Sunday afternoons are a special time at the Meaford Curling Club as a group of local youngsters gather for an opportunity to learn the art of curling.
This is the third year for the “Little Rocks” curling program that aims to introduce children in the five to eight year old age group to the sport. As program organizer Tracy McNally explains, the weekly lessons are about much more than playing a sport.
“Curling is one of those social games like golf,” said McNally, “In addition to getting some physical activity, the children also learn things like etiquette.”
McNally has participated in the sport of curling since she was 13 years old, and prior to getting involved with Little Rocks she shared her knowledge and experience with a slightly older crowd by helping out with an after school curling program for students in grades three to eight.
In previous years the program has run for six weeks, but this year it was extended to ten weeks. Each lesson begins with some stretching exercises, and some off ice technical training before the students grab a broom and hit the sheets to apply what they have been taught.
Intricacies of the game such as balance, sweeping, and the rotation of rocks as they travel on the ice are blended in with lessons about sportsmanship and care for equipment and the ice surface.
Parents are encouraged to join their children on the ice to help them practice throwing rocks and sweeping. For many parents they are learning the sport along with their children while for others, it is an opportunity to share a love for a sport that they have played for a long time.
Sara Almas of Meaford has curled for 24 years. She has her five and eight year old daughters participating in Little Rocks for the first time this year. Almas is enthusiastic about the sport, and the opportunity for children to discover and grow a new talent.
“It is a great start for children,” said Almas who told The Independent that she has played the sport along side local curling hero Brent Laing, “We need to grow some new international curling champions. These kids just might be our future Olympians.”
Little Rocks takes a break over the holidays but will resume their lessons on Sunday afternoons in the new year.
With six weeks remaining in the program, McNally says that there is still room if anyone is interested in enrolling their children.
For more information contact Tracy McNally at 519-538-2075, or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
