Variety is the Spice of Life

Variety is the Spice of Life. Now there's an idiom that we have all been exposed to at one time or another. Boy, it's true too! Seems like whatever we are doing, we need to mix it up after a while or things just go from routine to mundane. The ultimate boredom we feel is like a curse and we look for something to shake that feeling.

Elton John wrote an excellent ditty called Levon. It's a song about a guy who blows up and sells balloons all day....and he made good money at it too apparently. He was bored to death with it, but I guess he stuck with it and got his son doing the balloon thing too. Ultimately, his son got bored with blowing up the balloons and spent his time wishing he could be away from his dad and those darn balloons. Maybe Levon should have let the boy sell some balloons or perhaps, be the guy who goes and picks up the balloons...either way, give him a job other than blowing up balloons all day. Just to keep him interested.

Now what if Levon was a skip in the men's league? He brings in his son to play lead. So game in and game out, the boy throws all draws, never a take out. After a while, the boy becomes so bored with being a lead, he does not want to curl anymore. Why? Because there is no variety for him! Perhaps Levon would have done well to let the boy play second from time to time just so he could throw some take outs, mixed in with the draws.

In curling, lead stone is the most common entry-level position in the game. New curlers are asked to draw, draw, draw. This gets them used to the delivery. It acquaints them with weight consistency. They learn brushing. From the front end, they pretty well learn the game. This is all necessary!

The thing is, after a while, new curlers want to move forward. Learn to throw take outs and learn the more advanced strategies of the game. What is happening is that they are growing with the game. This is a natural progression. The fact of the matter is, newer curlers need to be given the opportunity to grow. Ultimately, they will taste all the positions and find the place on a team of 4 that will be their niche. Perhaps they will go back to being lead because they know they can offer consistent draws to the team as well as effective brushing. Maybe they will end up throwing second stones because they can throw accurate take outs and make a quick adjustment to draw weight for the second stone. Whatever the case, new curlers need the opportunity to see the game from all sides. As experienced curlers, it is our responsibility to ensure that newer players get this experience or they may not be curlers for long.

It can be argued that lead position is a very important position in the game today. The lead stones will determine the way an end will go. Thanks to the 4-rock rule, the lead's ability to put those guards up or put one in the house is paramount. Good leads are every bit as important on a team as anyone else. Shot making aside, good leads (good front ends in general) can look at a rock when it is released and know where it will end up at the other end. They will convey this information to the skip. And, there is nothing like good brushing. Good brushers can make the shot for their skip!

If you are a skip, a good exercise might be to switch up your front end from time to time. Let your lead shoot second stones and vice versa. If you are a lead on a team and want to try a different position, let your skip know. Maybe he can help you out. Try sparing in different positions in different leagues (like the mixed leagues) because the experience will be great! Get out there and get your feet wet!!

Good teams are not only those teams that can execute well. The chemistry MUST be there. Players must be content in the position they play. The only way for players to know they are content in a certain position is to experience other positions. There will come a time when each and every one of them will have their "curling epiphany" and find their niche. Then, and only then, will they be able to fully grow into that position and embrace it.

Levon would do well to follow this advice. Let his son take a break from blowing up balloons all day; perhaps let him get into sales or purchasing. Ultimately, he might hate sales, or he might hate dealing with the balloon mongers. You never know, he might end up back at the balloon stand, lips puckered and ready for another day. However, he'll be blowing them up with enthusiasm this time, because he will have found his balloon niche.

Rock On!

The Curling Chronic