Usually, uttering the phrase "Hold my beer, I'm gonna try something" leads to a hospital visit at best. In this case, it's gonna lead to you playing the sport you love (curling) in a new and exciting way. 

Tuesday nighters have decided to put a cork in it at the end of March which has left us some free nights in April to TRY SOMETHING NEW. 

Here's the plan...

Each Tuesday night starting at 6p we will have 2 draws of games that follow a different format and have slightly different rules. All you have to do is sign yourself up for those draw times and show up ready to play. If you signup as an individual we will assign you a partner or you can signup with a teammate if you like. (think Friday friends) 

The details...

Sturling - Teams of 2 players.  Teammates remain on opposite ends of the sheet for the entire game and alternate who throws and who skips each end. (like corn hole or shuffleboard)  Six rocks per team are played each end. Rocks are not allowed to be removed until the fourth rock of the end. Sweeping is only allowed from the far hogline to the house. Teams are allowed 1 timeout per game to discuss strategy, otherwise they are to remain on opposite ends of the sheet. 

Triples - Teams of 3 players. Games are 6 ends that are divided into 2 end sets. Each player is required to play each of the three positions (Lead, vice, and skip) for 1 set during the game (everybody plays and throws in all three positions). The game begins with a coin flip for starting with hammer in the first set. The team that loses the toss will begin with hammer in the second set. Scoring...Each of the first 2 sets are worth 2pts. The third set is worth 4pts. 

For example...

Team A starts with the hammer. They score 2 in the first and steal 1 in the second. Team A is awarded 2pts for winning the first set. 

Team B starts end three (set 2 ) with the hammer and they score 3 in the third, and then give up a 3 in the fourth. Since set 2 is a tie, each team gets a point. The game score is now 3-1 in favor of team A. 

Since Team B is losing they start end 5 (set 3) with the hammer. Team B gets forced to 1 in the 5th, but the cocky skip from team A misses a wide open hit in end 6. Team B steals a point and wins the all-important 4ps for winning the third set. Team B wins the game 5-3

It's a great game that's gonna come down to the wire no matter what. Come try it out. 

Mixed Doubles - This alternate format is the most widely know. We have a doubles league on Saturday night at ECC, and it  has been played in the last 2 Olympics. (So I'll be brief)

Teams of 2 (traditionally 1 guy and 1 gal...but for club curling we don't care)  players play 5 rocks each per end. One player throws the first and fifth rocks while the other plays two, three, and four. Each end starts with 2 pre positioned rocks. The team with hammer starts with one rock on the back of the 4-foot, and the other team has a center guard. 

Dates...

April 1st  and 29th  - Sturling 

April 8th and 22nd - Triples

April 15th - Mixed doubles (the early draw will be for players who know what they are doing and the late draw will be for newbies)