Let's Eliminate Slow Play
The information outlined below represents guidelines, rules and
suggestions aimed at ensuring all games are completed in slightly
less than two hours for an eight end game and slightly less than
ninety minutes for a six end game. By individually taking
responsibility for efficient play our entire membership will
benefit. Good curling to all and if you have any questions or
concerns please discuss with the league convener or Club DRAW
MASTER.
PICK UP THE PACE
Two hours is plenty of time for 8 ends. If you’re having
difficulties getting through your game in the allotted timeframe
have a look at these ideas for picking up the pace. Not only will
curling in a timely manner be better for your own game it will make
you an opposition others like to play. Slow play is frustrating but
easily solved. So let’s all make a promise from this week forward to
work on speeding up our games.
- Be ready to play 5 minutes before game time. This allows for
handshakes, warm-up slides, coin toss and still allows you to
start on time.
- Sweepers should get out their own player’s next rock if they
are able to get to it faster than their player. Think about
courtesy and efficiency. If your second has to get his slider on
why not get his rock out for him while you’re waiting.
- Do not pull out the opposition’s stones. Teams often throw
their rocks out of order and you may not know what the order is.
Also, pulling out rocks creates a tripping hazard.
- As soon as the opposing player has released their stone, the
next player to throw should move quickly to the hack so they can
be ready to throw as soon as their skip takes control of the
house. The sweepers can watch what happens with the opposition’s
rock. The thrower should be cleaning their rock and setting up
so they’re ready to go when their skip takes control of the
house.
- At the beginning of an end, if you do not have hammer, your
lead should not help to put the rocks away. The lead should find
their first rock, get in the hack, clean their rock and be
prepared to throw as soon as the skip is at the other end.
- Curling is not a democracy. Front end players should not
provide input on strategy unless asked. Be prepared to
contribute when asked but otherwise, keep it to yourself. Even
the thirds need to exercise restraint when it comes to giving
advice. Not only does second guessing undermine the skip, it
also slows down the game.
- Other than at the end of the game, rocks do not need to be
put away in order (this one is hard for many people to let go
of). Simply putting the rocks neatly in the corners and not
worrying about number order saves a lot of time. If you are
compulsive about putting rocks away in order skips can help by
putting rocks that are out of play in their appropriate place as
the end progresses.
- Skips must stay focused on the next shot and not be chatting
with the opposing skip or players on adjacent sheets.
- Skips could call a simpler game. Simple strategy usually
means simpler shots with a higher execution rate which is good
for our confidence as club level curlers. It also means there is
less likelihood of having a million rocks in play which lead to
complex, multi-option situations where too much deliberation
about the next shot occurs.
- Try them all, try a few, but pick up the pace. It makes our
sport more enjoyable for everyone involved
Start Time Rules
To help eliminate slow play, the Board of Directors have approved
a club wide policy for game start times that must be adopted by all
members. To view this document, please click below:
START TIME RULES
The above document requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
|
