a post match score their score will be recorded as zero (0).

5. For standings purposes, a forfeit shall result in the forfeiting team receiving a loss as well as a forfeit designation. The non-forfeiting team shall receive a win and a non-forfeit designation. No points will be recorded for either team. At the end of a season, if one team is tied with another in the standings, a team that has a forfeit designation shall receive a lower seed than a team with a lower forfeit designation total, regardless of point differential. Conversely, a team with a non-forfeit designation shall receive a higher seed than a team with a lower number of non-forfeit designations, regardless of point differential. A non-forfeit and forfeit designation shall cancel each other out. If each team has the same number of forfeit, or non-forfeit, designations, the regular tie breaking procedure shall apply.

YEARLY SCHEDULE/PRICING

We curl Most Saturdays: from 4:15pm-6:00pm, or Sunday from 8:45am-10:30am Printable PDF on right. We will be adding a second Saturday Session from 5:45pm-7:30pm in January.

Winter Season: (20 Weeks) Starts First of October-April $300 / First time curlers get a free curling broom Includes all three League plus two open play dates.
- Fall League: (6 Weeks) First of October-End of December $110 / First time curlers $90
- Winter League: (6 Weeks) First of Janaury-Mid February $110 / First time curlers $90
- Spring League: (6 Weeks) Mid February-End of April $110 / First time curlers $90
Summer League: (6 Weeks) First of June-End of July $110 / First time curlers $90
Open Play and Subbing: Offered anytime we curl above when space is available $25, Free if playing in a simultaneous league
Learn to Curl: Offered when we have a sheet available. First time curlers should take this offered before their league or will take the first week in the league as a learn to curl. $25, $15 if you join a league.

Etiquette

Curling has its rules governing play, but equally as important is the way you conduct yourself while curling. This is outlined in the Curlers’ Code of Ethics that is part of the rulebook:

I will play the game with a spirit of good sportsmanship.
I will conduct myself in an honorable manner both on and off the ice.
I will never knowingly break a rule, but if I do, I will divulge the breach.
I will take no action that could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate or demean my opponents, teammates or officials.
I will interpret the rules in an impartial manner, always keeping in mind that the purpose of the rules is to ensure that the game is played in an orderly and fair manner.
I will humbly accept any penalty that the governing body at any level of curling deems appropriate, if I am found in violation of the Code of Ethics or rules of the game.
Some of the key items of proper curling etiquette are as follows:
- Shake hands with your opponents before and after each game.
- Opposing players will toss a coin at the start of the game to determine last stone advantage.
- When your opponents are preparing for delivery, stand to the side of the sheet, single file and between the hog lines. Move only after the stone has been released.
- If you are throwing next you may stand on the backboard, but remain quiet and out of sight of the opposition thrower.
- Only skips and thirds may congregate behind the tee line. They do not move or hold their brooms on the ice while the opposition is preparing to deliver a stone.
- Wear clean, appropriate footwear that will not damage the ice.
- Be ready to go when it’s your turn to deliver a stone.
- At the conclusion of an end, all players remain outside the rings until the opposing thirds have agreed on the score.

Important Rules for Play

Stones

A stone must finish inside the inner edge (closest to the rings) of the hog line to be in play, except when it has hit another stone in play.
A stone that completely crosses the back line or touches the side board or side line is taken out of play.

Delivery

Right-handed players deliver from the hack to the left of the centre line and left-handed players deliver from the hack to the right of the centre line. Any player may deliver from a hack on the centre line.
The stone shall be released before it reaches the hog line at the delivering end.
A stone that has not been released from the player’s hand may be returned to the hack and re-delivered as long as it has not reached the near tee line during delivery.
If a player delivers a stone out of proper order, and the mistake is not noted until after the stone has come to rest or hit another stone, the stone is in play. The player missing his turn will throw his stone as the last one for his team on that end. If the skips can’t agree who missed his turn, then the lead of the team that made the mistake will throw the last stone for his team in that end.

Sweeping

Only one player from each team may sweep behind the tee line. Only the skip or third of the non-delivering team may sweep behind the tee line.
An opposing team’s stone may only be swept behind the tee line.
The delivering team has first right to sweep its stone behind the tee line, but shall not prevent the non-delivering team from doing so.
Only the skip or third of the non-delivering team may sweep their stones set in motion by the delivering team.
Given that the intent of sweeping is to keep the path of the stone clean and to take the stone farther, there must be brush head movement in the sweeping motion.
The sweeping motion shall not leave any debris in front of a moving stone.
The final sweeping motion shall finish outside the path of the stone.
If a stone in motion is touched by any player of the delivering team or his equipment before the far hog line, it shall be immediately removed from play. If the infraction occurs after the stone reaches the far hog line, the non-offending team has the option to remove the touched stone and replace all stones that were displaced after the infraction to their original positions; or leav all stones where they come to rest; or place all stones where it reasonably considers the stones would have come to rest had the moving stone not been touched.
If a stationary stone is moved by any player the non-offending team shall replace the stone as close as possible to its original position. If there is any question as to which stone(s) was closer to the button, the displaced stone is placed in favour of the non-offending team.

Measuring

Measurements shall be taken from the button to the nearest part of the rock.
No physical device may be used in measuring rocks until the last rock of the end has come to rest, except to determine if one of the first two rocks of an end is in the rings or the free guard zone.
If there is any doubt between the two opposing skips as to whether one of the first two rocks of an end finishes in the free guard zone, then a measuring device may be used to decide the matter.

Equipment

No player shall use any footwear or equipment that may damage the surface of the ice.
At the start of a game, each curler must declare which broom or brush he will be using for sweeping. Brushes may be exchanged between players on the same team, but a corn broom cannot be exchanged.

Source: http://www.startcurling.ca/etiquetteRules.php

For the Complete Official Rules of Curling use these link:

World Curling Federation Rules (PDF) 2015

United State Curling Association clubhouse rules (PDF)

ANOTOMY OF EQUIPMENT
A general look at the equipment and how it influences the ice.

WHY A STONE CURLS
Two competing theories as to the mystery of the curl.

HOW IT'S MADE
A beginning to end look at curling stones

EVOLUTION OF THE BROOM
This peice of equipment has evolved and now is experiencing a bit of controversy

MAKING CURLING ICE
A look at making Championship Caliber Cruling Ice is a time tested method.

MAINTAINING CURLING ICE
methodology to maintaining a dedicated curling rink.

Terminology

Here is a pretty comprehensive list of words you might hear on the rink as you curl.

TERM	DEFINITION
Alternate	A registered, non-playing member of the team who is eligible to substitute for one of the competing players.
Away End	The end of the sheet to which the first stone of a game is delivered.
Back Board / Bumper	Material (e.g. foam or wood) placed at the end (perimeter) of each sheet of ice.
Back House Weight	The speed given to a stone at delivery so that it will just reach the back of the house.
Back Line	A line at the back of the house, extending across the width of the sheet, which is parallel to and located 1.829 m. (6 ft.) from each tee line.
Back of the House	The area within the house that lies between the tee line and the back line.
Biter	A stone that just touches the outer edge of the outside circle of the house.
Blank End	An end resulting in no score for either team.
Bonspiel	A curling competition or tournament.
Brush (Broom)	A device used by players to sweep/clean the ice in front of a moving stone.
Button	The small circle at the centre of the house.
Burned Stone	A stone in motion touched by a player or any part of a players equipment.
Centre Line	The line dividing the playing surface down the middle. It joins the midpoints of the tee lines and extends 3.658 m. (12 ft.) beyond the centre of each tee line.
Circles	See definition: House.
Competition	Any number of teams playing games to determine a winner.
Come Around	A shot that curls behind another stone.
Counter	Any stone in or touching the house and is considered a potential point.
Courtesy Line	A line indicating where the sweepers from the non-delivering team are allowed to stand in order to ensure that an umpire can view the hog line and to prevent distraction of a delivering player.
Curl	The curved path of a stone as it travels down the sheet of ice.
Delivering End	The end of the sheet from which the stones are being delivered.
Delivering Team	The team that is currently in control of the playing area, and scheduled to deliver the next stone.
Delivery	The motion a player makes when playing a curling stone.
Delivery Stick	A device which attaches to the handle of the stone and acts as an extension of the arm/hand during the delivery process.
Displaced Stone	A stationary stone that has been moved to a new location.
Divider	Material (e.g. foam or wood) used to separate the sheets of curling ice.
Double Takeout	A stone that removes two of the opponents stones from play.
Draw	A stone which stops inside or in front of the house.
Draw Raise	A stone that bumps another stone into the house.
Draw Shot Challenge (DSC)	The calculation made by taking the average distance of the Last Stone Draws (LSD), excluding the least favourable LSD, and used, if required, to assist in the determination of ranking after a round robin.
Draw Weight	The momentum required for a delivered stone to reach the house at the playing end.
Electronic Hog Line Device	A device that indicated if a stone was released by a player before the stone reached the hog line at the delivering end.
End	A portion of a curling game that is completed when each team has thrown eight stones and/or the score has been decided.
Equipment	Anything that is worn or carried by a player.
Extra End	An additional end played to break a tie at the end of regulation play.
External Force	An occurrence not caused by either team.
First Player	The first curler on a team to deliver two stones in each end.
Fourth Player	The fourth curler on a team to deliver two stones in each end.
Free Guard Zone (FGZ)	The area at the playing end, between the hog line and the tee line, but excluding the house.
Freeze	A form of a draw shot that stops directly up against another stone.
Front House Weight	The momentum required for a delivered stone to reach the front part of the house at the playing end.
Game	Two teams playing a specified number of ends to determine a winner.
Guard	A stone that is placed in a position so that it may protect another stone.
Hack	The foot-hold at each end of the ice which is used by a player to start the delivery of a curling stone.
Hack Line	A small line 0.457 m. (1 ft. 6 in.) parallel to the tee line, at each end of the centre line.
Hack Weight	The momentum required for a delivered stone to reach the hack at the playing end.
Handle	The part of a curling stone that a player grips in order to deliver.
Hammer	A term used to describe the stone which will be the last stone delivered in that end.
Heavy	A stone delivered with a greater speed than necessary.
Hit	A take-out. Removal of a stone from the playing area by hitting it with another stone.
Hit and Roll	A stone that knocks an opponent's stone out of play, and then rolls to another position in play.
Hog Line	A line extending across the width of the sheet that is parallel to and located 6.40 m. (21 ft.) from each tee line.
Hog Line Violation	A stone that is removed from play for the end, because it was not released before it reached the hog line at the delivering end.
Hogged Stone	A stone that is removed from play for the end, because after being delivered, it did not come to rest completely beyond the inside edge of the hog line at the playing end.
Home End	The end of the sheet from which the first stone of a game is delivered.
House	The area within the concentric circles at each end of the sheet.
Hurry	A command which instructs players to sweep harder.
Ice Surface	The complete ice area that is within the perimeters of the curling sheet.
In the Process of Delivery	The sequence of play that begins when the delivering player is positioned in the hack and concludes when the stone is released.
In-turn	The rotation applied to the handle of a stone by a right handed curler which causes the stone to rotate in a clockwise manner.
Last Stone Draw (LSD)	A contest conducted at the conclusion of a teams pre-game practice in which each team delivers a single stone to the tee at the home end. The resulting distance is measured and used to determine which team has the choice of delivering the first or second stone in the first end.
Lead	The first player on a team to deliver two stones in each end.
Mathematically Eliminated	The status of a team that has a combined total of stones left to be delivered and/or remaining in play that is less than the number needed to produce either a tie or a win.
Measuring Device	An instrument that determines which stone is closer to the centre of the house (Tee), or whether a stone is in the house.
Moving Stone	A stone in motion either from a delivery or from being struck by another stone.
Original Position of a Stone	The location on the ice where a stone rested prior to its being displaced.
Out-of-play Position	The location of a stone that is not in play (e.g. one which has touched a side line, or crossed the back line).
Out-turn	The rotation applied to the handle of a stone by a right handed curler which causes the stone to rotate in a counter-clockwise manner.
Pebble	The water droplets applied to a sheet of ice before commencing play. These droplets freeze, which then reduces the friction between the ice and the stones.
Peel	A shot designed to remove a guard.
Playing End	The end of the sheet to which the stones are being delivered.
Point	At the completion of an end, one is awarded to a team for each of its own stones located in or touching the house that is closer to the tee than any stone of the opposition.
Port	An opening, or gap, between stones.
Positioned Stones	In Mixed Doubles games, the two stones that are placed in designated positions prior to the start of each end.
Raise	A type of draw which bumps forward another stone.
Raise Takeout	A delivered stone hits a stationary stone, which then starts to move and it hits a third stone out of play.
Rings	See definition: House.
Rock	See definition: Stone.
Roll	The sideways movement of a curling stone after it has struck a stationary stone.
Round Robin	A competition in which each team plays all the other teams.
Score	The number of points received by a team in an end.
Scoring	A team scores one point for each of its stones that is within the house and closer to the tee than any stone of the opposing team.
Second Player	The second curler on a team to deliver two stones in each end.
Sheet	The specific ice surface upon which a curling game is played.
Shot (stone or rock)	At any time during an end, the stone closest to the tee.
Side Line	A line placed at the side (perimeter) of each sheet of ice.
Skip	The player who directs play for the team.
Slider	Slippery material placed on the sole of the sliding shoe, which makes it easier to slide on the ice.
Spare	See definition: Alternate.
Stationary Stone	A stone in play which is not in motion.
Stone	Also known as a rock, a curling stone is made of granite and is delivered by the players in a curling game.
Stone Set in Motion	A stationary stone hit by another stone which causes it to move.
Sweeping	The action of moving a broom or brush back and forth in front of the path of a moving stone to clean or polish the ice surface.
Swingy Ice	The condition of the ice or stones causing the stones to have excessive curl.
Takeout	Removal of a stone from the playing area by hitting it with another stone.
Team	Four players competing together. A team may include a fifth player (to act as an alternate) and a coach. Mixed Doubles have one male and one female player, and may include a coach.
Tee	The exact centre of the house.
Tee Line	A line extending across the width of the sheet that passes through the centre of the house parallel to the hog line and backline.
Third Player	The third curler on a team to deliver two stones in each end.
Time-Out	Stoppage of play called by a team or umpire.
Top of the House	The area within the house that lies between the hog line and the tee line.
Umpire	The person(s) responsible for the conduct of the game in accordance with the rules.
Vice-Skip (Mate or Acting Skip)	The player who directs play for the team when it is the Skip's turn to deliver,
Weight	The amount of force/speed given to the stone during the delivery.
Wheelchair Lines	Two lines that run from the hog line to the outermost edge of the nearest circle of the house. Wheelchair curlers are allowed to start their delivery with the stone placed between these lines.

Source: http://www.worldcurling.org/a-z-of-curling-terminology

WHAT

WHEN

WHO

Cost