New Year Resolutions for Curlers

Yes, I know! New Year Resolutions are the crab grass in the lawn of ringing in a new year but it's a great time to commit to those decisions you know will benefit you in the long term but as the title indicates, these will be for curlers and their teams. They are in no particular order and I'm not suggesting you or your team need to be resolute on each point. Choose the two, three or four that you feel will have the greatest immediate impact and start with them. This list is not mutually exclusive! Page references are for articles in APITGACC. Dates refer to earlier posts on this site.

• Ask your teammates how you can be a better teammate. Don't assume you know. Ask them! (p.119)
• Visualize the successful completion of the shot you are asked/decide to play before you attempt it. 
• Arrive at every game with a positive attitude toward the challenge as it's your most important piece of equipment. (p.128)
• Get someone who you feel understands the curling delivery who will assess yours.
• Start to be aware of the number of rotations you're applying to the stone from release to stop. (12/30/12)
• If your grippers (notice the plural) are in their second season (or more) of use, discard them and purchase new ones. 
• Turn your pre-shot "ritual" into a pre-shot "routine". (p.216)
• Never again go to your curling facility to "just throw rocks". Make shots! (p.11)
• Arrange for someone with visual recording equipment to record your delivery so what you "believe" you're doing (or not doing) is what's actually happening. (p.81)
• Start a journal. (10/09/12)
• Start a "Team Bible". (10/10/12)
• Don't continue to do what's clearly not working! Try something else! (07/05/12)
• Call a team meeting to once and for all, decide how it's best for your team to play the game from both a strategic and tactical perspective. (11/18/12)
• Reduce your (pl.) unforced errors to zero (i.e. stay inside "execution tolerance").
• If you have a brush with a synthetic head, keep it clean (warm water, mild soap and an old finger nail or tooth brush work well). Don't brush your teeth with the tooth brush used to clean the brush head. (p.106)
• Stop focusing on the outcome and begin to focus on the performance. (07/23/12)
• Stop trying to be perfect! (p.203)
• You began curling because it was fun so make sure that's the primary reason you're still playing!
• If you haven't already done so, support The Sandra Schmirler Foundation by purchasing a copy of "A Pane in the Glass: A Coach's Companion". If you're not sure how to order, send me an email (billchpc@shaw.ca).

Good Curling in 2013!