Curling
A precision team sport played on ice with stones and brooms.
Curling is a team sport played on ice, where players slide polished granite stones—also called rocks—toward a circular target made of four concentric rings, known as the house. Two teams of four take turns delivering their stones, each player throwing two per round. A team has eight stones total. The object is to finish each end—completed when both sides have thrown all their stones—with more stones closer to the center of the house than the opponent. Points are awarded based on those closest stones, and a game typically runs eight or ten ends.
The thrower gives the stone a gentle rotation at release, creating a curved path called a "curl." Two teammates, called sweepers, can influence the stone’s trajectory by sweeping the ice in front of it with brooms or brushes. This sweeping reduces friction, letting the stone travel farther and straighter, with less curl—a principle known as the Thin Film Model. Because sweeping changes both distance and direction, strategy and teamwork are essential for choosing the best path and final resting spot, and player skill determines how closely the stone follows the intended line.
**History**
The earliest evidence of curling comes from Scotland in the early 1500s. A curling stone inscribed with 1511, along with another dated 1551, was found when a pond was drained at Dunblane. These are now housed at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, alongside the world’s oldest football. The first written mention of a contest using stones on ice appears in the records of Paisley Abbey from February 1541. Two 1565 paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder show Flemish peasants playing a related sport, Bavarian curling (also called ice stock sport), which differs from Scottish curling in having no broom and a vertical handle. Strong trade and cultural links between Scotland and the Low Countries at the time are also seen in golf’s history.
The word "curling" first appeared in print in 1620, in a poem by Henry Adamson from Perth, Scotland. The sport was—and still is in Scotland, parts of southern New Zealand, and Canada—called "the roaring game," from the sound stones make traveling over the pebble (water droplets applied to the ice). The term "curling" comes from the Scots verb "curl," describing the stone’s motion.
Kilsyth Curling Club, founded in 1716, claims to be the world’s first club and still exists. It also claims the oldest purpose-built curling pond, at Colzium, created by a low dam forming a shallow pool about 100 by 250 meters. The International Olympic Committee credits the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (founded as the Grand Caledonian Curling Club in 1838) with developing the first official rules. However, Rev. James Ramsay of Gladsmuir, a member of the Duddingston Curling Club, wrote *An Account of the Game of Curling* in 1811, which speculated on its origins and explained play.
Early curling stones were flat-bottomed river or field stones, without handles and of inconsistent size, shape, and smoothness. Some had holes for a finger and thumb, like bowling balls. Throwers had little control over curl or speed, relying more on luck than precision. The sport was often played on frozen rivers, though purpose-built ponds later appeared in many Scottish towns. In Darvel, weavers used heavy stone weights from loom warp beams, fitted with detachable handles, for matches. Central Canadian curlers used "irons" instead of stones until the early 1900s—Canada is the only country known to have done so—while others tried wood or ice-filled tins.
Outdoor curling thrived in Scotland from the 16th to 19th centuries due to reliable winter ice. The World Curling Federation, based in Perth, Scotland, originated as a committee of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. Some outdoor bonspiels still exist. In the 19th century, private railway stations in the UK were built for curlers attending bonspiels, including at Aboyne, Carsbreck, and Drummuir.
Today, curling is strongest in Canada, brought there by Scottish emigrants. The Royal Montreal Curling Club, founded in 1807, is the oldest active sports club in North America. The first U.S. curling club was established in 1830. Scots also introduced the sport to Switzerland and Sweden before the end of the 1800s. Curling is now played across Europe and has spread to Brazil, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Korea. The first world championship, the Scotch Cup, was for men only and held in Falkirk and Edinburgh, Scotland.
- field
- Winter sport
- known_for
- Sliding stones on ice towards a target, with sweeping to influence trajectory
Lore & Background
Curling is a sport played on a sheet of ice, where players slide heavy, polished granite stones, also called rocks, toward a circular target area marked on the ice, known as the house. This target is segmented into four concentric circles. The game is related to bowls, boules, and shuffleboard. Two teams of four players each take turns sliding their stones; each team has eight stones, with every player throwing two. The objective is to accumulate the highest score over a game, which typically consists of eight or ten ends. Points are awarded for stones resting closest to the centre of the house after both teams have thrown all their stones in an end. The player throwing the stone imparts a curved trajectory, or "curl," by gently rotating the stone upon release. Two sweepers using brooms or brushes can influence the stone’s path by sweeping the ice in front of it, reducing friction. This sweeping, described by the Thin Film Model, allows the stone to travel farther and straighter, with less curl. The sport earned the nickname "the roaring game" due to the sound the stones make while traveling over the pebble—droplets of water applied to the playing surface. Strategy and teamwork are crucial for selecting the optimal path and final placement of the stone, with player skill determining how accurately the stone follows the intended course.
Reader's Guide
Curling is a sport played on ice where two teams of four players slide polished granite stones toward a circular target area divided into four concentric rings. Each team has eight stones, and each player throws two per round, known as an end. After both teams have thrown all their stones, points are awarded for those resting closest to the center of the target. Games typically consist of eight or ten ends. The stone’s curved path, or curl, is created by the thrower gently rotating it upon release. Two teammates with brooms or brushes can sweep the ice ahead of the stone, reducing friction so it travels farther and straighter—a phenomenon called the Thin Film Model. This sweeping action is a key strategic element, as it allows the team to influence the stone’s final position. The sport is related to bowls, boules, and shuffleboard. Historically, curling originated in Scotland, with evidence dating to the early 16th century, including a stone inscribed with 1511 found at Dunblane. The first written reference to a contest on ice comes from Paisley Abbey in 1541. The word curling first appeared in print in 1620 in a Perth poem. The sport was also known as “the roaring game” due to the sound stones make on pebbled ice. Early stones were irregular river stones without handles, relying more on luck than skill. The Royal Caledonian Curling Club, founded in 1838, developed the first official rules. Today, the World Curling Federation in Perth governs the sport internationally, with strong traditions in Canada, Scotland, and other regions.
Did You Know?
- In the early history of curling, stones were flat-bottomed stones from rivers or fields, lacking handles and of inconsistent size and shape.
- Irons were used for curling not only in Canada, but also in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom, until the early 1900s.
Leading Curling Canada and Championing Equality
Over her seven-year tenure, she prioritized grassroots growth, expanded marketing for championship events, and pushed for greater corporate backing and financial stability. When the pandemic struck, Henderson relied on a restructured governance model featuring a newly elected board of governors focused on strategy and risk, while member associations handled participant experience. Bi-weekly video calls kept the organization nimble, addressing marketing, government lobbying, and return-to-play protocols. She also oversaw concussion education, helmet use, and a universal code of conduct for players and coaches.
Stepping Into Hockey Canada's Turbulent Waters
Her appointment came in the aftermath of a sexual assault scandal that had driven away previous executives, corporate sponsors, and government funding. She became the first woman to hold the presidency in the organization's history, succeeding Scott Smith. Almost immediately after her announcement, Bauer Hockey reinstated its sponsorship, signaling a vote of confidence in her leadership. Henderson was candid about the magnitude of the task: she wanted to dismantle the toxic culture exposed by the scandal and ensure every Canadian could enjoy a personal hockey experience that felt safe and welcoming. Within her first week, she convened the Beyond the Boards Summit, a gathering focused on confronting issues such as elitism, gender-based violence, homophobia, misogyny, racism, and sexism within the sport. Reflecting on the event, Henderson noted how striking it was to see participants willing to acknowledge past mistakes and speak vulnerably about behaviors they were not proud of.
The 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games
Before her stints at Curling Canada and Hockey Canada, Henderson played a pivotal role in the Toronto Organizing Committee for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, serving as senior vice-president of marketing and revenue. In that capacity, she negotiated broadcasting rights and oversaw the sponsorship program, contributing to a tournament that set records for attendance, ticket sales, and television ratings. Henderson was also involved in shaping the games' social marketing strategy. When agency SapientNitro was brought on board, she emphasized a desire to capture the human element of the competition. She also championed the decision to launch the Pan American Torch relay in Thunder Bay, her hometown, explaining that uniting the north and the south carried deep symbolic meaning for the spirit of the games.
Roots, Education, and a Corporate Foundation
Katherine Henderson grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where she first learned to skate at Carrick Park. Though her father and brother played hockey, she never took up the sport herself. Her academic path was notably eclectic: she earned a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from the University of Western Ontario, an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, and a Master of Theological Studies from the University of Toronto. Before entering sports administration, she spent seven years in marketing and management roles at Whirlpool Corporation's Canadian and American divisions, and held positions at Colgate-Palmolive Canada, Campbell Soup Company Canada, and General Mills Canada. This broad corporate background, spanning consumer goods, nutrition, and business strategy, equipped her with the commercial acumen she would later bring to major sporting organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic objective of a curling game?
Two teams of four players alternate sliding polished granite stones down a sheet of ice toward a circular target known as the house. After all stones are thrown in a round, the team with stones closest to the center scores points.
Why do curling players sweep in front of a moving stone?
Sweeping shaves a thin film of ice under the stone, cutting friction so it carries farther and holds a straighter line. It also lets the crew nudge the trajectory slightly off a minor wobble.
What are curling stones made of and why that material?
The stones are carved from dense, fine-grained granite chosen for its consistent weight and smooth glide on ice. This hardness keeps the surface polished and predictable over thousands of throws.
What does an 'end' mean in curling?
An end is one full round in which each team delivers all of its stones to the house. A standard match runs eight ends, and points are tallied after every single one.
How is the house target laid out on the ice?
The house consists of four concentric circles, with the smallest innermost ring called the button. A stone scores only if it rests within those rings, and the team with the stone nearest the center earns the points for that end.
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