BARRHEAD-Barrhead curlers will have a chance to play the sport they love — if there is enough interest.
That is what Barrhead Curling Club president Grant Balen told the Barrhead Leader. The curling club is in the process of polling its members, across all of its programs and age groups.
And Balen said if the preliminary returns are any indication curlers will be back on the ice come early October, noting that many curlers are anxious to get back on the ice after a long offseason.
"We are quite optimistic that there will be enough interest with all our programs, starting with Little Rocks right up to our seniors' leagues, and we are planning to proceed," he said.
The first step in starting a new season is to come up with a set of rules and guidelines that follow Curling Alberta's, as well as the Town of Barrhead requirements.
"As you can imagine, there is a lot of overlap," he said, noting Alberta Curling and the municipality's requirements, follow Alberta Health Services (AHS) and public health guidelines.
Alberta Curling (in the Return to Play document) mandates that curlers complete the AHS self-assessment questionnaire and sanitize their hands when entering the facility. Reminders about maintaining proper handwashing hygiene, avoidance of touching high touch objects such as doorknobs, toilets as well as bars and tables. Curlers must also refrain from touching any rocks other than their own.
Alberta Curling also suggests clubs have plans in place to limit the number of people in the building, such as staggering game times, limiting the amount of time people can stay in lounges, placing traffic flow guides and restricting the use of lockers or changerooms.
Balen noted the game itself, will also be a little different than what players are used to.
"There are going to be quite a few rule changes to permit social distancing on the ice," he said.
At the start of the game, the long-time tradition of shaking hands will be replaced with the friendly head nod or the raising of the broom.
During gameplay, only one sweeper will be allowed on all delivered stones. The non-delivering team is not permitted to sweep any rocks including their own. The person in charge of the house is not allowed to sweep under any circumstance. The skip of the non-delivering must remain in the hack area until all stones come to rest. They are not allowed to sweep the opposition stone behind the tee-line.
After a player delivers his or her rock, that player should follow the rock, while maintaining at least two meters from the designated sweeper, but go no further than the second hog-line or move to the nearest, predetermined unoccupied area.
Players will also be encouraged to use phone apps or paper and pen instead of using the scoreboard.
Balen noted the rule changes and restrictions due to COVID-19 will not be the only differences players will notice this season.
For the first time in several years, the poly tarping on the walls and ceiling of the facility protecting the ice surface from water-dropping onto the ice surface will be absent. Over the summer the municipality completed repairs to the ageing building's roof and ventilation systems.
"There are still a few things to touch up, but by the end of September and we will be ready to have a fun, safe curling season," he said.
For more information about participating in one of the Barrhead Curling Club's programs contact Raya Lindquist at 780-674-0602 or visit their Facebook page.
