Neutrophils
24.09.2019

Curling definition. How to make the most accurate throw? European Curling Championships

Ice curling, which appeared at the beginning of the 16th century in Great Britain, or more precisely in Scotland, at first glance looks like a rather simple game. But only for the first one. In fact, curling is a very serious and smart game, reminiscent of chess in terms of the complexity of moves and various combinations. There are enough nuances even in exactly how you need to hold the plastic handle and throw a heavy stone, how to rub the already clean and slippery ice in front of it, and how to aim.

During a match consisting of ten ends, its participants from two competing teams, each of which must have four people, throw eight almost 20-kilogram stones, in order. After which they clean the ice in front of them, for better gliding, with special brushes. Ideally, the stone should hit the target area, called the home, and score a point for the throwing team.

Volcanic origin

The main problem in the production of the first sports stones in Scotland was the choice of suitable material. After all, they needed a stone projectile so strong that it would not crumble or break at the first throw. According to curling historians, all known breeds in this mountainous country passed the “professional suitability” test. But the only ones that ultimately withstood it were Blue Hone and Ailsa Craig Common Green granite. And not a simple one, but created by nature itself after a volcanic eruption; from magma cooled by water. Thanks to this, it did not have even small cracks and was considered ideal for making stones for the Scottish national game.

For a long time, this solid granite was mined on the volcanic island of Ailsa Craig. It would seem that everything was fine, but then the island was declared a natural reserve, and production had to be closed. However, new high-quality material was found soon and nearby - in North Wales. It is from this that sets of 16 almost precious stones (the cost of just one, due to manual processing with diamond tools and delivery, reaches $600) are distributed around the world, including Russia.

From Wales to the Urals

Another serious problem was the almost catastrophic decrease in the supply of North Welsh granite, which, according to experts, will only last until 2020. In this regard, the search for new reserves began all over the world, and stones were no longer produced, as before, from solid granite. They even tried to make them in the Urals. But such stones were only enough for a week of trial competitions in Moscow, after which the seemingly smooth surface suddenly turned out to be rough. In addition, they completely stopped sliding. An urgent examination showed: the beautiful Ural granite has small inclusions of mica, which led to defects. As a result, stones from the homeland of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain began to be used only in training, and only after repeated express polishing.

Gift from Dunblane

The year of birth of curling is considered to be 1511. No, this date was not mentioned in medieval chronicles or in Walter Scott's novel. It was written by the players themselves from the 16th century, directly on a stone that was found many years later at the bottom of a dry pond in the Scottish city of Dunblane. He got there by apparently falling through the ice, on which curling matches were played in those ancient times. This sports equipment looked rather like an ordinary bulky cobblestone, in weight, shape and material not at all reminiscent of a modern “granite pebble”.

However, it is unlikely that other equipment was provided for players who lived during the time of James IV Stuart. For example, Scottish weavers from Darwell used stones for the game with handles that were removable and polished by their wives, made directly at the factory from parts of the looms. And some of the stones weighed up to 80 kg! The stones acquired their round shape, current weight and size only two hundred years later. Their diameter became 11.5 inches (about 29 cm), height reached 4.5 inches (11.4 cm), and weight - 44 pounds (19.96 kg).

In this article we will tell you what kind of Olympic sport curling is. You will learn everything about it and understand how to play it and what is known about it. Similar questions a few years ago were very common; they were often asked even by experienced fans of the Winter Olympics. At the moment, this extraordinary type of sports is rapidly gaining popularity. The main goal is that teams must alternately throw special granite pebbles at the target.

From the history of curling

The chronology of these sports battles is truly unique. Their ancestor arose back in the 15th century in Scotland. Members of the archaeological expedition managed to find a small shell for tournaments, which dates back to 1511. Even earlier (namely in 1457), the government of the country issued a decree banning a number of entertainments. Officials believed that gambling competitions distracted peasants and other workers from household chores and visits to temples. The game of stones escaped sanctions, this fact gave a great impetus to the development of the competitive component. The country that is the birthplace of curling is Scotland, but some researchers point to the fact that the origin of the sport dates back to the Netherlands. There, during the same period of time, similar championships arose. In paintings by Dutch artists of the sixteenth century, you can see how men enthusiastically launch stone blocks right at the target.

The official winter athletic club was founded in 1716. Residents of the Scottish town of Kislit regularly played on a unique playing field. The first matches took place on a huge artificially created dam. The athletes used ordinary large-sized projectiles. Some craftsmen took loads from looms. At first, few people understood how to play curling; unified rules appeared a little later.

The history of the name also comes from the Scottish language. The word curling began to be widely used around the 17th century, after the Scottish writer Henry Adamson spoke about the competition in his poem. The root curr is of Gaelic origin (the language of the indigenous people of the Scottish Highlands) and means to growl. This fact can be explained by the fact that the large granite touched the surface of the ice while sliding and made a special sound. Thus, the term can be translated as "game of roaring stones." At first, the results largely depended on the luck of the athletes. The different shapes of the granite blocks and the uneven ice surface caused the unpredictability of the results.

History of development

In 1838, in Scotland's largest city, the best athletes created a special players' union in Caledonia. The main task of the association was to unify all possible rules and create a list of necessary equipment. The shape of the projectile gradually acquired a modern look. The game also actively developed in America; many immigrants organized competitions in the USA or Canada.

Although curling as a sport appeared quite a long time ago, the first World Championship was held only in 1959. During competitions in Falkirk and Edinburgh, the best curlers from different continents competed for the Scottish Cup. The Canadian men's team took home the trophy. Girls entered the fight a little later; a similar world tournament among women was held in the late seventies. The winners of the newly created discipline were the Swiss.

Currently, professional athletes of the planet annually determine the winner of the world championship. The most prestigious championship is the Olympic competition. Every four years, leading athletes participate in this sports festival. The “winter bowling” championship was first presented at the 1924 Olympics, but it was of a demonstrative nature. Only 4 teams took part (2 from Sweden, Great Britain and France). Curling was again introduced at the competitions in Nagano, with the British winning gold medals.

Rules

At first glance, the game process may seem very confusing. Two teams participate in the match. Athletes take turns taking granite stones of a certain color by a special handle, and then launch them across the ice precisely at the target. The main task is to hit a “house” with a twenty-kilogram projectile, which is located at a distance of thirty meters. The athlete can also knock or completely push the opponent’s piece of granite out of the target.

The rest of the teammates can adjust the trajectory of movement using unique shields. As a result of friction, a thin film of water is formed. In this way, athletes can change the speed and direction of the throw. You will have 8 different attempts to hit the target. If one of the blocks does not reach the house or, on the contrary, moves too much, then he drops out of the fight. At the end of each time period, points are counted and intermediate results are summed up.

The rules of the game of curling briefly for “dummies”:

  • Each team has 8 stones available.
  • The player must get as close to the target as possible.
  • You can shoot down enemy projectiles.
  • The team that hits the very center of the target will win.
  • The match ends after ten independent periods.
There are some standard parameters for the site. It should be covered with a thick layer of ice, on which multi-colored markings are applied. The approximate dimensions of the playing field are 45 x 4.3 meters. The diameter of the house (which is located at the very end) is 3.5 m. Special boulders are most often made from strong Scottish granite. The terminology of this type of competition is quite complex; an unprepared person will not immediately understand all the nuances.

About sports in Russia

Curling clubs first appeared during the Russian Empire. It was at the end of the 19th century that several visiting diplomats organized teams in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the USSR there were practically no attempts to popularize the game, since high-quality shells, they are called stones in curling, were very difficult and expensive to produce. The very specifics of the tournaments also did not attract Russians for a long time. Currently, our country’s national team is a full participant in various championships. The women's team performs more successfully; the girls became European champions a couple of times and were one step away from winning the world championship. Today, more and more people are starting to take up curling; many parents send their children to special sections. The guys train in special equipment; comfortable sportswear for winter sports is available in the Stayer store.

Features of the sport

On the playground you will notice a unique ice surface, approximately 45 meters long. The entire field is lined with several dividing stripes of different sizes. In the center of the house there is a “T-line”, the width of which does not exceed 1 centimeter. You will also see the back and scoring lines nearby.

At official competitions, several referees are present at once. Each match is monitored by a specially trained team. The Olympic Games are considered the most prestigious tournament. They also hold World, European and Pacific-Asian curling competitions.

This discipline has a number of technical features. The player must release the attached handle before it crosses the throwing line. Otherwise, this attempt will be cancelled. Also, the result may not be counted if a team member changes the trajectory of movement with his foot or even a broom. There are a huge number of ways to hit the target. In some cases, the main task is to knock someone else's projectile out of the house or protect your own.

For curling you will need the following equipment:

  1. Several round stones (weight between 17-20 kilograms).
  2. A brush designed for rubbing the playing area.
  3. Slider for sneakers, which will provide better gliding on ice.
You can purchase winter clothes for curling using the Stayer online store. All products are affordable, and the products will last you for many years. Unique design, production in accordance with all modern technologies, as well as high quality suits are the hallmark of this brand. All products are manufactured on the territory of the Russian Federation. Right now you can buy comfortable pants and a light sports jacket for curling.

In this article we talked about the history of the emergence and development of curling, where it appeared and who invented it. Now it will be more interesting for you to watch competitions, and maybe participate in them.

If you ask even an “advanced” sports fan what curling is, not every person interested in competitions in various sports will be able to answer this question without hesitation. Meanwhile, the history of curling goes back over 500 years.

History of origin

At first, curling was a simple pastime for shepherds. There were no strictly regulated rules at all. They simply took a medium-sized stone and launched it across the ice at a distance, with the goal that it would stop, stopping sliding, in a zone designated in a certain way (the so-called “house”). Victory in this competition was determined by the stone that was closest to the central point of such a zone.

The right to be considered the founders of curling is disputed between the Scots and the inhabitants of what is now the Netherlands. The fact speaks in favor of the Scots that at the end of the twentieth century, during the drainage of one of the provincial swamps, a quite professional curling stone was found, on which the date of manufacture was stamped - “1511”. The Dutch insist that the game of icestock (throwing stones across a frozen lake) is depicted in the paintings of the famous Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel (the elder). True, the artist’s paintings date back to 1565, and the first official recorded mention of curling is found, however, in the chronicles of a Scottish abbey. And this happened in 1541.

There is no consensus on where the name of this sport came from. The authorship of the term is attributed to the 17th century Scottish poet Henry Adamson, who in one of his works described in sufficient detail not only the curling equipment, but also the rules of the game. Supporters of this version It is believed that the name is due to its origin in the complex curls that the stone left when moving on unprepared ice.

There is another, “language” version. Its adherents claim that curling owes its name to the word “curr”, which means “roaring” in Scottish dialect. And this is not without a certain logic, given the sound that a simple stone makes while moving along an ordinary ice surface. Of course, this was in those days when the ice surface for the game was something between a frozen pond and the enthusiasm of the players.

Development of curling

Be that as it may, over time, the sport improved and developed. Certain rules and regulations have emerged. They concerned primarily the following aspects:

  • dimensions of the playground;
  • number of participants in each team;
  • weight, size and material from which the stone should be made;
  • the number of game rounds (ends) and stones played in each of them.

Despite all its attractiveness and diversity, curling has long remained in the shadow of more popular and widespread sports. Official competitions date back to 1959, when the first European Championship was held under the auspices of the newly formed Scottish Association. And this is despite the fact that even at the 1924 Olympic Games in the French city of Chamonix, curling was presented in the so-called demonstration mode. And to the Olympic program this sport was included quite recently - in 1998.

And even today this sport continues to be the preserve of a select few. Suffice it to say that today, full-fledged men's or women's teams at serious international competitions are able to field only 12 teams from different countries. This is due to several reasons:

  • in itself, a game such as curling implies quite expensive equipment, the presence of well-equipped ice rinks, equipped accordingly;
  • few people know how to play curling, understand the depth of the rules, nuances and aspects, not to mention the requirements that dictate the standards that govern curling competitions;
  • myths that debunk the postulate that declares the game to be democratic and accessible, which will be discussed below.

However, recently curling has been developing rapidly, attracting attention in those countries where people have at least occasionally seen ice.

The meaning of curling and the purpose of the game

Curling is often called “chess on ice.” It is quite possible that this definition carries excessive pathos. But the whole point is that every play is like the movement of one or another chess piece! With the only caveat - all this happens in real time, and even on a slippery surface. This is “ice chess”, the rules of which are regulated quite strictly!

A rectangular track (line) is traditionally a separate ice platform, limited along the sides by special fences. Two teams take part in each round of the game. The competing team consists of four people. And this is one of the key conditions!

Using equivalent inventory, the opponents are trying to either place their last stone at the central point, or knock out the opponent’s stone with the expectation that their game projectile will be closer to the center of the “house”. But this explanation looks too primitive.

Girls and brooms

If we interpret the current rules that govern curling competitions, then any team consisting of four people (both men and women) assumes a fairly narrow specialization of each of them:

In order for the stone to get into the house, each team releases six stones in the order that was given to them by lot. This cycle continues for 10 cycles (innings).

Curling tactics and strategy

At first glance, curling may seem like a rather primitive game. Well, what kind of sport is this - just take a stone and throw it across the ice of a frozen pond! However, this is not the case. It is not for nothing that curling competitions arouse such wide interest all over the world, and broadcasts of matches of leading teams (both men's and women's) arouse genuine interest even in those countries where they have never seen ice or even snow.

Modern rules of the game of curling put everything in its place. There are quite strict parameters, which the playing stone must meet, including size, weight and material. There are also requirements that must be met by the quality of the ice, the lighting of the sites, their capacity, and so on.

In addition, unlike in past times, today all four players on a team must launch the stone. This explains the versatility that a player on a team simply must have! The fact is that the participant is not at all obliged to knock the opponent’s stone out of the “house” with his throw. A much more effective solution would be to set up an obstacle (“guard”), a false target (“victim”), or some other non-standard actions.

Another obvious advantage of curling is the fact that the rules of the game do not limit the age of the participant in any way. Anyone, regardless of gender and age, who is able to hold a stone in his hands (and it weighs almost 20 kg) can take part in the competition.

I would like to add, that curling is an individual, an intellectual and progressive game that allows you to unite people of different nationalities, diverse interests, completely opposite worldviews and preferences. A clear indication of this is the success of the national teams of Scotland, Canada and Russia. They have proven more than once that in any team sport, much is decided not by individual skill, but by the general spirit! And curling, the rules of which are still subject to certain changes, no matter how complex it is in its internal essence and the intricacy of the rules, once again confirms this indisputable axiom!


PLAYGROUND, INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT OF PLAYERS

PLAYGROUND

1.1. Curling is played on an ice surface. The curling court has the shape of a rectangle; special markings are applied to the surface of the court. The area of ​​the playing field in which the movement of sports equipment (curling stones) occurs is limited by the side lines (side line) and back lines (back line). The distance between the back lines of the court is 38.41 m, the distance between the side lines of the court is 4.75 m. The width of the side lines is not included in the dimensions of the playing court, the width of the back lines is included in the dimensions of the playing court.

On each side of the site, a “house” is drawn, which is a circle with a radius of 1.83 m. The width of the line delimiting the outer boundaries of the “house” is included in its dimensions. In the “house” its center is designated (point tee). The distance from the center of the “home” to the back line of the court is 1.83 m (at the point of contact, the back line of the court and the circle line of the “home” overlap each other).

Through the center of the “house”, between the side lines of the site, parallel to the back line, a line of the center of the “house” (tee line) is drawn; the distance between the lines of the center of the “house” on different sides of the site is 34.75 m. Inside the “house” on the surface of the site Three circles with radii are drawn: 0.15 m, 0.61 m and 1.22 m, designed to determine the advantage in the arrangement of the stones located in it.

On each side of the court, at a distance of 6.40 m from the home center line, parallel to it, a scoring line (hog line) is drawn. The width of the goal line is not included in the stated distance. The distance between the two scoring lines of the court is 21.95 m.

Through the center points of the “house”, parallel to the side lines, the center line of the site is drawn.

On each side of the site, at a distance of 3.66 m from the center point of the “house,” a foot line is drawn. The distance from the line of the blocks to the outer boundaries of the playing court must be at least 1.22 m.

1.2. On each side of the playing court, two blocks are installed on the line of blocks. The distance from the center line to the inside of each block should not exceed 7.62 cm. The length of the block should not exceed 20.32 cm. The length of the studs for fixing the block should not exceed 5.04 cm. There should be no obstacles behind the blocks.

1.3. Before the start of the match, the chief referee must carry out control measurements of the court marking elements. If any difference in the actual dimensions of the markings from the standard ones is detected, the teams must be warned about this by the chief referee of the match.

SPORTS EQUIPMENT FOR CURLING - CURLING STONE

2.1. The game of curling is played using a special sports equipment called a “stone”. A curling stone consists of a round granite base (processed in a special way) and a handle attached to it. The handle is attached to the granite base with a screw passing through a hole drilled in the center of the fanite base of the stone.

2.2. The weight of the stone should not exceed 19.96 kg. The circumference of the granite base of the stone should not exceed 91.44 cm, the height of the granite base of the stone should be at least 11.43 cm.

2.3. If during game actions a stone breaks into fragments, a new stone replacing it is installed on the site in place of the largest fragment of the broken stone. The end and match are completed using a new stone.

2.4. If a stone, while sliding across the court, begins to sharply change its trajectory or stop (as a result of any defects that have arisen on its sliding surface), it can be removed from the game and replaced with another stone.

2.5. If the handle is completely separated from the fanite base of the stone during the throw, at the request of the team performing the stone, the throw attempt is repeated.

NOTE: if it is impossible to replace a failed stone, by agreement of the team skips and the chief referee, the match can be played if one of the teams has 7 stones (in this case, one of the stones is thrown twice in one end).

PLAYER EQUIPMENT

3.1. The player's equipment includes:

Special curling shoes that provide sliding and movement around the court (the sole of one shoe can be covered with sliding material, and the other with anti-slip material); the use of sliders and anti-sliders worn on the player’s shoes is permitted;

Curling brush or broom of the established type;

Sports suit.

3.2. The player's equipment must be clean and must not leave any marks on the surface of the playing court.

3.3. The player’s equipment can be inspected by the chief referee both before the start and during the match and is prohibited for use.

3.4. Players may use stopwatches.

3.5. Players may not use any technical means for negotiations between teammates and the coach.

COMMAND STRUCTURE

4.1. The team participates in game activities on the court consisting of four players.

NOTE: The number of substitute players who can be entered into a match as part of a team is determined by the competition regulations.

4.2. Each end of the match involves two stone throws by each player on the team. Before the start of the match, the order of stone throws by the team players is determined, which is maintained throughout the match and recorded in the protocol (“first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth” numbers).

4.3. A player can be replaced after the end of any end of the match. The player who entered the court participates in the match under the number of the replaced partner. Reverse substitution of players is prohibited. The number of possible player substitutions in a match is determined by the competition regulations.

4.4. In exceptional cases, a team may start and play a match with three players. If three players participate in a match as part of one team, the players playing under the “first” and “second” numbers each perform three stone throws in one end.

NOTE: 1) if the match starts with a team of three players, the fourth player can enter the game from the beginning of any end;

2) if one of the team’s four players drops out of the game (due to injury, etc.) and there is no substitute player to replace him, the team completes the match with three players. If the eliminated player is the team skip, his functions are transferred to the vice skip

3) in the event of the elimination of two or more players from a team’s four players and the absence of a substitute player to replace them, the match is abandoned and the team is given a loss.

SKIP

5.1. As part of the team, a skip is determined, who is the captain of the team, whose functions are:

Negotiating with the referees and skip of the opposing team when making decisions in a controversial game situation that arose during the match;

Managing the actions of partners when the team draws the stone;

Coordination of the number of points received by one of the teams based on the results of the end (end score) with the skip of the opposing team.

5.2. Skip can perform stone throws under any number in the team.

5.3. When a skip throws a stone, his right to control the actions of his partners passes to the vice-skip.

5.4. If a skip is eliminated from the game (injury, etc.), his functions are transferred to the vice-skip.

5.5. The skip and vice-skip are noted in the match report.

RULES FOR CONDUCTING GAMING ACTIVITIES

DETERMINING THE WINNER OF THE MATCH. PROCEDURE FOR ACCRUALING POINTS

6.1. A curling match consists of 10 independent parts, called “ends”.

NOTE: in accordance with the competition regulations, the number of ends in a match may be reduced.

6.2. At each end of the match, the team is awarded points.

6.3. The team that scores the most points based on the sum of all ends is the winner of the match. If two teams have an equal number of points after the end of the last end (tie score), an additional extra end is assigned, and if it ends in a draw, additional extra ends are assigned until the winner of the match is determined.

6.4. In one end, each team draws 8 stones, a total of 16 stones are played in the end. Scoring is done after all 16 stones in an end have been played. Points at the end of the end are awarded to only one of the teams.

NOTE: Team skips may agree on the outcome of an end before all stones in the end have been played.

6.5. The team is awarded one point for each stone located in the "house" and located closer to the center point of the "house" compared to the opponent's stone(s). In this case, the criterion for assessing the position of the stone is the distance from the center point of the “house” to the inner (closest to the center) point of the stone surface.

NOTE: Any stone touching the house line is considered to be in the house; By touching the border of the “house” with a stone we mean the intersection of the projection lowered from the edge of the stone to the line of the “house”.

6.6. If none of the stones are in the “house”, the end is tied with a score of 0:0. If the stones of different teams are located closer than other stones to the center of the “house” and are at an equal distance from it, the outcome of the end is recorded as a draw with a score of 0:0.

6.7. The number of points received by one of the teams based on the results of the end is agreed upon by the skips of both teams after they have visually examined the final arrangement of stones on the playing court.

6.8. If, after a visual examination of the position of the stones in the “house”, the team skips do not have a consensus on the advantage in the location of these stones, the match referee (after the completion of the drawing of all stones in the end) measures the position of the stones in the “house”.

NOTE: the procedure for measuring the position of stones in the “house” involves the use of a special measuring device with a moving measuring block. The base of this device is installed at the center point of the “house”, and the moving measuring block is fixed in such a way that the lever of this block touches the surface of one of the stones closest to the center of the “house”. In this case, the judge records the amount of deflection of the lever on the scale of the measuring block. Next, without lifting the base of the device from the center point of the “house,” the device moves to the next stone, where a similar procedure for measuring its position is carried out. Based on a comparison of the amount of deflection of the lever on the scale of the measuring block for different stones, the judge makes a decision on the advantage in the location of one or another stone in relation to the center of the “house”.

6.9. If there is no consensus between the skips of the teams on whether the stone touches the external boundaries of the “house”, the chief referee of the match, after the completion of the drawing of all stones in the end, measures the position of the stone (stones).

NOTE: 1) the procedure for measuring the position of the stone involves the use of a standard measuring device having a standard length corresponding to the length of the radius of the “house”, i.e. equal to 1.83 m (6 feet). When using this device, its base is installed at the center point of the “house”, after which the device itself moves in a circle;

2) if the device touches a stone, the latter is considered to be in the “house”. If the stone is visually located outside the boundaries of the “house”, and during the measurement the edge of the reference device touches the stone, the latter is considered to be in the “house”;

3) in exceptional cases, when applying the “free defenders” zone rule, the measurement of the position of the stone can be made before the end of the end.

6.10. During the process of measuring the position of the stones, only match referees can be in the “house”; team players must be located outside the playing area.

If, when measuring the position of the stones at the end of the end, a player of one of the teams moved the opponent’s stone, the position of which was supposed to be measured, the position of this stone is counted as closer to the center of the “house” compared to the stones of the opposing team, the position of which was also supposed to be measured . If, during the measurement, a player moves a stone of his team, the position of this stone is counted as worse in relation to the stones of the opposing team, the position of which was supposed to be measured. If, when measuring the position of the stones, the judge moves one of them, the position of all the stones whose positions are being measured is recorded as the same.

PROCEDURE FOR THE STONE DRAW

7.1. Playing a stone means the actions of one of the teams, including:

a) determination of the game task by the skip;

b) one of the team players throws a curling stone (releasing a stone while sliding along the surface of the playing court);

c) sliding of a stone from the moment the player releases it until it stops within the site or until it leaves the site, as well as the movement (sliding) of other stones that began to move after being hit by a thrown stone;

d) rubbing the ice surface of the playing area by the players of the team conducting the rally using special brushes or brooms - sweeping.

During the rally, a stone released by a player can knock other stones located on the court beyond its boundaries (with the exception of the “free defenders” zone rule), and also, if it hits them, move them within the court.

7.2. In each end, the teams draw the stone one by one. During the drawing of a stone by one of the teams, players of the opposing team are prohibited from being within the playing court and taking any actions aimed at interfering with the movement of stones on its surface, as well as the actions of the players of the team conducting the drawing.

7.3. The team that plays the first stone in the first end of the match is determined by lot. In subsequent ends of the match, the first stone in the end is drawn by the team that won the previous end. In the event of a draw end, the first stone in the next end is played by the team that started throwing the stone in the previous end.

7.4. A stone is considered to be in play if, after being released by the player, it completely crosses the hog line on the opposite side of the court and stops in the area bounded by the back and side lines of the court. A stone touching the back line of the court is considered in play.

7.5. The drawing of the stone is canceled and the thrown stone is removed from the game in the following cases:

a) the stone turns over and slides on the side of the handle;

b) the stone stops before it has completely crossed the hog line, unless it touches another stone located behind that line;

c) the stone completely crosses the back line of the court;

d) the stone touches (during movement or after stopping) the side line of the court or the side that replaces it.

7.6. The touching of a stone to any line of the court means:

a) the presence of contact of any part of the stone with the line of the site or the side replacing it;

b) the intersection of the projection of the edge of the stone, lowered to the line of the site.

NOTE: if the intersection of the projection of the edge of the stone and the line of the court cannot be established visually, this fact can be established by the match referee by measuring the position of the stone using a special device - a right angle square.

POSITION OF PLAYERS ON THE COURT

8.1. When a team is drawing a stone, only the skip (or vice-skip replacing it) of this team can be in the “house”. The skip (vice-skip) of the team playing the stone has priority in choosing a position in the “house” in relation to the players of the opposing team.

8.2. When playing a stone for one of the teams, the skip and vice-skip of the opposing team must be behind the back line of the court. These players are allowed to enter the court in the following cases:

a) when the thrown stone touches the stone of this team;

b) when the stones cross the line of the center of the “house” (tee line).

NOTE: When a player throws a stone, the skip and vice-skip of the opposing team, located behind the back line of the court, must not move along this line, nor make any movements that interfere with the throwing player.

8.3. After any stone crosses the tee line, team skips have equal rights to sweep as the stone slides. Sweeping in relation to a stone crossing the line of the center of the “house” can begin only from the moment the stone touches this line.

8.4. When drawing a stone for one of the teams, the “first” and “second” numbers of the opposing team must be outside the court in the area between the scoring lines of the court (hog line). However, their position should not block the view of the referee at the goal line.

STONE THROSS

9.1. In the starting position, before throwing, the player must rest one foot on one of the blocks fixed on the playing court. Players who release the stone with their right hand use the block located to the left of the center line of the court, and players who release the stone with their left hand use the block located to the right of the center line. If a player uses the opposite block to throw, the draw of the stone is canceled.

9.2. When making a throw, the player is allowed to push off from the block and slide with the stone in hand to the nearest scoring line of the court (hog line), releasing the stone before crossing this line.

9.3. If the player does not have time to release the stone before crossing the scoring line, the draw of the stone is canceled. A violation of this rule can be recorded by the referee on the goal line or the main referee of the match (if he specifically records the implementation of this rule at the request of the skip of the opposing team).

NOTE: If a player releases a stone in such a way that the goal line referee has doubts about the correct release of the stone, the player may be warned by the match referee to perform this action accurately.

9.4. If, when performing a throw, the player with a stone in his hand did not cross the line of the center of the “house” closest to him and, for some reason, stopped executing the throw, the throw can be repeated.

9.5. If a player throws a stone out of order, the play is considered invalid and the throw is performed by the corresponding player of the same team. If the error is discovered not at the time of the play, but after several plays of the stone, the player who missed the turn to throw throws the last stone of his team in that end.

9.6. In the event that team skips agree that one stone has been missed, but cannot consistently identify the player who made the mistake, the “first” team number throws the last stone of his team in that end.

9.7. If one team makes two throws in a row by mistake, the second throw is canceled (with the right to repeat it in order of priority).

9.8. If three stone throws are made by mistake by one player in an end, his partner, who makes the last stone throws of his team in the end, performs only one throw.

9.9. If a player mistakenly throws using a stone from the opposing team, the draw is considered successful (all stones remain in new positions), the thrown stone is returned to the opposing team, and the mistakenly missed stone is replaced in its place.

SWIPING

10.1. Sweeping refers to players rubbing the surface of the playing court using a special brush or broom.

10.2. Sweeping can only be performed in front of a moving stone, in close proximity to it. Sweeping can be carried out only in the direction of movement of the stones of one’s own team (with the exception of the case when a stone of the opposing team crosses the line of the center of the “home”). Before the thrown stone crosses the center line of the “house” (tee line), sweeping in relation to it can be carried out by all players of the team performing the rally, and after crossing this line - only by the skip of the team or the vice-skip replacing him in the “house”.

10.3. Players of one team cannot sweep the stones of another team (except when a stone of the opposing team crosses the home center line).

10.4. The team playing the stone and having no desire to sweep beyond the home center line must not prevent the opposing team from sweeping its stone.

10.5. Only one player from a team (skip or vice-skip) is allowed to sweep as the stone(s) crosses the home center line.

NOTE: 1) the vice skip gets the right to sweep behind the home center line from the moment the team skip starts throwing;

2) if the skip is not the last in the team to throw the stone, his right to sweep beyond the home center line is resumed only after the completion of the play of his stone.

10.6. Rubbing the surface of the playing area when sweeping should be accompanied by moving the head of the brush or broom along the ice from side to side. These movements must be performed on the surface of the playing court at an angle to the line of movement of the stone.

NOTE: When performing sweeping, the following is prohibited:

Unidirectional sliding of the brush along the surface of the area in front of the stone (without moving from side to side);

“hovering” of the brush in front of a moving stone or above it (without touching the surface of the area);

Performing movements with a brush on the ice along the sliding line of the stone;

10.7. When performing a sweep, players and their equipment are not allowed to touch the stones located on the site.

10.8. During a match, a player may only use one brush or broom to sweep. If it breaks, it can be replaced with equipment of a similar type. The brush can only be replaced with the permission of the match chief referee. Several players on a team can use the same brush to sweep.

10.9. A player can use two different brushes in a match: one to perform a sweep, the other to perform a stone throw.

TOUCHING A MOVING STONE

11.1. If a player of the team conducting the rally touches his team's moving stone with part of his body or brush, the stone may be removed from the game and the rally voided. At the same time, the skip of the opposing team may decide to count the rally by placing the stone that was touched at the place of possible stopping, and also placing other stones at the place of possible stopping.

11.2. In the event that a player of the team not conducting the rally touches a moving stone of the opposing team with part of his body or brush, the skip of that team may leave the stone where it actually stopped or place it in the position that the stone would have occupied if not for it. an error was made (touch).

11.3. If the position of any stone is changed by contact with a moving stone that is in error (touched), the opposing skipper has the right to:

a) cancel the draw and return the displaced stones to their original positions;

11.4. If the skip makes a decision on the location of stones at possible stopping points (clauses: 11.1, 11.2, 11.3), the positions of all stones must be agreed upon by the skips of both teams. If there is no consensus among the skips, the final decision is made by the chief referee of the match.

11.5. The fact that the player touched the stone is considered confirmed in the following cases:

a) the touch is confirmed by the skips of both teams;

b) the touch is recorded by the main referee of the match (provided that he is directly visually monitoring the conduct of this rally);

If one of these two conditions is not met, the player's touch of the stone is considered unconfirmed, and the match continues with the actual placement of the stones on the court.

DISPLACEMENT OF FIXED STONE

12.1. If a player from the team playing the stone displaces a stationary stone that is in the path of a moving stone, the skip of the opposing team can make one of the following decisions:

a) cancel the drawing of the stone, returning all the stones to their original positions;

12.2. If a stationary stone is displaced and is not in the path of a moving stone, the stationary stone is returned to its original position (by the opposing team's skip). The drawing is considered completed with the positions of the remaining stones on the site preserved.

12.3. The fact that a player has moved a stone is established in a sequence similar to clause 11.5.

"FREE DEFENDERS" ZONE

13.1. The area of ​​the playing court between the goal line (hog line) and the home center line, excluding the home boundaries, is defined as the “free defenders” zone.

13.2. The free defender zone rule applies in each end during the play of the first four stones (i.e. the first two stones of each team), namely: stones located in the free defender zone (not touching the home line) do not may be knocked out of the court by opponents' stones. If they are knocked out, the stones that were in this zone are returned to their original positions, and the draw is canceled. From the beginning of the play of the fifth stone in the end, the rule of the “free defenders” zone loses its force.

NOTE: a situation in which a stone located in the “free defenders” zone, after being hit by a played stone, knocks out the stone in the “house” and remains within its boundaries, is not a violation of the “free defenders” zone rule.

LIMIT ON THE DURATION OF PERFORMING GAME ACTIONS

To control the duration of game actions performed by teams during a match, one of two principles can be used.

14.1. The first principle is the introduction of a time limit for the drawing of all stones in a match with the registration of “net” playing time.

Each team participating in the match is allocated 75 minutes of “pure” playing time to carry out all the plays of the stone in the 10 ends of the match. If a team does not have time to draw all the stones in all ends of the match, it will lose the match.

The countdown of “pure” playing time begins from the moment the opposing team completes the play of the stone and lasts until the end of the play by this team (stopping all the stones on the court).

If a controversial situation arises that requires the intervention of a referee, the countdown of “clean” playing time stops. Its countdown is resumed at the signal of the chief referee of the match (from the moment the drawing of stones by one of the teams begins).

Registration of “clean” playing time is the responsibility of the timekeeper judge.

NOTE: when using the principle of recording “pure” playing time, there is no time limit for playing one stone.

14.2. The second principle is the introduction of a time limit for drawing one stone.

If, in the opinion of the match referee, a player takes too long to prepare for the stone throw or the team skip takes too long to decide on a task for his partner, the referee may set a time limit, namely:

a) for the player making the throw - 30 seconds to begin the action;

b) for skip (vice-skip) - 2 minutes to make a decision and determine the task for the partner.

If players exceed these time limits, the drawing of the stone is canceled.

NOTE: this principle is used if the principle of recording “clean” playing time (clause 14.1) cannot be implemented for technical or other reasons.

RULES OF CONDUCT FOR ATHLETES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT OF CURLING CODE*

Curling is a game of skill and tradition. A well-executed throw is not only a joy to watch, but it is also a wonderful way to display curling's long-honored tradition of the true spirit of the game. Curlers play to win, but never to humiliate their opponents. A true curler would rather lose than win unfairly.

A true curler will never try to distract his opponent or in any way interfere with his opponent's ability to perform well. A curler will never dare to break the rules of the game or any of the traditions. But if he did so unintentionally and realized it, he would be the first to report the violation.

While the game of curling is challenging enough to allow players to display their skill, the spirit of the game requires them to be truly athletic, friendly and respectful. The spirit of the game must be manifested both in the interpretation of the rules of the game and in their practical application, and also be the basis for the behavior of the participants in the competition on and off the ice.

* This section is mandatory for the Rules of the Game of the World Curling Federation.

Curling became an official Olympic discipline only recently, in 1998. This sport requires a specially prepared field, the surface of which must be icy. The dimensions of the curling court are 45.7 * 5.0 meters. If you look at the field from above, it is quite easy to see the special markings, with the boundaries of which the game itself takes place. An important element is the house, which represents a target for shooting. It is to this goal that athletes must bring the “stone” (special pin). The closest possible location of the game projectile is the optimal achievement for the players of a particular team.

Shells and equipment

The rules of curling provide for certain requirements for sports equipment. The size must meet the following parameters:

  • Have a round hemispherical shape;
  • Made from granite;
  • The diameter of the projectile must be less than 91.4 centimeters. The pin height is limited to 11.4 centimeters.

The weight of the stone ranges from 17.2 to 19.9 kg. A metal handle is attached to the sports element for convenient launching of the stone. According to the rules of curling competitions, there must be eight stones in the game. The set of stones is complemented by a brush and a stand designed for sliding during the starting launch.

An important element for curlers is the correct selection of shoes. Two pairs of boots are used as equipment. One set is equipped with a sole with increased sliding properties, the other pair of shoes has a sole with the opposite effect. The technical equipment of athletes also includes a stopwatch.

Game format

A curling match consists of 10 games called ends. Based on the results of all rounds, the final score is calculated. The peculiarity of awarding points is that they are given to the team whose stones are closer to the center of the target. The more stones in a row according to the end results are closer to the center of the target, the more points the team receives. The losing end team remains without points. The final result is formed by summing up the points for the individual stages of the game.

Features of throws

According to the rules of curling, a draw result in the game is excluded. When the same indicators are achieved, athletes play extra-end. Based on its results, the final winner is determined.

To win a match, an important role is played by correct and subtle calculation, aimed at correctly choosing the point at which it would be optimal to perform the next action. Throwing power is also one of the components of success in this sport. The further process depends on the skill of the curler and how quickly his partners cope with clearing the path in front of the stone. This manipulation allows you to quickly and accurately deliver the pin to the intended target.

Additional batch

Using the last shot, a team can literally snatch an advantage. The right to throw first in the extra end is determined by drawing lots. In the remaining rounds, participants who lost the previous segment of the match begin throwing. Sometimes in intermediate games it is advantageous to throw.

Dimensions of the playing field

The basic rules of the game of curling provide for certain requirements for the court.

Its length is 44 and a half meters. The curling field is 4.3 meters wide. The house in the form of a shooting target is made with a diameter of 3.6 meters. The standard weight of granite stone is 19.9 kilograms.

As the official rules state, curling is based on several main requirements:

  • The match features two teams of four curlers;
  • The confrontation is divided into ten separate parties (ends);
  • In each end, the teams alternately launch eight stones;
  • Before sending a stone to the target, the player pushes off from a special column and accelerates along the ice surface;
  • The goal is to send a projectile in the intended place or push out an opponent’s stone;
  • Success largely depends on the chosen tactics and implementation of the game plan;
  • The rest of the team helps speed up and give precision to the projectile by rubbing the surface in front of it with brushes;
  • They perform these manipulations as close as possible in front of the stone, which also allows them to slightly adjust its direction.

To summarize: after all the stones have been drawn by both participating teams, points are calculated. Only stones that have not left the boundaries of the house are subject to the records kept by the judges. The players whose pin comes closest to the center of the house target win the end. The team gets a point for each shell that ends up as close as possible to the central part of the house than the opponents' stones.

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