CURLING - THE SKIPPERS ROLE

“…Discipline is the refining fire

      By which talent becomes ability…”

                                                - ROY SMITH

A good skipper should be a calm, cool & unruffled strategist. He should have patience, good judgment and be a very balanced person. He should be able to impart discipline and motivate his teammates in such a way that he gets the best out of them. He should be a good planner, organizer and person who can execute his plans with mathematical precision.

Skippers Gestures:

The Skipper normally stands at the opposite hack with his broom. It would be difficult for him to shout all through the match to convey what he wants to some one standing some 140 ft away. So he signals his decision. 

v     If he taps the stone with his broom, he wants a take out shot.

v     If he extends his right arm, it is the ‘in turn’ for right handers

v     If he taps the ice with the broom, it is the intended resting point.

v     To determine the weight, he taps the hack with the broom. 

The other tasks of a skipper:  

v     Which shot to be played by the player is to be determined by the skipper.

v     He informs the other teammates of his choice of shot.

v     He scrutinizes the sheet and deposits his broom for proper aim by the players.

v     The player who has to shoot concentrates on the shot and throws the stone in the directions of the broom with the planned weight as well as “take-out” strategy.  

There are may more minor tasks but these are the basic ones. It is also the skipper’s responsibility to mould the players into a homogenous and cohesive team of performers.