Curling is a team game played between two 4-player teams on a frozen pitch, the concept of which is very similar to boules. It consists of sliding 19.96 kg blocks of stone, complete with handles, (called rocks) so that they stop as close as possible to the center of a target drawn on the ice (called the house).

The team

Each team consists of four players. The lead makes the first throw. The second must have a good aim, but also be good at knocking away the stones of the opponents that are in the way. The third is faced with a more tricky game. The fourth player, the skip, is the most experienced player, who decides on tactics, advises his/her teammates on each throw and throws last. Each player throws two stones alternating with their counterpart on the opposing team. When all 16 stones have been played, the ‘end’ is complete and a point is scored for every stone nearer to the centre of a target (‘house’) than any stone of the opposing team. Only stones in the house count towards the score, and only one team can score per end. Play then resumes in the opposite direction and the team that scored in the previous end delivers the first stone. A game usually consists of 10 ends and the team scoring the most points wins.

The delivery of the rock

A rotation is applied to the handle of a stone at the end of the delivery. The turn applied makes the stone rotate in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The ‘skip’ or team captain determines the shot to be played and indicates the shot while positioned in the house at the far end of the ice. The player delivering the stone pushes off from a fixed support (‘hack’), and aims at the skip’s brush. The stone must be released before the near hog line and pass the far-end hog line to be in play. If a stone touches the sidelines or passes the far-end back line it is removed from play. The other two team members follow the stone and are ready to sweep if necessary.

Sweeping

Following the delivery, two sweepers go into action. They position themselves on the ice (called the sheet) a couple of steps ahead of the rock and, with brooms made of horse hair, hog hair or synthetic material, sweep the ice in front of the rock to help determine its path, prolong the rotation of the rock, and extend or shorten its path. The sweeping is performed in a side-to-side motion directly in front of the stone, and the last movement of the broom must be made towards the outside. Once the stone has passed the tee line the skip or second are allowed to sweep. They can only start sweeping after the opponent's stone has passed said line. On the other hand, by stopping the sweeping action at the right time, the stone can be slowed and stopped at a precise point. The sweepers can only sweep in the area between the two teelines.

Game strategy

Curling is often described as chess on ice. Basic strategy involves trying to score two or more points when your team has last stone, keeping the centre of the sheet open. Without last stone you try and control the centre of the sheet and hope to ‘steal’ a point. Game strategy can be very complicated based on score and game situations.

Scoring

Points are calculated based on the number of stones that finish closest to the center of the house, before the closest stone of the opponents. Only one team can score in an end. Each team is allowed 73 minutes of play for 10 ends. If the match is a tie, an extra end is played to determine the winner.

Field of play

Sheet: A 44.5 m long area of play, designed to allow play in both directions.
House: The area where points are scored: 3.66 m in diameter, with internal rings of 1.22 and 2.44 m in diameter.
Tee: The center of the house, also known as the button.
Hack: A rubber foothold from which curlers deliver the stone.
Hog Line: The stone must be released before the near hog line, and travel beyond the far hog line, otherwise it is removed from play.

The ice

After the ice has been levelled as much as possible, fine water droplets are sprinkled over it (pebbling). The underside of the stone glides over these frozen pebbles.

Equipment

Stones weigh about 20 kg and are made of granite. Curling shoes have one sliding foot and one gripping foot. The brushes can be made of hog hair, horse hair or synthetic material.

The proposed events for Harbin Winter Universiade

Sports Disciplines Category/Set of Medals CURLING Men’s tournament (10 teams max) Women’s tournament (10 teams max) Compulsory (2 medals disciplines)