1. Managing Stick Curling
Business of Curling - Edmonton
MAY, 2017
Presented by Randy Olson

2. Who are Stick Curlers?
Large percentage are senior curlers up to age of 90+ (but no age restrictions)
Wheelchair curlers
Special Olympics Athletes
Students who may not be physically active
Veterans
Individuals with knee or hip injuries
New curlers experiencing curling for the 1st time (step one in Learn to Curl Clinic)
Fun Spiel curlers
If your club provides brooms for use, also provide sticks for use.

3. Stick Curling Rules Each team is comprised of two curlers.
One member of each team stays at each end of the rink, and must not cross center ice
The two delivering curlers alternately deliver six stones each per end, while their teammates skip that end. Then roles are reversed. All games are six ends.
Sweeping/brushing is not allowed between the hog lines.
The first three stones delivered in an end may not be removed from play (including those in the house) before delivery of the fourth stone of that end.
Each team may call a maximum of two brief time outs (and meet at center ice) during a game.
In case of a tie, an extra end is played, with each player delivering 3 stones. The curlers then exchange roles at the midpoint of an extra end to complete the end.

4. Benefits of Stick Curling
Games can be completed in less than one hour
Increased revenue to club operations (both leagues and practice ice)
Able to use currently unscheduled ice availability
Development of non skips to read ice and strategy development
Additional volunteers to assist with other events in club
Extending the ability to play the game of curling, increasing demographics of members
Increased equipment sales
Social interaction with other curlers – no age restrictions
Support Corporate events by supporting stick curlers

5. How do I organize a League?
Schedule during the unused times in the day - majority of players are seniors
Provide clinics to individuals who want to try it out
Recruit all current stick curlers in from other leagues
Divide Season into two parts, Fall, Winter
Drop-in vs established teams
Spare co-ordinator
Minimize workload of manager – get volunteers to manage the league
Ice maintenance only after three draws – no sweeping between hoglines

6. CLINICS – 2.5 Hour Outline INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS –5 minutes
GROUP INSTRUCTION FOR USING A DELIVERY STICK –15 minutes
INDIVIDUAL COACHING & ASSISTANCE – 45 minutes
COFFEE BREAK and Q&A SESSION – 10 minutes
RULES FOR 2-PERSON STICK CURLING – 15 minutes
TEAMS FOR 6 ENDS OF 2-PERSON STICK CURLING – 60 minutes

7. CLINICS – 1 Hour Outline INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS –5 minutes
GROUP INSTRUCTION FOR USING A DELIVERY STICK –10 minutes
RULES FOR 2-PERSON STICK CURLING – 10 minutes
INDIVIDUAL COACHING & ASSISTANCE – 35 minutes

8. Stick Curling Delivery - Technical Tips
Walk with two grippers
Line of Delivery – keeping the stick on the line of delivery
Speed of walking – weight control
Release as per normal delivery “10 to 2” starting point “12” finishing point
Follow through – Don’t stab but continue walking after release.

9. One Day Bonspiels Every team plays 3 games. Stakes Spiel –
Each team pays $40 as entry fee, $8 collected by club, $32 available to start
Each game pre-scheduled against another team, requires an even number of teams
Each game you win, you take ½ of the money the other team has.
No team goes home without some money.
Progressive Spiel
Each team pays $50/team as an entry. Club profit is 25% or $12.50.
Each game is pre-scheduled, winners against winners, losers against losers
Game one winners = $20, Game two winners = $25, Game three winners = $30.
Average Team payout = $37.50.

10. Types of Curling Sticks
Different types of curling sticks
Sure-shot (
Bob’s Stick (
Goldline, Asham, Olson’s , etc.
Extendable handles or fixed length
Wheelchair sticks (can move rock back and forth before release)

11. Safety for Stick Curlers
Head Protection
CSA approved helmets recommended - such as hockey, bike, ski, snowboard
CURLING PROTECTIVE HEAD GEAR IS NOT CSA APPROVED AT THIS TIME
Icehalo.ca – Various headgear, caps, toques, head bands
Available in Calgary, Red Deer, and St. Albert or online
Goldline protective headgear
Footwear
Recommend two grippers vs gripper and slider
Use walking motion vs push and slide motion
Speed of Takeouts
Some discussion on restricting speed of takeouts – Cannot be less than 8 sec

13. Stick Curling Championships
Alberta – Open competition 2017 – St. Albert 2018 – tba Canadian – 48 Open teams (Usually alternates between western and eastern sites) 2016 – Vernon, B.C – New Glasgow, Nova Scotia 2018 – St. Albert, AB

14. Resources Email me at randyolson@shaw.ca
Alberta Stick Curling Association albertastickcurling.ca
Canadian Stick Curling Association canadianstickcurling.ca