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 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.
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
