Who invented curling? Key moments of the game. What are the rules of curling? How to play curling

Today I would like to tell our readers about this exotic form sports like curling. Despite the fact that this is a relatively young sport, lately in our country it is beginning to enjoy increasing popularity. Therefore, it would be strange if we did not focus our attention on it!
So what is curling? Curling is a team game played on an ice rink. Each team consists of four people: Skip, vice-skip, first and second. The duration of the game is 10 independent periods (or ends).

Rules of the game of curling

The essence of the game of curling is to either carry your stone into the scoring zone (it is drawn on the ice in the form of a target), or knock the opposing team's stone out of the scoring zone. In each period, the team is supposed to release eight stones. The player launching the stone pushes off the platform and accelerates it across the ice. Other team members can control the movement of the stone using special brushes that they use to rub the ice in front of it. This process is called sweeping, which in English means “revenge, sweep.”
Scoring in each end is carried out according to the following rules: only those stones that are inside the house are counted. The team whose stone is closest to the center of the house is considered to have won the end. One point is added to the team's score for each stone that is closer to the center than the opponent's stone.
You can sweep not only your own stones, but also the opponent’s stones - in order to get them to go beyond the penalty back line play area. However, athletes receive this right only when the opponent’s stone crosses the teeline passing through the center of the “house”, and only one player of the team has the right to sweep in this zone.
There is also a rule: the player must release the handle of the stone before it crosses the throwing line. Otherwise, the throw does not count.
During the first four throws of each end (that is, two throws for each team), it works like this: the so-called Free Guard Zone rule.
This rule prohibits knocking out of play an opponent's stones that are between the hog line and the center line of the house, but are not in the house. If this rule is violated, the position that existed before the throw is restored. The offender's stone is removed from the drawing. From the fifth end this rule ceases to apply.
The winning team is determined by counting points for each end. In the event of a tie after ten ends, an additional period is assigned, also called an extra end. Its winner becomes the winner of the entire match. The right to throw the last shot in the extra end is granted, similar to previous periods, to the team that lost the tenth end.
The curling equipment used is a special stone with a handle (its weight is 44 pounds or 19.96 kg), which is made from special granite mined on the island of Ailsa Craig in Scotland. Players are also “armed” with special brushes with which they can rub the ice in front of a moving stone. Special shoes are also provided for the players.

A Brief History of Curling

As for the official championships, then first world curling championship took place in 1975 in France. Olympic view curling was recognized in 1998. The first Olympic medals in curling were awarded at the Olympics in Nagano. Then the Swiss team became the winner among the men's teams, and the Canadian team among the women's teams.
Interesting fact: in 2006, the IOC revised history and decided that the first olympic games curling competition took place in 1924. That year, the winners were the teams of Great Britain and Ireland, the Swedish team won the silver medal, and France won the bronze medal.

Actual confirmation of the existence of this sports game is curling sports equipment(stone), on the surface of which the date of manufacture is stamped (“1511”), found at the bottom of the dry Lake Dunban. The first chronicle mentions of curling are found in medieval monastic books dating back to 1541, preserved in the Scottish Abbey of Paisley.

Approximately from the same time (1565) are two paintings by Pieter Bruegel, which depict Dutch peasants playing icestock, a game close to curling, on the ice of a frozen lake. It is curious that Scotland and the Netherlands in the 16th century had very strong trade and cultural ties, as evidenced by the widespread use of not only curling, but also golf in continental Europe.

The oldest curling club in the world is the Kilsyth Players' Association, located in the north of Scotland, founded in 1716. The first curling club was opened in 1737 in the province of Fife. In the same city there is the oldest man-made sports field intended for the game of curling - an artificial dam enclosing a pond and defining a platform measuring 100 by 250 meters.

The word itself curling It was first used as a game name in the 17th century, after being mentioned in a poem by the Scottish poet Henry Adamson. Researchers believe that the game got its name not from the complex curlicues-traces that the stone left behind on the ice, but from the Scottish verb curr, which describes a low growl or roar (in English the closest equivalent is purr). The thing is that a granite stone sliding on the ice touched the notches of the ice, which caused a characteristic sound. To this day, in some areas of Scotland the game is better known as the Roaring Stones Game.

It is worth noting that imperfect form shells and the unpreparedness of the field did not allow ancient curlers to play, relying on one or another winning strategy, or to develop sportsmanship - in most cases, the outcome of the game was decided by the luck of a particular team or player.

Interesting information about projectiles is also contained in the annals of the Scottish city of Darwell: after work, weavers rested by playing curling with heavy stone weights used in oppressions on looms, and these weights had removable handle. It also says that “many wives supported their husband’s authority by polishing the handle of the stone and bringing its shape to perfection.”

In 2005, 12 teams already competed for world gold, of which 8 teams represented Europe, 2 from North America, and 2 from Asia and Oceania. European teams receive tickets to the world championship based on the results of the European Championships, which have been held since 1975. At the 2005 European Championships a record was set - 58 teams from 38 countries.

World championships are held every year. In 1989-2004, competitions for both men and women were held in the same city.

European Curling Championships

The first European Championship took place in 1975 in France. 8 men's and 7 women's teams took part in it. European Championships are held every year.

Olympic Games

Organizations

Playing field and equipment

Curling area

Stones in the "house"

The curling court is a rectangular field 146 feet (44.5 m) long and 14 feet 2 inches (4.32 m) wide. Ice temperature is around −5 °C (23 °F). The target, called the "house", is 12 feet (3.66 m) in diameter. The 44 lb (19.96 kg) stone is made from a specific type of granite quarried on the island of Ailsa Craig in Scotland. It has a cylindrical shape (with some transition into a torus) and a ring-shaped sliding surface. There is a handle on top of the stone.

Each player is armed with a special brush with which he can rub the ice in front of a moving stone.

A Teflon slider is put on the shoes to ensure good gliding. Knee pads are used to prevent injury.

Rules of the game

The game involves two teams of four people: Skip, vice-skip, first and second. The game consists of 10 independent periods, the so-called “ends” (end).

Curling brush

During one end, teams take turns releasing 8 stones. When playing a stone, the player pushes off from the starting block and accelerates the stone across the ice. At the same time, he tries to either stop the stone in certain place, or knock enemy stones out of the scoring zone, depending on the current tactical goal. Other team players can use special brushes to rub the ice in front of the stone, thereby slightly correcting its movement. Such manipulations with a brush are called sweeping (from the English. to sweep- revenge, sweep).

After all 16 stones have been played, the end points are counted. Only those stones that are inside the house are taken into account. The team whose stone is closest to the center is considered to have won the end. She gets one point for each stone that is closer to the center than the opponent's closest stone to the center.

In the first end, the order of the teams is determined by drawing lots; in all subsequent ends, the right of the last throw is given to the losing team of the previous end. If in the final position no one has stones in the house, the end ends in a goalless draw, and the right to the last throw remains with the same team. Therefore, it is often advantageous to “throw” the last stone (that is, throw it into touch, deliberately make an ineffective throw), rather than earning just one point.

You can sweep not only your own stones, but also the opponent’s stones - in order to get them to go beyond the penalty back line of the playing area. However, athletes receive this right only when the opponent’s stone crosses the teeline passing through the center of the “house”, and only one player of the team has the right to sweep in this zone.

According to the rules, the player must release the handle of the stone before it crosses the throwing line, otherwise the throw does not count and the bat is removed from the game. The throwing technique is very complex, and there are many ways in which the stone is aimed at the target. However, they are all divided into two groups depending on the task set by the skip: throwing your stone into the “house” or pushing out your opponent’s stone. Players also often resort to placing “defenders” - stones that cover well-placed stones and make it difficult for opponents to knock them out.

During the first four throws of each end (that is, two throws for each team), the so-called Free Guard Zone rule applies. According to it, it is forbidden to knock out stones from the game that are located between the scoring line (hog line) and the line of the center of the house, but are not located in the house. If this rule is violated, the position that existed before the throw is restored, and the offender’s stone is removed from the draw. However, it is permissible to push stones without knocking them out. Starting from the end's fifth throw, the "free defenders" zone rule ceases to apply and any knockout actions can be performed.

The winner is determined by the sum of points in all ends. In the event of a tie after ten ends, an additional period called extra-endom(extra end), the winner of which becomes the winner of the match. The right to throw the last shot in the extra end is granted, similar to previous periods, to the team that lost the tenth end.

The most important competitions

World Junior Curling Championships
World Veterans Curling Championship
Continental Cup
Mixed European Curling Championship
Pacific Curling Championships
US Men's Curling Championships
US Women's Curling Championships
USA Junior Curling Championships
USA Girls Curling Championships

Notes

Literature

B. Rudenko Curling - a gentleman's game // Science and life. - M.: Pravda, 1990. - V. 2. - P. 65-66. - ISSN 0028-1263.

Links

The largest Russian portal about curling in Russia and the World
Curling Basics (English) (German)

The main thing is curling stones. The game involves two teams, each consisting of four people. The team consists of a skip, vice-skip, first and second. The game lasts ten ends. End – independent period.

Play curling

During one end, each team throws eight stones in turn. When the stone is drawn, the player pushes off from the start and gives the stone acceleration on the ice. At this time, he can either stop the stone in the place he needs, or knock the opposing team’s stones out of the zone. The rest of the team adjusts the movement of the stone using brushes. This adjustment is called sweeping and is a funny sight - the friction of the ice in front of the stone. The rules of the game state that both your own stones and the other team's stones are allowed to sweep. Only one player sweeps the opponent's stones so that they go beyond the penalty back line of the playing area. But you can sweep someone else's stone only if it crosses the teeline, which intersects the center of the house.

Rules of the game

When both teams have played all the stones, the end counting begins. Only stones located inside the house are taken into account. The team whose stone is closest to the center wins. The reward for a stone located closer to the center than the opponent's stone is one point.

In the first end, the teams determine their order by drawing lots, and in the remaining nine, the last throw is made by the team that lost in the previous end. Surprisingly, often throwing the last stone out can lead to a draw. A draw can happen if none of the teams has stones in the house, and the same team still has the opportunity to throw.

After crossing the throwing line, the thrower must release the handle of the stone or the throw will not count. There are many techniques for throwing a stone and they are all difficult, regardless of whether the goal is to place the stone into the house or to push the other team's stone. Anyone who wants to push someone else's stone may encounter a difficulty: some players arrange the stones so that those that hit closest to the target are covered by others.

During each team's first two shots, the free guard zone rule comes into effect. The rule states that you cannot knock out stones that are between the scoring line and the center line of the house, but not located in the house itself. If a violation of the rules is detected, the position that was before the throw is restored and the stone of the offending player is removed from the game. At the same time, moving the stones and not knocking them out is prohibited. Already from the fifth throw the rule ceases to apply.

The total number of points for all ten ends determines the winner. If the teams' points are equal, then an additional end is assigned, which is called an “extra-end”, the right of the last throw in which is given to the loser of the last end. And then everything is simple: the winner of the extra end is the winner of the match.

Playing field

Curling area:

The curling lane is a rectangular field 146 feet (44.5 m) long and 14 feet 2 inches (4.32 m) wide. In our club the ice field consists of 4 lanes.

Main marking lines on the track:

"House" -a circle (“target”), the radius of which is 1.83 m. The center and three concentric circles, the radii of which are 0.15 m, 0.61 m and 1.22 m, are designated in the house.

"Central Line" - a line passing through the center of the house, parallel to the long side of the playing field

"Tee Line" - a line passing through the center of the house, perpendicular to the center line

"Hog Line" - a wide red line, perpendicular to the center line, at a distance of 6.4 m from the Tee Line. Before this line you need to have time to release the stone.

"Back Line" - a line touching the end of the house, perpendicular to the center line

Inventory

Stone weighing 44 pounds (19.96 kg) is made from a specific type of granite quarried on the island of Ailsa Craig in Scotland. It has a cylindrical shape and a ring-shaped sliding surface. In the center of the granite base, which has a round shape, there is a handle, which is the main “lever” for controlling the sports equipment. Holding the sports equipment by this handle, the athlete slides with it across the site until it is released, after which the stone slides freely along its surface for a distance of 20 to 30 meters.

Brush for rubbing ice (sweep) in front of a sliding stone.

Slider - made of Teflon, very slippery on ice, shaped like a foot. Placed on top of shoes.

Elasticknee pad to prevent injury.

Brief rules of the game

Participating in the game two teams of four people: skip, vice-skip, second and first.

The task of each team is put as many of your stones in the house as possible(circle), and as close to the center as possible and prevent the opponent from doing the same. You can knock out your opponent's stones, as well as your own.

The game consists of 10 independent periods, so-called ends.

During one end, teams take turns releasing eight stones each.

When playing a stone, the player pushes off from the starting block and accelerates the stone across the ice. At the same time, he tries to either stop the stone in a certain place, or knock opponents’ stones out of the scoring zone, depending on the current tactical goal. "Spades" are prohibited: the stone must be released before it crosses the player's closest goal line. Hog Line . Following the instructions of the skip (team captain), the player can twist the stone.

Basically, the types of throws in curling can be divided into two groups, depending on the task set by the skip: staged throws, the purpose of which is to put a stone in the house, or to protect an already standing stone And power throws, the purpose of which is to knock the opponent’s stone out of the playing area.

When the stone is moving, players are prohibited from touching it. Other team members, quickly working with special brushes, performing "sweeping"(sweeping, English sweep - sweep, sweep), heat the ice, correcting and lengthening the trajectory of the stone if necessary. The ice in curling is rubbed in order to create a thin layer of water on the surface of the ice, along which the stone will slide. Thus, you can significantly increase the path of the stone (up to 4 meters per sweep path).

The stone must completely cross the opposite scoring lineHog Line . If this does not happen, the stone is removed from the game. The exception is when another stone prevents the player from crossing the scoring line: in this situation, both stones remain in play. Also, the stone is removed if it goes beyond the lineBack Line , or after a collision with the side of the platform

You can sweep not only your own stones, but also the enemy’s stones - in order to force them to leave the playing area. However, the opposing team only gains this right when the opponent's stone crosses the line.Tee Line in the playing area, and only one player on a team has the right to sweep in this area.

The right to the last throw in the end gives a very big advantage to the team.

After all sixteen stones have been played, the end points are counted. Only those stones that are inside the house are taken into account. The team whose stone is closest to the center is considered to have won the end. She gets one point for each stone that is closer to the center than the opponent's closest stone to the center.

The winner is determined by the sum of points in all ends. In case of equality of points after ten ends, an additional period is assigned, called an extra end, the winner of which becomes the winner of the match. The right to throw the last shot in the extra end is granted, similar to previous periods, to the team that lost the tenth end.

COMPETITION AMONG MIXED PAIRS

1) A team consists of two players - 1 man and 1 woman. Substitute players are not allowed. Both players must be in play for the entire match, otherwise the team loses the match. Each team can have one coach.

2) The game is scored in the same way as in regular Curling. "Stationary" stones placed before the start of each end can be worth points.

3) The game consists of 8 ends.

4) Each team makes 5 throws per end. The player who makes the first throw also makes the last throw in the end. Another player on the team makes the second, third and fourth throws in that end. The player taking the first throw may vary from end to end.

5) No stone, including "stationary" stones and those in the house, may be knocked out of bounds before the fourth throw in the end (the fourth stone thrown is the first stone that can be knocked out of any stone outside the site). If this rule is violated, the released stone is removed from the game, and all moved stones are returned to their original positions by the team that did not violate the rule.

6) Before the start of each end, one of the teams must place its “stationary” stone in one of two positions in the playing area of the court, designated “A” and “B”. The opponent's stone is placed in the position that remains free. The positions of the “stationary” stones should be as follows:

a) Position “A”: The stone is placed on the center line either immediately before or immediately after one of the 3 points marked on the center line: Midway between the “hog” line and the outer edge of the nearest circle. At a distance of 0.915 meters (3 feet) from the first position closer to home. At a distance of 0.915 meters (3 feet) from the first position closer to the hog line

Taking into account the condition of the ice, before the start of pre-match warm-ups, teams must determine the “A” position for each playground. This position must be used throughout the match.

b) Position “B”: the stone is located on the center line and behind the “tee” line, while touching the outer edge.

7) The procedure for determining the team making the decision on the position of the “stationary” stones:

a) The teams participating in the match determine which of them will decide on the position of the “stationary” stones in the first end, using

test throws. The decision is made by the team with the lower test throw score.

b) During the game, the decision on the position of the “stationary” stones is made by the team that lost the previous end.

c) If an end ends with a zero score, the decision on the position of the “stationary” stones is made by the team that started this end.

8) The team whose "stationary" stone is in position "A" (in front of the house) makes the first throw in that end. The team whose "stationary" stone is in position "B" (in the house) takes the second throw in that end.

9) During the direct execution of a throw by one of the team players, the other player must be on the ice of the playing area of his court. After the thrower has released the stone, both players may sweep the released stone, as well as any of their own stones that are in motion, anywhere on the court to the tee line. This rule applies to all team throws, including test throws.

10) If a player throws out of turn, the stone is returned to the block and the throw is completed according to the rules, after all the moved stones are returned to their original positions by the team that did not violate the rule. If the violation is not discovered before the next throw, play continues as if there was no violation.