Reading our scoreboard
takes a bit of getting used to. This page will walk through the process
in a more detail than the previous page, the basics
of curling. The example
used is different, but will, I hope, explain what goes on. Olympic level
curling on television has the advantage of computerized digital scoreboards.
Most curling clubs rely on the hang tag method, it's simple, it needs only
one set of numbers representing the ends played, and it works. No computer
glitches here.
Before we start the game, the scoreboard is obviously blank. The blue numbers
across the middle, 1 through 14 represent the potential points. More than
14 is possible, but incredibly rare, so to conserve space and improve legibility
from the far end of the sheet most curling clubs utilize large numbers and
letters and quit at 14 or 15.
First end - Yellow scores two points. The hang tag is placed in the
yellow row (because they scored the points) under the number 2 (blue
row of points in the center). The score is Red - 0, Yellow - 2. The
#1 on the hang tag indicates this was the first end.
Second end - Red scores three, a great end for them. The hang tag goes
in the red row, over the number 3. The score is Red - 3, Yellow - 2.
The #2 on the hang tag indicates the second end
Third end - Yellow scores one. Yellow already has two points from the
first end, and took one more in the third end for a total of three. The
hang tag goes in the yellow row under their current score of three. It's
now a tie game, Red - 3, Yellow - 3.
Fourth end -
nobody scores! It's called a "blank end". Red keeps the
all important hammer (the last rock to be thrown in the end) and the hang tag is
placed somewhere out of the way. We place the hang tag sideways under
the word "score",
although many clubs hang it all the way at the far right end under
the #14. It clearly doesn't count for points.
Fifth end - Yellow
steals two. It is called stealing a point when the other team has hammer.
Yellow already has three, stole two more for a new total of five.
The hang tag goes under the 5. The score is now Red - 3, Yellow
- 5.
Sixth end - Yellow steals two more. Yellow already has five, stole two more for a new total of seven. The hang tag goes under the 7. The score is now Red - 3, Yellow - 7. Red, being the good sports that they are, recognize the inevitable and shake hands.
Broomstacking commences.
Summary -
The total points scored are across the middle. The hang tags and
placement represent the ends in which points were scored and how many
points. Which ever team scored most recently throws first. The other
team has the hammer. The score after six ends is Red - 3, Yellow -
7.
In most league curling
we curl eight ends. In competition it's ten ends. An extra end is played
to break a tie. Our example stops after six ends.
