ONTARIO SKILL AWARDS PROGRAM
Curl Ontario introduced the current skill awards program in
1997. It is a six level program that encourages young curlers
to meet increasingly difficult curling challenges. It is
designed to take an entry-level curler through challenges of
increasing difficulty to, eventually, become an accomplished
competitive curler.
Included with each level is a booklet, a crest and a
certificate from Curl Ontario. The booklet will be provided at
the beginning and will show the curler the objectives of the
particular challenge as well as the scoring. The crest and
certificate will be awarded once the challenge is met.
Who is it for?
The program is designed for curlers age 7-20. However, it can
be done by anyone. The purpose of the program is to promote
skills development. However, we realize that not all of our
curlers will be interested in this. Therefore, enrollment in
the skill awards program is voluntary.
When does it happen?
You can register for The Skills Award Program anytime.
We will stop taking applications at the end of December. All
season long, the first 30 minutes on the ice will be devoted
to technical training that is directly related to enhancing
skills required for the award program. Curlers will also be
able to practice their skills during the usual games. In
February, testing will begin. If you do not pass the first
time, there will be other opportunities before the season ends
in April.
What does it cost?
The cost is $15.00 per challenge. This represents the cost of
obtaining the booklet and crest from Curl Ontario as well as
the cost of Curl Ontario issuing the certificate at the
completion of each challenge.
Who does it?
Level 1 coaches and some of the best curlers in our club
volunteer to spend a Sunday afternoon to help us with our
Technical training program. They will participate with our
curlers spending a little extra time doing some drills before
the start of the game. Some of the kids that are having a
problem with one particular skill get extra help from our
volunteers. They also participate in the game offering their
wisdom all afternoon.
Curling is one of the few sports in the world that
emphasizes etiquette. In most league play, there are no
referees or judges. Rules are based on the honour system and
good shots are admired by all. Missed shots are never cheered.
GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS & VOLUNTEERS
The success of our program would not be possible without the
many parents that help week after week.
Parents and guardians of curlers are encouraged to
participate in the program. Parents must escort kids into the
club and ensure that he/she is signed into the program for the
day. They must pick up their children after the program inside
the club. Little Rocks will not be allowed to leave the club
without a parent or guardian.
Parents will be kept informed about the program through
weekly info letters and, when possible, on the club Website.
Parents should encourage regular participation and fair play.
Each week during the Little Rocks season, we will try to
devote a portion of our session towards Skills development.
(rock delivery, effect of the turn, sweeping, basic strategy,
scoring). We may spend some time in the upstairs lounge
discussing elements of the game, but we will try to spend most
of our time on the ice. We will be asking for Parent
Volunteers to assist during the on-ice exercises/drills and
during the games. Here are some suggested areas where our
Parent Volunteers can help us keep things moving:
- General Order and Safety
When necessary, please remind our curlers to keep the
distractions to a minimum (particularly for curlers not
getting immediate instruction from the coach). For
example, don’t swing or stand on brooms. Curlers should
step onto the ice with the gripper foot first and step off
the ice with the slider foot first. Try to prevent the ice
and the hacks from being damaged.
- Curling Etiquette
Hand-shake before and after each game. Ensure the
current player has an unobstructed view of the shot
(curlers who are not involved in the current shot should
be either on the side of the sheet between the hog lines
or off the ice).
- During Games
When the coach is at the skip end and the volunteer is
at the delivery end
- Prompt the next shooter to remove the gripper from
their slider foot prior to stepping on the ice.
- Help the shooter select their rock, get positioned
in the hack, get their broom in position.
- Ensure the sweepers are ready.
- Ensure the shooter understands the planned shot
(draw/raise/take-out, aim at skip’s broom, correct
turn).
- Ensure curler replaces their gripper following
delivery of their 2nd shot.
- After the vice delivers their 2nd rock, they go to
the skip end.
When the coach is at the delivery end and the volunteer
is at the skip end
- Assist the skip of the delivering team to plan the
shot (draw/raise/take-out, broom position, correct
turn).
- Ensure the skip clears out-of-play rocks.
- Protect the hacks.
- After the vice delivers their 2nd rock, the skip
goes to the delivery end.
Top 10 Curling Rules
These are a few rules to review with your children to help
promote safety, sportsmanship, teamwork andto help them with
flow of the game that we will be teaching in the program.
- Always step on the ice with your gripper foot first.
- Start and end each game by shaking hands with the other
team.
- Do not swing your broom around.
- When you are finished sweeping a rock, return to the
other end of the ice down the sides of the ice, not
down the middle of the sheet.
- When the other team is shooting, your sweepers should be
standing at the side of the sheet at the hog line.
- No horseplay on the ice.
- Work together as a team!
- Keep the game moving by being ready to throw your rock
when it is your turn to shoot. Start getting your rock
ready after the other team has thrown their rock, not
after it has come to a complete stop.
- Congratulate all players when they make a good shot,
regardless of which team they are on.
- HAVE FUN!!!
"Curling is a game of skill and traditions. A
shot well executed is a delight to see and so, too, it is a
fine thing to observe the time-honored traditions of curling
being applied in the true spirit of the game. Curlers play to
win but never to humble their opponents. A true curler would
prefer to lose rather than win unfairly. A good curler never
attempts to distract an opponent or otherwise prevent him/her
from playing his/her best. No curler ever deliberately breaks
a rule of the game or any of its traditions. But, if he/she
should do so inadvertently and be aware of it, he/she is the
first to divulge the breach. While the main objective of the
game is to determine the relative skills of the players, the
spirit of the game demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling
and honorable conduct. This spirit should influence both the
interpretation and application of the rules of the game and
also the conduct of all participants on and off the ice."
The Spirit of Curling is familiar to all that curl.