When stones are played into a house with stones lying it is important that the sweepers go all the way up the ice and anticipate any stones leaving the rink so that they stop it in time. This leaves the skip able to concentrate on getting the best result in the house without worrying about stones interrupting play on other sheets. It is not good to see skips sweeping stones while other stones leave the rink unattended. Accidents are possible and disrupted houses in adjacent rinks would also be unwelcome. I'm sure I would not be happy if a stone from another sheet hit any stones in play on my own sheet.
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It is normal for teams with the hammer to want to keep the centre open for their last stone. So it makes even more sense for the opposition to block it up. So what follows is a competition to keep their stones around the button. Guards in the free guard zone play their part. For the team with the hammer it is still possible to chip stones on the centre line out of the way as long as they don't go out of play. They normally put guards away from the centre and play behind them. However, it becomes impossible to ignore the stones that the opposition put into the centre and they have to move them. Knocking guards away from the centre line if they are far from the house, or knocking them into the house if they are close to the house to move stones in the house are normal strategies. For the team without the hammer, it is then important not to line up stones to make it easier to knock out stones in the house.
Let battle commence. The sign on the wall at Perth Ice rink says it all. When you have played your shot, don't lean on the ice with your hand or knee as this actually melts the surface of the ice and spoils it for any stones going over it. So it could actually ruin your own shot never mind anyone elses. So please, DON'T lean on the ice watching your shot progress down the ice, get up and look at it on your feet to ensure everyone can enjoy the game.
So anyone with wet knees after playing a shot is not good news. Let them know to try and avoid it next time. |
Spare a thought for the skipThis is a place where the thoughts, trials, tribulations, celebrations and commiserations on being a skip (and no doubt comments on how to deal with a skip) will be posted as the season progresses along with any things Curling that may be of interest. Archives
March 2022
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