Improving Your Game - Communication

Editor: unknown
Date: 2013-02-04

Posted: Feb 4, 2013
Contributed: Colin Sinclair

COMMUNICATION IS A TWO WAY STREET BETWEEN SWEEPERS & LINE CALLERS

TALK & LISTEN

The thrower should communicate to the sweepers if they pushed the rock or pulled it back during their delivery (the sweepers should be looking as well).

The sweepers should then be in constant communication with the skip as to the weight of the rock. The person in the house should be calling the line (when to sweep and when not to). If the called shot is not happening then the caller should be looking for a plan B and getting the sweepers to help make it happen. – so sweepers be ready for plan B or C or….

An excellent way to help with communication is to establish zones in the playing area. They do not have to be anywhere near as detailed as the zones used by elite teams. For recreational play simple is best. For example: zero is a hogged rock, one is a high guard, two is a tight guard, three is top house, four is back house, and five is through. A simpler starting point might be: 1 is short of the house, 2 is in and 3 is through – then progress to more zones as the skill develops. Agree on a system as a team and use it. Sure you might get mixed up at first and mess up a few calls – hey it’s a learning curve!

It is also everyone’s responsibility to notice when the ice conditions are changing – ‘does it seem a little heavier now’ or ‘that seems really fast down that one path’, -‘ it’s frosty on the outside of the sheet’ etc. Any of this information is going to help the thrower, the sweepers and the line callers make more accurate decisions.

All positions on a team should work at developing their communication skills within the game. However, this does not give the thrower license to follow their rock down the ice screaming like a maniac at the sweepers! A simple, ‘I think I pushed it’ or ‘I think it’s light’ will suffice.
Improving team communication seems like a simple thing to do and it is. You just need a commitment to participate and improve from the entire team and you’re on your way.