Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the London Curling Club. Whether you are brand new to
the sport or an experienced curler from another club, there is likely
a lot to learn about club operations and protocols. The following information
is intended to provide you with a brief overview and orientation to
the club.
- I have signed up for a league. Will I be contacted
prior to my first game? What are some basics I should know about
how the leagues operate?
- How do I get a club nametag?
- Where can I get additional instruction?
- How do I obtain a locker?
- Where can I obtain curling equipment or clothing?
- Can I register or spare in more than one league?
- In some clubs, the rock is set out for the next
curler. Why don’t we do this at the LCC?
- Our ice surface looks narrower. Am I imagining
this?
- How can I keep current with club activities,
events and bonspiels?
- What is all the fuss about “clean ice”?
- Why are there signs about parking lot security
at the club?
- What is the weekly 50/50 draw all about?
- Where can I find information about rules of
the sport and other related information? "
- How else can I get involved at the club?
1. I have signed up for a league. Will I be contacted prior to my
first game? What are some basics I should know about how the leagues
operate?
Each league will have some slight differences in how it functions, but
generally the following basics are common across the club. Each league
is organized by a volunteer coordinator who sets up the schedule (“the
draw”) for the league. The exact number of teams in each league is finalized
very close to the end of September each year. The convenor then establishes
the schedule and sends this information out to each skip. It is the
skip’s responsibility to contact the members of the team prior to the
first game to confirm the date and time of the first game. Thereafter,
the schedule is posted on a bulletin board assigned to each league and
the schedule is also posted on the club website. Each league will have
a list of people who have indicated that they wish to spare. These names
are also posted on the league bulletin board and on the website. If
you wish to spare for a league, you should do so when you fill out your
registration form, or if you wish to do so later in the season, you
should contact the office. If you become a spare for another league,
you can spare up to five times during the season if you are registered
as a once per week curler. If you are registered for two or more leagues,
you can spare an unlimited number of times. Non-club members who spare
are required to pay $20 per time. If you are going to be away for a
game, you will be responsible for arranging for your own spare and then
letting the skip know. It is best to begin arranging for your spare
as far in advance as possible as it is sometimes quite difficult to
find a spare.
Top of Page
2. How do I get a club nametag?
There are sign-up sheets posted on a variety of bulletin boards throughout
the club. Print your name on one of these forms. Orders are placed with
the supplier every few weeks. When the name tags are ready, that information
is posted at the bar. Pay the bartender for your name tag when you pick
it up.
Top of Page
3. Where can I get additional instruction?
The club runs four clinics throughout the year (October, November, January
and February). These are free and are offered at beginner, intermediate
and advanced levels. Sign-up sheets for these clinics are posted on
the easel in the Main Lounge about three weeks in advance of each clinic.
In addition, you can come out and practice on your own at no cost. Available
times for practice are posted in the club and on the website.
Top of Page
4. How do I obtain a locker?
Locate an empty locker in the change room and then go to the office
(or call) and request that locker. There is a $15 annual fee for the
locker rental. Whether you have a locker or not, members are expected
to change in the change rooms. The lounges are not for changing shoes
or storing personal belongings when you are on the ice.
Top of Page
5. Where can I obtain curling equipment or clothing?
The club has one of the best Pro Shops in the region and carries a full
line of shoes, brooms, sticks, gloves, and apparel. A list of items
for sale is posted on the website. A display of some of the items that
are for sale is located in one of the trophy cases in the Main Lounge.
Stop in to the office during Monday to Friday business hours and one
of the staff will be pleased to assist you in your purchase. At the
beginning of the curling season and just prior to Christmas, the Pro
Shop will be open for one week to help you with purchases to start the
season or for Christmas shopping.
Top of Page
6. Can I register or spare in more than one league?
Annual fees are based on the number of leagues in which you want to
play beginning with once per week up to unlimited. This information
is located on the registration form that is available on the website.
If you want to increase the number of leagues in which you participate,
fees can be adjusted as the season goes along, providing space is available
in a league.
Top of Page
7. In some clubs, the rock is set out for the
next curler. Why don’t we do this at the LCC?
Primarily, this is a safety reason. Experience has taught us that it
is much safer to leave the stones to the side of the hack rather than
placing an unattended stone at the hack. What we really want is for
the next curler to get into the hack and get ready to throw the next
stone once the just-delivered stone is on its way to the house. This
keeps play moving along and helps the teams meet the two-hour time limit.
The club strictly enforces the two-hour time limit for league play.
In 2010, a time clock was installed to assist with this expectation.
When the clock is set, a buzzer will sound when there are 10 minutes
left to play. Teams will finish the end they are playing and may not
begin another end.
Top of Page
8. Our ice surface looks narrower. Am I imagining
this?
Actually, the sheets of ice at the London Curling Club are a bit narrower
than at most clubs. This is because the club purchased the old Jubilee
Skating Rink in 1915 and did not increase the width of the base surface.
Because each sheet is a little narrower than regulation, there is an
“in house” rule that a rock that is 50% or more over a side line, after
it comes to rest, is taken out of play. As well, the narrower sheets
require all curlers to be cognizant of fellow curlers on the adjacent
sheets who may be sweeping a rock or standing near the hog line on their
sheet.
Top of Page
9. How can I keep current with club activities,
events and bonspiels?
The club prints (and posts on the website) a monthly newsletter called
Rock Talk. The print copies are available in the Main Lounge and in
the locker rooms about the first of week of each month. As well, check
the bulletin boards, particularly the ones for your leagues. The club
prints a Club Directory each November. This has contact information
for all club members and it has the monthly schedules, as known at the
time of printing. The website posts the draw schedule for each league.
For those wishing to enter a bonspiel, the mailings from other clubs
are available in a binder that is kept on the desk in the Main Lounge.
Top of Page
10. What is all the fuss about “clean ice”?
The goal of every curling club is to have ice that is 100% clear of
debris because loose impediments such as bits of sand, stone, rubber,
fabric, or hair can affect the way a rock slides along the ice. Even
at the professional level, you will periodically hear the complaint,
“the rock picked something” to explain why are rock suddenly changed
direction. With 700 club members playing weekly, plus additional people
who come for bonspiels and ice rentals, keeping the ice 100% clear of
debris becomes a significant challenge. The list of “clean ice basics”
below provides a good starting point for all club users:
- Make it a priority to do your part to help keep the ice surface
clean.
- Use the boot cleaner every time you enter the club.
- If you do not have curling shoes, have a pair of running shoes
that you keep at the club strictly for curling.
- Inspect the condition and cleanliness of your curling footwear
especially grippers. Remove loose rubber or a replace worn gripper.
- Inspect and clean your broom after a game or prior to the start
of a game. If you have a removable broom head, the purchase of an
extra broom head to makes cleaning easier between games.
- Brush or clean your broom over the garbage containers every
few ends. Do not hand-brush a broom while you are on the ice surface
or the end board carpet.
- Push debris away from the hack and if possible, place any such
debris in the garbage containers.
- Step on the “sticky mats” with both shoes just as you go through
the doors on to the ice. It is amazing how much debris the mats
pick up. Top of Page
11. Why are there signs about parking lot security
at the club?
We encourage all members to be diligent in keeping valuables out of
site in their cars and to ensure that their car is locked at all times
(daytime and evening). The installation of the video cameras in 2010
has made a difference in reducing theft, but keeping temptation out
of the way is our best first step.
Top of Page
12. What is the weekly 50/50 draw all about?
As a fund-raiser, the club runs a 50/50 draw each week. If you are interested
in participating, then you must pay $22 for the 22 weekly draws at the
start of the season, as part of your registration. If you don’t join
until later in the season, however, you may still opt to participate
when you register. In this case the amount paid will be based on the
number of weekly draws remaining in the season.
Top
of Page
13. Where can I find information about rules
of the sport and other related information?
The Canadian Curling
Association has an excellent website for those wishing to learn more
about the sport. In addition to information about curling terms, general
rules of play, some basic game strategy, the website has videos on some
basics about delivery, etc. Go to www.curling.ca and click on “Go Curling!”
on the red bar near the top of the page.
Top of Page
14. How else can I get involved at the club?
Close to 25% of members volunteer in some form. Our club is dependent
on these people in assisting in the operation and in keeping our fees
low. The opportunities to participate include helping to convene a league
or bonspiel, serving on one of the many committees such as Membership,
Advertising or Pro Shoppe sales. Volunteering time in the office or
helping with special functions or repairs to the premises are all appreciated.
If you have an interest in any area, now or in the future, make it known
to the office staff, a convenor or a member of the Board of Directors.
Top of Page
