Curling: history and rules. Features of the game

Curling is a team sports game on ice. His popularity, to a greater extent, curling we have found thanks to the many jokes in which he is mentioned. But very few people know that this is a very interesting game. Curling is a full-fledged sport, it even hosts various championships, including the World Championships and the European Championships. In this article we would like to talk more about curling, in view of its growing popularity in our country.

Contents of the article:

• Curling history


• How to play curling


• Curling equipment

Curling history

Who invented curling? It is known that the homeland of curling is Scotland. The first evidence of the emergence of curling was the stone found for this game, at the bottom of a parched lake. On the stone found, the date of its manufacture was carved in 1511.In the annals, however, curling is first mentioned in 1541.By 1716 the first curling club was opening.

Since the XVII century, the stones for curling are beginning to be standardized, that is, to obtain a single standard. At the same time, immigrants who fled to America, carry this game with them to the New World. At the beginning of the XIX century, the rules of curling were officially approved. It is worth noting that to this day in these rules of the game has not been made any significant changes.

Later curling became a sport, and in 1959 the world's first Curling Championship was held, since that time it has been held every year. Since 1975, the European Curling Championship has been held every year. Since 1998, curling has been recognized as an Olympic sport, and began to be held during the winter Olympics, like biathlon and bobsleigh.

How to play curling

Rules for curling

Now let's look at the rules of curling. The game in curling assumes the presence of two teams, which must consist of four people. Each team is given its own color. The essence of the game is that teams alternately run special shells that are made of granite( in the game they are called stones) on the ice, these shells must be sent to a specially marked area( which in the game is called "home").If the opponent's stone is in the "house", then it must be knocked out. Teams are given 8 stones that need to be sent to the house. Stones that have not reached the boundaries of the house, or vice versa passed them, drop out of the game - this is called out.

Each team throws stones alternately. The team that makes the throw of the last stone has a very big advantage, so the priority of throws in curling is of great importance. The order of the throw is initially determined by drawing lots, subsequent throws, the first team that won the previous round makes the first. After all the stones are thrown, team points are counted. When counting points, only those stones that are in the house are considered, and not be knocked out of the game. The team whose stone is closer to the center, wins the round and gets a point.


Basics of curling

Each team must choose their captain, who will oversee the whole process of the game. It is important to note that the team's game depends heavily on the captain, so you need to select a captain who will manage to organize, support and supervise the team's actions. The main task of the captain of the team in curling is to indicate to his team in which direction to lead the stone.

The game is as follows. The player who feeds the stone is wearing a slider - a special sliding attachment for shoes( if you do not use special shoes for curling), which allows you to slide on the ice. Then he takes a brush for curling, puts it on the ice, and puts the brush handle on his left shoulder and clasps her lower part with his left hand( as you can see, you can see in our video below).Then, with the right foot, the player leans on the shoe, puts a stone in front of him and takes it by the handle with his right hand. Slightly straightened, the player withdraws the back foot slightly back, and then the same foot rolls out forward, squatting on it, and the right foot pushes away from the pad, and then puts it with the toe down and pulls after it. Having reached the line, the stone is released, and the main task is to try to push the stone harder, so that it travels as far as possible.

When the stone is launched, two players using special brushes rub the surface of the ice, so that the stone continues its movement and does not stop. It is important to know that the brushes can not only continue the movement of the stone, but also curate its trajectory. If you touch the stone with a brush, he is out of the game.

Here, in principle, and all the basic principles of the game in curling, you can learn more about the game as an instructor, and reading special resources and literature on this sport.

Curling equipment

How much does a curling stone weigh? This question is of interest to so many people, so let's talk about the standards of curling stones. So, the curling stone weighs 19.96 kg, its diameter is 29.2 cm, and the height is 11.4 cm.

The set and equipment for curling is usually provided in places where they play curling. For curling you will need: shoes, a brush and a stone. If you often play curling, then it is best to buy your own shoes.

Shoes for curling are made by special technology, first of all they keep warm, thanks to the internal felt, because the game takes place on ice. In addition, shoes for curling has a special sole - it is different. As you already know, the left leg should slide, and the right foot should be based on these principles and the sole in shoes for curling is made. The left shoe is made of a special sole, which provides excellent slip when the right shoe - on the contrary, is made of non-slip soles. Shoes for curling can be purchased at the online store, as well as in sports goods stores.

This video will help you learn about the main features of the game in curling. Also, the curling instructor will demonstrate some features of the game.



To see what curling is, we recommend you also watch this report from the World Championship in this sport.