Registered: Oct 2014
Location:
Posts: 5

Here I am as a competative club curler, trying to figure out what direction to go.

Do I continue to play with my club team enjoying decent interclub success, and piece together OCA teams from within the club and hope for some success at the zone, and TCA Goldline level. Or, do I try to put together a team from within the club that can compete for the Travelers Club championship,Goldline, and potentially some success at the OCA Zone/Regional level.

To put together a team to qualify and compete for the Travelers and Goldline Championships,I would be putting together four skips/vices from our club's A Division.I believe they are all in a similar position to me, in that we enjoy playing with our club teams, but would have to walk away from them to succeed at a higher level. Also, we care about our club and it's members and teammates, and know this would probably eliminate at least two teams from the club, and leave the remaining players scrambling to find skips and put together teams.

What would you do?

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2004
Location: kitchener
Posts: 147

The way I would look at it is what's your main goal? Is it to play some enjoyable curling win or lose, or is winning more the goal?
Your concern with how your membership may react is valid, breaking up teams to try and form stronger teams always has a downside. By taking away some skips and vices you leave front end players to move up or find a new backend to play for.
In the short term it will hurt but by doing this will it not foster players to step up and play better to become that skip or vice they didn't think they could be?.
As well you never know if the other skips have been thinking the same thing as yourself. The desire to improve, play better, and to compete are all qualities in any competitive player, and they will all understand your reasoning for trying to get better.
The balance between social curling and competitive curling is always the toughest to manage.

As for what I would do, I would go for it. Push yourself to achieve the goals your want to achieve. you will regret it if your don't and never get the chance later.

hope this helps, just my two cents.

steve

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 4002

You see it happen with a lot of the competitive teams when they play in club leagues, where they split up and play with other players to not become too dominant within the club leagues.

The opposite could work in your situation, where you could pickup and play something like the Toronto or Oshawa Major Leagues with these players, and add a couple entry level events on the Ontario Curling Tour.

Everyone can continue playing in-club with your existing teams, and then expand your game though weekly competition in the Major Leagues and on Tour.

__________________
CurlingZone
Everything...Curling!

Please click on our sponsors' banners periodically, as visiting their sites helps keep CurlingZone.com Free!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Thank you for your responses.

Gerry, the problem with your suggestion is the additional time commitment. I already play 2 nights a week, Men's, and Mixed with my wife. Add in another 1 to 3 weekends a month with club spiels and OCA events, and I don't have the time to play in a major league, and OCT events, with other life commitments.

I know I'm not going to play in a brier, but would like a chance of success at the competative club level events out there.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 76.71.74.130

Registered: Jul 2004
Location: kitchener
Posts: 147

bubba 12,

what about just cutting back some of the club speils you play in and sub in a few "B" level OCT events. The tour has a lot of great events that don't take up a whole weekend ( as in more then just sat/sun) and are very affordable in comparison to the pay outs and things included. just plan them around you clubs area, that way you can drive to the events and not have hotel costs.
I can attest to the tour being a great stepping stone. I have played it for years, have made many friends and had some great games that made me want to do more.
Take that big step and you will never regret it.

steve

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 256

This is an interesting topic.

I think you need to thing about your goals, not only on the ice, but what you expect to get out of the game in general.

If your goal is only to win games, then approach the game in that way. But if you are looking for a social outlet, know that there are friendships that can be made and sustained through the game of curling that will reward you far more than any wins or losses.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2011
Location:
Posts: 1962

Often, when people are sitting in their rocking chair at age 90, the biggest regret is not trying! Follow your dreams.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged