Curling around London Ontario

The Accessible Sports Council for the London Ontario area, reminds wheelchair users that the Ilderton CC is the base for local curling. The program is run by coach Ernie Comerford, who was instrumental in establishing the sport in Alberta before relocating to Ontario.

Sessions are held Sundays from 11AM to 1PM. More details HERE.

Get a (better) grip, says coach Ernie Comerford

Coach Ernie Comerford says: I have been experimenting with additions to some delivery sticks with handles from garden tools to see if this might help the thrower throw more easily and be more consistently accurate. Feel free to improve on these ideas.

Garden tool handles were purchased from a standard “box store” (Home Depot).  Metal tool was removed and inside drilled out to ¾ inch size.  Dowling then added and epoxy glue used to hold then into the delivery stick.

Photo 1: Shows indentation in this type of handle which “forces” the player to hold the stick in the same spot each time.  Soft rubber handle.

Photo 2: Top view. Handle is attached and aligned.  Note thumb indentation spot.

Photo 3 - Side View. Note groves on side for better grip, hook at end for hand.

Photo 4 - Shows player gripping stick.  Note thumb in indentation.

COMMENTS – This has been adapted quite well on Goldline sticks.  Some concerns on Extender Sticks as it may/can be hard to realign the handle and the throwing end once loosened or extended further.  However I believe we will find the Extender Sticks will be just as good if not better due to weight.  One player in particular believes it has made it easier for him to be much more accurate and consistent.  

Photo 5 -  Top view. Thumb indentation on top. Soft rubber for easy grip.  Grooves on top only.

Photo 6 - Note pronounced hook at end.  Handle shape has been well received.

Photo 7 - Player gripping stick. Thumb in indentation

GENERAL COMMENTS

The aim was to find a handle that would make it easier to be consistent.  Concept came from the golf teaching aid (Golf Grip handles) which try to get a golfer to hold the club in proper position.  Initial trials have been satisfactory.  Cost of the handles runs about $6 to $9 each.

Smaller female hands seem to be no problem.

Thoughts have been given to angling the handle even more to make it a totally “natural” hand angle.

One player uses the handle in a reverse position and finds it fine for them.  He left part of the metal handle of the gardening tool in and glued it into the delivery stick.  He finds it lowers the angle of the stick to the ice surface.

OTHER IDEAS

Using pvc  electrical conduit pipe with a 45 degree angle.  Cost less than a dollar. Fits an all sticks.

NOTE – how player can move hand forward or backwards to their “spot”.  The angle of the force then changes.  We have not done any lengthy experimentation yet.  Concept seems fine though.

OTHER IDEAS

a) USE OF COPPER OR PLASTIC TUBING.  It may be possible to design a handle with various angles to suit the player.  A 45 degree elbow could be used on a garden handle to also alter the players hand angle.  Combos could be tried.

b) HAND MOULDS - Perhaps these could be used to make a unique handle for individual players.  Thus perhaps allowing for maximum force and control.

I hope these are helpful to some wheelchair curlers.  We are still an evolving sport technically and I am pleased to share some ideas to hopefully better the sport.

Ernie Comerford - London Ontario Nov. 2009

OCA reverse playdown exclusion ruling

The Ontario Curling Association, at their Annual General Meeting June 30th, reversed a controversial decision limiting the number of wheelchair teams eligible to compete in a provincial championship to half of other curling categories. The new policy will be to allow up to eight teams to compete before reducing entries via zone playdowns. The OCA also changed the Championship format: "The Dominion Wheelchair Provincial Championship will now accommodate up to eight (8) teams with the top three teams qualifying for the playoffs after round robin play."

Last season Ottawa wheelchair curlers, who had developed their program so that they had two competitive teams, were forced into a zone playoff as only four teams, one from each Ontario zone rather than the usual two, were permitted into the provincial championship.

London ON coach Ernie Comerford, who along with Ottawa skip Bruce Cameron had raised objections to last season's arrangements said: " As a major promoter of the game in Ontario and elsewhere, I am pleased that additional teams in Ontario will have the opportunity to participate and gain valuable experience."

"Keep it simple," says Coach Ernie Comerford

No Kidding -- the Game is really very simple!



by Coach Ernie Comerford



I believe that many Coaches and Players (even High Performance ones) make wheelchair curling FAR too complicated. Heavens, when you really think about it, we are still only trying to do THREE simple things in wheelchair curling (and able-bodied curling for that matter).

1. Throw it straight.


2. Throw it with a certain turn.


3. Throw it with a certain amount of weight.

Now is that so hard? I think that FAR too often we complicate matters unduly. Of course, I know that for all TOP teams Strategy, Goals, Mental Training and so on are vital skills to develop. However let’s not forget the BASICS. Just imagine if one of your wheelchair players was able to just do the first three things – ALMOST ALL of the time! Man what a player! What a game? What a spectator sport! But above all - What a Coach! Odd….is this the KISS principle at work??



Funny….. “Are we sounding like able-bodied curlers??…..naaaahhh we can’t play like them - so why even try to? Besides they sweep and boy does that make a difference in the game. We just can’t make the shots that they call and make”………………...



But we DO think “able-bodied” in spite of the fact that our game is often decided by MISSED shots than strategy. So why are we so often hooked on the able-bodied game? I suggest that we stick more with the basics and then we will definitely be on the right track.



At the recent 2008 World Championships, it became evident that many countries must be concentrating on the basics of shot making. I believe they are on the right track.  Check out http://wwcc.curlit.com/ for the statistics of the championships. Korea had 5 out of 9 games at 60% or better. Scotland had 4, Canada had 3 and all other teams had 2 or less. Funny how the Champion Norwegian Coach talks basics in shooting and strategy yet they were low in shooting.



I believe that when we are training our own competitive players (and others too), we must concentrate on the BASICS. In this regard, I have attached a few practice drills which are aimed at improving the three basics. I hope these prove of value to you and your athletes.



Feel free to adapt them to your needs. Their purpose is simply to help assist anyone who is new to the coaching of wheelchair curlers. Other coaches are invited to add their items to share with others across the country.



Good Curling to All Ernie Comerford, Coach London Ontario, June 2008 erniecomerford@rogers.com 519 – 203 – 0087



PS The suggested “Eyes Closed” drills are not a joke. Contact me for more info. I would be glad to share any ideas with anyone across the country I may even pay for the phone call.



CLICK HERE for links to Ernie's drills.