Newsletter - January 2024

Get your team ready for Arena Nationals--or another national event

Were you inspired by how our men's team represented Cedar Rapids Curling and the Midwest Curling Association at the National Arena Curling Championships in Eveleth, Minn.? These events are great ways to get national championship experience and meet curlers from across the country. 

And you don't have to be an experienced curler to try one of these. We've had VERY new curlers participate in these national events in the past.

There are four opportunities for Cedar Rapids Curling members to play in a national event: Club National Championships, Mixed National Championships, Arena National Championships, and 5-and-Under National Championships.

The MCA will host playdowns to choose the teams that will represent them. Dates have been set for two playdowns (Jan 26-28 for Club Nationals; Feb. 9-11 for Mixed Nationals). We expect dates for Arena and 5-and-under to be later in the spring.

If you are interested in playing in any of these playdowns, start talking to fellow members about putting together a team and perhaps signing up to play together in league in order to practice together. Once you have a team, let Phil Burian know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Never gone to a bonspiel? What are you waiting for?

Bonspiel season is in full swing, and if you haven't gone to one, you're missing out. Bonspiels are a great way to try out dedicated ice, play several games over a weekend, meet curlers from across the country, and enjoy good food and drink. 

And you don't need to be an experienced curler. Most bonspiels are pretty casual and just for fun. They offer a great way to get better at the sport.

Check out the bulletin boards on the ice house and the Facebook Warm Room for fliers for upcoming spiels. Talk to other members about their favorite spiels. Then put together a team and go!

There are a few upcoming opportunities to volunteer and help our club grow! Please help where you can; it really takes a village to make this all happen. 

• January
  • Tuesday, Jan. 16: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl
• February
  • Saturday, Feb 17: 12:15 to 2:15 p.m.: QC Outdoor Group
  • Saturday, Feb 17: 2:15 to 4 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl
• March
  • Wednesday, March 6: 8:30 a.m. to noon: Clear Creek Amana physics class
  • Thursday, March 21: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl
• April
  • Tuesday, April 2: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Public Learn to Curl

Sign up to voluteer   

(You must be logged in to see the volunteer sign-ups and to register.) 

CRC adopts 'no-tick rule'

Cedar Rapids Curling will adopt the World Curling Federation's "no-tick rule" starting with our winter league. As more clubs and bonspiels begin to use this rule, we want our members to understand it and be ready to play with it.

We encourage skips to alert teammates to center guards so everyone is aware when the rule is in place, and to practice kind, friendly enforcement of the rule as we all get used to it.

No-tick rule

If, prior to the delivery of the sixth stone of an end, a delivered stone causes, either directly or indirectly, an opposition stone in the Free Guard Zone (FGZ) that is touching the center line to be moved to an off-center-line position, the non-offending team has the option to:

• remove the delivered stone from play and replace all stones that were displaced to their positions prior to the violation taking place; OR
• leave all stones where they came to rest.

If the stone is moved from the center line to an out-of-play position, the FGZ rule applies.

Examples:

1: Team Cale’s first stone comes to rest touching the center line in the free guard zone. Team Emily’s first stone then taps Team Cale’s stone off the center line, where it stays in play in the free guard zone. Team Cale can decide if they want to take Team Emily’s stone out of play and move their stone back to where it was on the center line OR leave everything as is.

2: Team Cale’s first stone comes to rest touching the center line in the free guard zone. Team Emily’s first stone then taps Team Cale’s stone off the center line and into the house. Team Cale can decide if they want to take Team Emily’s stone out of play and move their stone back to where it was on the center line OR leave everything as is. This is different from the free guard zone rule, in which a stone moved from the free guard zone to the house is allowed.

3. Team Cale’s first stone comes to rest touching the center line in the free guard zone. Team Emily’s first stone then taps Team Cale’s stone, but it remains touching the center line. No action is needed because it is still touching the center line.

4. Team Cale’s first stone comes to rest touching the center line in the free guard zone. Team Emily’s first stone hits Team Cale’s stone on the center line out of play completely. Because a guard was removed from play during the free guard zone rule, Team Cale’s stone is put back in place and Team Emily’s stone is removed from play.

5. Team Cale’s first stone comes to rest touching the center line in the free guard zone. Team Cale’s second stone taps their first stone off the center line. No action is needed because it was their own stone.

6: Team Cale’s first stone comes to rest touching the center line in the free guard zone. Team Emily’s third stone (the sixth overall stone played in the end) taps Team Cale’s first stone off the center line. Because this is the sixth stone, the no-tick rule is no longer in play and the game continues.

If you have any questions about this rule, please talk to a CRC board member.