Our goal is to make it as simple as possible for college students to get involved in the four hundred year old sport of curling. Students who have prior experience with curling are helpful in getting programs started at schools new to curling, but not required. If you are totally new to curling, please contact us. We will establish a liaison and help you get started.
We will line up an existing club and experienced curlers to coordinate your college program. Arrangements are made for ice-time, instruction, equipment, etc.
You need to find at least four students (men or women) who want to learn to curl. We attempt to enlist at least one faculty member from your school to help organize the program and establish it as a recognized school sport (for administrative help, future funding, etc.).
Curling requires a minimum of personal equipment. A broom and slider can be purchased for as little as $40 total. Special curling gloves and shoes are available, but not required.
If there is no curling club nearby, a school and interested students can adapt recreational skating or hockey ice for curling. Necessary materials, including curling stones, equipment to prepare the ice surface for curling, etc. can be purchased for as little $4,500.
"How to Curl" manuals and videos are available for "would be" curlers at no cost. Experienced curlers are almost always available to instruct new curlers on the basics as well as the "finer points" of the game.
To make it less expensive for students, there is no natinal dues or initiatin fee required to get started. Once a student group of at least four (any combination of men/women) has learned to play, they are welcome at the regional USA college curling events located in Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Entry fees for these events is $60 per team, which includes food and beverages, participation pin, awards, etc., plus solid competitive experience for all levels of curlers, from beginners to competitive.
College teams are also welcome to participate in the annual National College Curling Tournament currently held in St. Paul, MN in mid-March. The entry fee is $80 per team and includes everything listed above for regional events.
More than sixty college teams are currently competing in the regional and national events. Teams are divided into divisions based on years of experience, with gold, silver, and bronze awards in each division. Assuming new teams have had instruction and played a few games no qualification is necessary to enter any of the events. All necessary information about the program and signing up for the events can be found on our website.
If you're interested in any information, brochures and support, please contact:
Richard Larko
Executive Director
Illinois State Curling Foundation
2123 Warrington Court
Glenview, IL 60025-1329
Phone: 847-729-0934
Fax: 847-729-1486
Email: larko2123@comcast.net
Bev Schroeder
USCA Director of Member Services
Phone/Fax: 800-CURLERS
Email: bev_schroeder@charter.net
USCA
1100 Center Point Drive
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: 715-344-1199
Fax: 715-344-2279
Website: www.usacurl.org