Curling

Includes: floor curling Indoors, Outdoors, Snow

Age:
4+
Snow
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An icy target

Curling is a fun and challenging game combining physical and mental skill. It’s usually played on an ice rink, but it’s a game that could be adapted for a smooth, flat surface using discs and target mats rather than ice and stones. This is called floor curling.

Overview

The purpose of the game is to score points by getting stones closer to the house centre than the opposing teams stones. Players from either team alternate taking shots until all stones have been delivered. The team closest wins that point!Snow Adventure Symbol.png

You may have seen people sweeping in front of the stones this is to help speed up the stone to travel further or direct the stone in a certain way.

This activity is for Rainbow’s through to Rangers, if doing this activity with the older sections talk to them about how you could make it more challenging and adventurous to make sure they are still being taken outside of their comfort zone.

Make sure to wrap up as a curling rink can get chilly!

Approved: 11 April 2023
Version: 1
Content owner: Adventure team

Planning checklist

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps:

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your commissioner.
  • Get a copy of the public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
  • Check you hold the relevant qualification (if one is needed) to run the activity and let your commissioner know you plan to run it yourself. If you aren't sure, speak to your local adviser to check.
  • Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the needs of your group.
  • Get any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
  • Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
  • Ask for a copy of the venue's safety guidelines and risk assessment (if relevant).
  • Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls, leaders and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity if a qualification is needed). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
  • Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents and carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation. 

Guidance on weather warnings

Leaders are responsible for completing a risk assessment for the walk and deciding if it's safe for a group to complete it. If a weather warning is issued for the area where your walk is due to take place, you must update your risk assessment. The result of this risk assessment will inform you as to your next steps which may include cancelling/rescheduling your walk, considering an alternative route that may be safer or proceeding with your initial plans with additional mitigations in place.

Risk assessments should be updated, and a clear plan of action agreed in regard to the weather warning to ensure the group’s wellbeing and safety. If re-routing the walk due to a weather warning you should ensure that you have thoroughly risk assessed the alternative route and recorded this risk assessment – normally we would expect ‘escape route’ options to be identified in advance.

If the weather warning is issued during your walk or is worse than expected, you must do a dynamic risk assessment. That will result in whether you continue, cancel, or re-route your walk to keep the group safe. A deviation from a planned route due to unforeseen circumstances does not require a recorded risk assessment.

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps. 

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your local commissioner.
  • Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
  • Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
  • Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
  • Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
  • Ask for a copy of the providers' safety guidelines and risk assessment.
  • Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
  • Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
  • Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
  • Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

No formal qualification needed

  • Participants must wear curling shoes when doing this activity on ice.
  • Ensure participants are briefed on the safety:
    • Check the playing space is clear before each shot
    • Stones and discs should not be thrown but pushed from floor level

When taking girls to ice rinks you should consider the following as part of your risk assessment:  

  • Does the ice rink generally look clean and well maintained? 
  • Does the curling equipment look in good condition? Is it regularly checked?  
  • Does the ice rink have risk assessments and clear operating procedures? 
  • Does the ice rink have public liability insurance? Is it for £5 million or greater, in date, and with a reputable insurer?
  • Is a safety briefing provided?
  • Are there clearly displayed rules for rink users to follow? 

The ratios below are given as a maximum and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment, this may lessen due to any medical conditions or other factors.

Leadership team ratio

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the leadership team adult: girl ratio is mandatory.

  • Rainbows 1:5 (minimum of 2 adults)
  • Brownies 1:8
  • Guides 1:12
  • Rangers: N/A