Tips for Ending Slow Play

Two hours is plenty of time for 8 ends. If you’re having difficulties getting through your game in the allotted timeframe, have a look at these ideas for picking up the pace. Not only will curling in a timely manner be better for your own game, it will make you an opposition others like to play. Slow play is frustrating but easily solved.

ALL PLAYERS

Be on the ice 5 minutes before game time, if the ice is cleaned and the numbers are down. This allows for handshakes, warm-up slides, coin toss and still allows you to start on time.
Sweepers should get out their own player’s next rock if they are able to get to it faster than their player. If your second has to get his slider on, get their rock out for them while you’re waiting.
As soon as the opposing player has released their stone, the next player to throw should move quickly to the hack so they can be ready to throw as soon as their skip takes control of the house. The sweepers can watch what happens with the opposition’s rock. The thrower should be cleaning their rock and setting up so they’re ready to go when their skip takes control of the house.
At the beginning of an end, if you do not have hammer, your lead should not help to put the rocks away. The lead should find their first rock, get in the hack, clean their rock and be prepared to throw as soon as the skip is at the other end.
After you have made your shot, promptly get to the sidelines or retreat to the boards. Don’t stand in the middle of the ice to watch your shot.
Sweepers should be in position and ready for the next shot. They should be waiting just outside the near hog line and once the preceding shot is passed them, they should move toward the hack and be ready to go.
All players need to keep in mind that the ice belongs to the opposing team as soon as your team’s rock comes to rest. Your team’s skip should get out of the house and behind the back line (and not try to determine who is shot - they can check that when they again have control of the house) and the rest of your players should move to the sidelines between the hog lines. Don’t walk down the middle of the sheet toward the other end. Get out of the way and stand still.
Curling is not a democracy. Front end players should not provide input on strategy unless asked. Be prepared to contribute when asked but otherwise, keep it to yourself. Even vices (thirds) need to exercise restraint when it comes to giving advice. Not only does second guessing undermine the skip, it also slows down the game.
Other than at the end of the game, rocks do not need to be put away in order. Simply putting the rocks neatly in the corners and not worrying about number order saves a lot of time.
After the score of an end has been determined, help move the rocks to the back of the house. Remember, if a measure is required to determine which rock is closest to the centre or if a rock is in the rings, only the vices (thirds) should be in the house or near the rocks being measured. Vices - DO NOT LAY YOUR BROOM ON THE ICE NEAR THE ROCKS TO BE MEASURED – it can be to easily knocked or kicked. A better idea is to stand near the rocks so that no one moves them. Both vices (thirds) have to agree on a measure before the rocks are moved or the point is awarded to the team that has not been consulted. Other players can carefully move the rocks that are not affected by the measure.
It is the skips and the vices (when they are in the house) responsibility to control the rocks in the house. The skips need to make sure that rocks do not go onto other sheets, do not hit the hacks or the back board. The sweepers who are sweeping the rocks should stay with the rock all the way into the house. That way they can help control rocks that may be hit on to another sheet or the skip can ask them to sweep their rock if needed.

SKIPS

The first shot of an end should not be a mystery requiring extensive thought. A skip should already know what kind of game strategy they will employ, and therefore what initial shot sequence to call, based on score and end of play.
For routine shots – say an obvious takeout of shot stone – the skip should put the broom down and call the shot right away. Save thinking time for more challenging shots later in the game.
Skips must stay focused on the next shot and not be chatting with the opposing skip or players on adjacent sheets.
Skips could call a simpler game. Simple strategy usually means simpler shots with a higher execution rate which is good for our confidence as club level curlers. It also means there is less likelihood of having a million rocks in play which lead to complex, multi-option situations where too much deliberation about the next shot occurs.
Skips should not wait until the opposition’s rock comes to a halt before thinking about the next shot call – you should already know – plan ahead. Think while the opposition is playing their shot. Think 2 shots ahead.

VICES

Vices, if you look at rocks twice and can’t decide which is shot – GET THE MEASURING STICK – there is no need to keep looking back and forth umpteen times – if it’s close – measure, don’t waste time guessing. The team that is throwing second in the next end should put the measuring stick away after a measure.
After vices throw their last rock, they should get down to the other end to talk with the skip. Don’t waste time by standing and watching your rock – watch your shot as your are traveling down the ice.
Vices should constantly evaluate what is going on and should have their own idea of what shot to play. If the skip asks, have a quick and definitive answer.

GENERAL RULES AND ETIQUETTE OF CURLING

Play the game with a spirit of good sportsmanship.
Be quiet and do not move when your opponent is about to deliver a rock. Take no action which could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate or demean your opponents or team mates.
Stay on your own sheet of ice preferably close to the outside of the sheet especially when it is your oppositions turn to play.
Stand between the hog lines during play unless you are skipping, or unless you are delivering or about to deliver a curling rock. If you are waiting to deliver your rock, stand on the end boards behind the house and hack. (Remember) only the skip and vice are allowed to stand on the end boards behind the house to which the rocks are being delivered.
Pay attention to what is going on in the game. Use the opportunity to learn when a rock needs sweeping or to learn game strategy.
Compliment any player on a good shot. Do not show frustration at an opponent's lucky shot or a team mate's poor shot.
If you touch a moving rock while you are sweeping, tell your skip immediately but do not stop the rock, unless told to by your skip.
Interpret the rules in an impartial manner, always keeping in mind that the purpose of the rules is to insure that the game is played in an orderly and fair manner.

Try them all, try a few, but pick up the pace. It makes our sport more enjoyable for everyone involved.