For Whom the Bell Tolls

"To bell or not to bell", that is the question. I'm sure if William Shakespeare had been a curler in a small Canadian curling club instead of some writer hanging around Stratford Upon Avon, he might have written this in the place of the famous soliloquy we all know so well. There is a good chance he would have been dealing with the "Bell" issue in an effort to get the late draws started on time.

Picture this: You're in the 5th end of a game against a team whose skip is agonizing about every shot. The play has been slow all game and players are getting bored. To make matters worse, you are down three and hoping for a deuce to get the game close. The plan is, to keep fighting back and to take the game in the eigth end. Your team seems to have the momentum to do this. However, that is never going to happen because the bell just rang(Or in our case, the WWII siren wails; everyone ducks expecting an air raid at any time). This means, finish playing the end you are on and play one more. The opportunity for the big finish is gone with the bell.

Frustrating? You better believe it! Necessary? In this case ..ABSOLUTELY!

The bell poses an interesting dilemma. On the one hand, games need to be played and over in the two hours allotted. By and large, most games should only take two hours. This becomes an important consideration when there is another draw coming on immediately after, especially in the evening. It's true; getting on late when you already have the late draw can be a bummer. It can be frustrating playing against a skip that favours slow play.

But it's a double-edged sword.....

Skips who are trying to play their best and want to make the best decision for a particular shot will stand back and have a look at the situation. What feels like the most comforable shot to throw? What does the rest of the team think? Is it worth the risk? Is there a way to only give up one? These are decisions we all face at some point during the game. And let's face it, skips need to be afforded the opportunity to think about that shot for a moment from time to time. Especially when the game is tight and both skips desperately want to avoid being the first to implode.

So how do we deal with slow play? One solution is the bell. It is absolute. Once rung, that's it. Finish your end, play one more and head to the lockers. It is sure to keep the draws on time. But there is something about the bell that carries a negative connotation. It's so totalitarian, so impersonal, so darn frustrating when you are trying to make a come back. The bell will surely make both teams pay for the slow play even though most times, only one team is guilty of it.

Is there anything else that can be done? HOW ABOUT PLAYING FASTER? Now that sounds like a great solution to this dilemma. Teams need to support this initiative...not just the skip. When you are shooting, huge amounts of time can be saved over the game if you are in the hack and ready to shoot before the preceding shot has come to rest. This will buy your team time. Skips must learn to be decisive. Save the long analytical sessions for those times when it really matters. In many ends, your shot will be obvious or just a couple of options. Go ahead and make a choice and get down the ice and shoot. Decisiveness for a skip is a skill, so practice this. If you are a skip, be conscious of the time. Make sure your team is going to stay within the two hours allotted. Practice being decisive...it will save you time and boost your confidence. It sends a message to the opposing team that you are ready to rock....game on!

Or, it's back to the bell. The bell will not care about your feelings because it's just a bell. I like the idea of controlling my own curling destiny. I hope you do too. Let's get out there and keep our games within the two hours. The late draw people will be happier and it shows them consideration.

To bell or not to bell?....Well, I say "not to bell" but we need to make sure that we don't give the bell a reason to ring, or it will be "for US that the bell tolls!"

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic