1. USCA Level I Instructor Clinic
United States Curling Association
Level I Instructor

2. Your Instructors Today
Lead Instructor – ( insert name )
Second Instructor – ( insert name )
Level I Instructor

3. Agenda Welcome, Introductions, & Overview Classroom Discussions Break
Duties of Club Instructors
How to Run Effective “Learn to Curl” Sessions
Current USA Curling Techniques
Break
On-ice Demonstrations
Classroom Wrap-up
Level I Instructor

4. Housekeeping Discussion format – let’s talk! Restrooms Schedule
Breaks
Lunch
Questions?
Level I Instructor

5. Clinic Objective
Learn to teach beginners how to curl in a safe, fun, and organized environment
Level I Instructor

6. Things to Remember Safety, safety and more safety
Teach USCA approved techniques
Dress appropriately – look sharp
Have fun
Help participants be successful
Help participants have fun
Level I Instructor

7. Roles of Level I Instructors
Club Instructors
Teach novice curlers
Instrumental in recruitment of new club members
Level I Instructor

8. Level I Instructor Activities
Open house with hundreds of people or pre-game two minute crash course
Learn-to-Curl clinics & Beginner Leagues
Junior Programs, Little Rockers, Juniors, School Leagues, etc.
P.E. Programs, High School & College
Media or other fun-spiels
Corporate & team-building events
Other?
Level I Instructor

9. Roles of Level II Instructors
Advanced instructors and competitive coaches
Teach Level I Instructors
Assist club members to improve in all areas of the game
Contribute to club member retention
Level I Instructor

10. Level II Instructor Activities
Conduct Level I Instructor Clinics
Intermediate Junior Instruction
Intermediate and refresher clinics
Delivery analysis and improvement
Video analysis
Use of delivery training aids
Drills
Sweeping, interval timing, weight judgment
Team communication
Strategy and tactics
Level I Instructor

11. Benefits of a USCA Certified Instructional Program
Use of successful methods of instruction
Enhanced recruitment of new members
Development of curling skills through proper instruction
Increases member satisfaction
Increases member retention
Increases the level of club competition
Consistency of instruction among club instructors
Properly trained and experienced instructors add value to club activities and membership
Level I Instructor

12. How to Get Started Recognize the need Who takes the lead?
Recruit an instructional team
Design instructional offering to meet club needs
Decide appropriate timing of offerings
Identify target audience
Promotions
Level I Instructor

13. Instruction Team 4:1 student to instructor ratio is ideal
Identify the lead instructor & assistants
Teach USCA approved techniques
Don’t “show off” or intimidate
Present info on “need to know” basis – avoid information overload
Level I Instructor

14. Instruction Team Agree on agenda & timeframe
Attitude—Make the experience fun
Attire—look professional
Be prepared
Murphy’s Law: The best recruiters are often the worst instructors
Level I Instructor

15. Instruction Team
Be organized—you are competing for participants’ valuable time
Be aware you are responsible for safety of participants
Don’t make apologies—put a positive spin on everything
Level I Instructor

16. Club Preparations Welcoming entry, warm room, & bathrooms
Attractive playing area
Excellent ice conditions
Working audio address system
Adequate curling equipment: grippers, sliders, brooms, sticks, stabilizers etc.
Coffee, hot chocolate, cookies etc.
Level I Instructor

17. Club Preparations Greeters Sign-in sheets Liability release forms
Name tags
Curling video and other instructional aids
Promotional materials
Level I Instructor

18. Club Preparations Instructional Aids Overhead projectors Flip Charts
Handouts
Posters
Strategy Board
Demonstration curling stone
Level I Instructor

19. Club Risk Management
Instructors are the front line for safety for both the participants and the club
Ensure participants have proper footwear—athletic type rubber-soled shoes such as tennis shoes
Be aware of other hazards—standing water, areas of frost or uneven ice etc.
Keep a stocked first aid kit at the ice surface
Level I Instructor

20. Club Risk Management
Ensure the safety of participants’ personal belongings.
If possible, provide a locked area and ensure the area is monitored (arenas)
Level I Instructor

21. Safety and Club Risk Management
Know your club’s liability policy and the consequences for unsigned waivers
Most clubs require that nobody steps on the ice without a completed insurance liability release form
Unexecuted forms may increase club liability by $2500 per claim
Level I Instructor

22. Safety and Club Risk Management
Sample ice usage policy:
“The XYZ Curling Club will not allow any participants on the ice whose balance appears impaired from sickness, medications or alcohol.”
Level I Instructor

23. Participant Safety Importance of stretching and warm-up
Participants should have gripper shoes
No running on the ice
Safe use of sliders
Use broom head down to help with balance
Sweep safely—if you can’t keep up, let it go!
Level I Instructor

24. Participant Safety Demonstrate stepping on and off the ice surface
No lifting or carrying stones
No stopping stones with your hands – use your broom
No pushing stones toward people with their backs turned
Pay attention on the ice! (no cell phones etc.)
Level I Instructor

25. Training Sequences Inform (instructor provides information)
Demonstrate (assistants demonstrate on each sheet)
Learners try
Feedback (positive and constructive)
Practice (learners repeat)
Level I Instructor

26. Training Methods Lead Instructor Provides Information
Sequential presentations on agenda items:
Flat-foot balanced slide – training wheels, hand elevated, with stone
Grip, turn, & release – play catch
Practice slides emphasizing alignment
Sweeping
Level I Instructor

27. Training Methods Demonstrate
Assistants demonstrate current USCA accepted techniques following presentation on each element
If you aren’t able to demonstrate the technique properly, find someone who can
Level I Instructor

28. Training Methods Learner Tries
Maintain a fun and relaxed environment
Assess learner’s ability to successfully and safely perform the skill
Make appropriate adjustments to enable them to be successful – provide sticks, stabilizers or information on semi-upright delivery as necessary
Keep the duct tape handy!
Level I Instructor

29. Training Methods Instructor Provides Feedback
Find something they did well to comment on first
Be positive and constructive
Give one suggestion for improvement for them to try the next time
Demonstrate again if necessary
Keep comments positive!
Level I Instructor

30. Training Methods Practice
Provide sufficient time for the learner to practice the what has been learned
As appropriate, use drills or game situations to reinforce instruction
Continue to be available to provide feedback and keep learner on track
Level I Instructor

31. Instructor Traps
Avoid over-instructing; keep it appropriate for the time period available and the experience of the participants
Avoid going off topic—keep instruction back on track (keep a copy of the agenda in your hip pocket)
Level I Instructor

32. More Instructor Traps If you don’t know—say so!
Be the “humble” instructor
“I’ll find out and get back to you on that.”
Keep the group engaged—change the schedule around if you think interest is fading
Poor environmental factors
Noise and distractions
Inadequate space etc.
Level I Instructor

33. Still More Instructor Traps
Use ice time wisely! It’s cold out there!
Minimize talking time on the ice
Keep the group moving and engaged
If a participant needs extra help, take him/her aside with another instructor
Don’t physically overwork participants
Level I Instructor

34. Novice Curriculum Basics of the game
Safety and physical preparation (stretching)
Delivery
Sweeping
Basic etiquette
How much of this can be done in the warm room?
How would your approach differ for
1 hour “Try Curling”
3 hour “Learn to Curl”
6 week “Curling School”
Level I Instructor

35. Safety and Physical Preparation
Demonstrate proper pre-game stretching
Demonstrate proper warm-up exercises
Use of stretching to show curling delivery
Review ice safety, especially use of sliders
Level I Instructor

36. Basics of the Game Purpose of Game (Scoring) Teams and positions
Ice elements—field of play
Types of shots (Draw and Take Out)
Game flow, ends and game lengths
Level I Instructor

37. Stepping on the Ice
Ensure participants have proper, clean footwear, and grippers
Review safety (stepping on and off ice)
Distribute brooms and sliders
Quickly review field of play and lines
Other?
Level I Instructor

38. Delivery—General Flat foot—no lift PDS—Press, Draw Back, Slide
ABC’s of a good delivery
Alignment
Balance
Curl (Grip, Turn & Release)
Power generators & delivery cadence
Level I Instructor

39. Power Generators Leg drive Body drop/forward momentum Arm extension
Level I Instructor

40. Delivery—Balance Balance is key part of delivery! Work up slowly
Training wheels – simple, short slide with broom flat on ice (perpendicular to center line) or stabilizing device
Delivery with no stone (hand elevated)
Normal delivery with stone
Level I Instructor

41. Delivery—Alignment Align body and stone toward skip’s broom
Hack set-up position
Practice slides
Alignment drills—toward cups and through cups
Level I Instructor

42. Delivery—Curl (Release)
Grip, Turn, & Release
“A million dollar slide and a two cent release = a two cent shot.”
Wrist above Handle—fingers together and pointing down
Cradle handle between 2nd and 3rd knuckles
Hand positioned over center of rotation of stone
Level I Instructor

43. Delivery—Curl (Release)
Rotate handle to 10:00 or 2:00 position
Last 4 ft of slide—rotate handle toward 12:00 & release with hand in handshake position at level of handle
2 ½ revolutions down the sheet is ideal
Describe skip’s sign language for turn
Practice across sheet with partner using skip broom & signal
Level I Instructor

44. Delivery—Put It All Together
Forward press
Rock back, hips up and back, & sliding foot back
Rock forward, sliding foot forward & centered under chest, slide toward broom
Turn & release
Cadence: press, rock-foot, rock-foot, slide
Level I Instructor

45. Sweeping
Explain why
cleans and warms the ice
rocks travel farther and straighter (not faster)
Explain mechanics of sweeping – pressure & velocity
Emphasize safety
look down the ice, avoid rocks in play
if you can’t keep up, back off and let it go
Explain burned stones (running and stationary)
Level I Instructor

46. Sweeping Explain positioning of sweepers
Explain sweeping signals (voice commands, hand signals)
Explain who decides when to sweep on draws, take-outs
Question: How many people can sweep? (Is this effective?)
Level I Instructor

47. Basic Strategy Don’t over-instruct here!
“Club strategy” vs. “Elite strategy”
Shot choice—novice curlers keep more rocks in play with lower weight shots
Level I Instructor

48. HISEA
Hammer
Ice conditions
Score
End
Ability
Level I Instructor

49. Etiquette Self-policing Be ready when it’s your turn
Stay out of the way
Quiet and still during other’s deliveries
Spirit of Curling - Shake hands before and after game
Level I Instructor

50. Playing a Game Separate players into teams, assign positions
Have teams shake hands and wish each other good curling!
Decide hammer with coin flip (thirds or leads, depending)
Level I Instructor

51. Playing a Game Have an instructor at each end
House instructor helps skips and thirds understand how to call shots, give signals etc.
Instructor at throwing end ensures participants are ready to go (including sweepers), players understand shot called, turn, delivery, where to go next, etc.
Level I Instructor

52. Playing a Game Have fun! Celebrate rocks in the house!
Explain scoring after first end
Explain how to use the scoreboard
Players shake hands and thank each other for a good game!
Level I Instructor

53. Stepping Off the Ice Thank attendees for participation
Congratulate them on their achievements
Provide participants with instructional & promotional materials
“Close the sale”—what would you like participants to do now?
Level I Instructor

54. Acknowledgement & Thanks to GNCC Members
Mary Jane Walsh
Roger Rowlett
Level I Instructor

55. Wrap-Up Level I Instructor Exam Certification Process
Clinic Evaluation
Final Questions?
Level I Instructor