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SUmmER 2012
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
Chinese research indicates sport is taken seriously
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hen you prepare to conduct research (as i am this fall) you have to read and learn what other researchers and practitioners have done in your field. You do this to learn what was done and what questions were asked and what answers were found to those questions. it turns out China has a rich research base investigating what Chinese elite curling teams do to win and why they lose. This article gives
key: o–open; X–Mixed; Xd–Mixed doubles; M–Men’s; W–Women’s; S–Senior; Wc–Wheelchair C–Cashspiel; J–Junior; St–Stick events are listed Friday through Sunday but some may begin earlier. Check the club’s website for more information. JUlY 12–15 Cape Cod, Ma X JUlY 15–18 Cape Cod, Ma W JUlY 19–22 Cape Cod, Ma M Capital, nd o Green Bay, Wi o JUlY 23–26 Cape Cod, Ma Wc JUlY 27–29 anthracite, Pa–diamond City o AUg. 3–5 Green Bay, Wi SM kansas City, Mo–BBQ o Triangle, nC–Carolina Classic o AUg. 10–12 Charlotte, nC–Grits ‘n Granite o AUg. 17–19 Fort Wayne, in–Summerspiel o AUg. 24–26 rice Lake, Wi–Summerspiel o AUg. 31–SEPT. 2 Vacaville, Ca–The Crush o SEPT. 7–9 Bowling Green, oH o Wenatchee, Wa–desert rocks o SEPT. 21–23 dakota, Mn–Pirate o Mount Washington Valley, nH o SEPT. 28–30 rice Lake, Wi–Tune up o OCT. 5–7 kettle Moraine, Wi–The Stan M McCall, id–rocktoberspiel o nutmeg, CT–Blazing Leaves o OCT. 12–14 anchorage, ak–rookie o aspen, Co–Silver Sweep o Potomac, Md–inaugural o St. Paul, Mn–Cashspiel MC OCT. 18–21 Chicago, iL–Windy City o OCT. 25–28 anchorage, ak–Cashspiel o Cook County, Mn o Granite, Wa–Man ’Spiel M kettle Moraine, Wi–Fall Fling W Las Vegas, nV–Sin City o Madison, Wi–Halloween o Midland, Mi o rochester, nY–Big Pumpkin o Vikingland, Mn–2+2 o NOV. 2–4 anchorage, ak–Fun ’Spiel o Blackhawk, Wi–First Chance W Schenectady, nY–Carosella W NOV. 9–11 exmoor, iL–invitational X Grafton, nd–Concurrent X Granite, Wa–autumn o Mayfield, oH–invitational M rice Lake, Wi–Jugspiel W rochester, nY–College o utica, nY–ross Tarlton M St. Paul, Mn Md St. Paul, Mn St Superior, Wi–Cystic Fibrosis o Wauwatosa, Wi St NOV. 16–18 itasca, Mn–Hunters’ Widows W Mankato, Mn–Harvest o Philadelphia, Pa–Harvest X Schenectady, nY–achilles M Wauwatosa, Wi o NOV. 23–25 duluth, Mn–Cashspiel MWC Granite, Wa–Cashspiel MC St. Paul, Mn–FireBall o
you a flavor for the way Chinese researchers and sport psychology consultants learn how Chinese teams perform well. Chinese researchers have conducted research into shot decision-making and execution; team development; umpiring effectiveness; junior and senior teams’ causes for success and failure; competitive contrast between China and their opposition; performance metrics and the differences between genders and
NOV. 30–DEC. 2 Brainerd Lakes, Mn o Columbus, oH o Fargo, nd o Madison, Wi–Cashspiel oC Mankato, Mn J Milwaukee, Wi–kiltie W Las Vegas, nV–new Year’s o rochester, nY–Highland o DEC. 6–8 anchorage, ak–Christmas o Barrow, ak–Top of the Planet o detroit, Mi–Senior one day SM exmoor, iL–Continental M Granite, Wa–Holiday o itasca, Mn–rapids Cash oC Madison, Wi J Philadelphia, Pa J Schenectady, nY–10 & under M St. Paul, Mn–Jack McCann M utica, nY–u.S. open Wc DEC. 13–15 Chesapeake, Md–Mid atlantic W Waltham, iL–PiC o DEC. 26–28 Heather, Mn–Family ’Spiel o DEC. 31 Charlotte, nC–Pajama Curl o 2013 JAN. 4–6 detroit, Mi–international M duluth, Mn–Bruce Bennett M eau Claire, Wi–Leinenkugel o Granite, Wa–25 & under o Lodi, Wi M Philadelphia, Pa–Cracked Bell o St. Paul, Mn–Cold Cash WC JAN. 11–13 Heather, Mn X Hibbing, Mn–Sunny Hill M Marshfield, Wi W rice Lake, Wi–Stein X St. Paul, Mn–Centennial o utica, nY–Mitchell M Wausau, Wi–Tietge H.S. J JAN. 18–20 anchorage, ak–Town Square o Blackhawk, Wi X Chesapeake, Md–Funspiel o duluth, Mn–Bert Payne J itasca, Mn J Marshfield, Wi M Mayfield, oH–one day (19th) W Plainfield, nJ–Thrifty o Portage, Wi J rochester, nY–empire W Superior, Wi–Mixed Mulligan X Wauwatosa, Wi SM Wausau, Wi–Highlanders W JAN. 22–23 exmoor, iL–Highlanders W JAN. 25–27 arlington, Wi M Boise, id–Sawtooth outdoor o Cleveland, oH X Fargo, nd–Triathlon o Granite, Wa W Hibbing, Mn X St. Paul, Mn–Winter Carnival X JAN. 29–30 itasca, Mn S FEB. 1–3 Crosby, nd M detroit, Mi–international W Fargo, nd–Bantam Jo kettle Moraine, Wi–Classic X Mankato, Mn M rice Lake, Wi M Schenectady, nY o St. Paul, Mn–ranger o Wausau, Wi–Badger State MWJX FEB. 8–10 itasca, Mn–Sweethearts X Lakes, Mn–Vern Turner o St. Paul, Mn–kyle Satrom J Wausau, Wi M FEB. 15–17
ages in competition; competitive confidence and anxiety and competitive preparation. one must persevere to locate the primary research article in english but it is well worth it. What we learn from the volume and type of research dating from 2006 onward is that national team performance matters to China. Curling is important to showing the positive aspects of Chinese identity, and performing well and honorably is very important
detroit, Mi–international duluth, Mn–international Fargo, nd–Greenspiel Heather, Mn Plainfield, nJ Potomac, Md–Francis dykes utica, nY–raymond kayser Waltham, iL Wausau, Wi–High School Wauwatosa, Wi FEB. 22–24 anchorage, ak–Fur rondy Cook County, Mn Heather, Mn–uSWCa Pin kettle Moraine, Wi Lewiston, Mi Madison, Wi–Curl v. Cancer Mayfield, oH–evergreen nutmeg, CT–neon Juniors St. Paul, Mn–international utica, nY–Cobb mARCH 1–3 detroit, Mi–5 & under Grafton, nd Granite, Wa–5 & under itasca, Mn–High School kettle Moraine, Wi La Crosse, Wi Marshfield, Wi–Lobstein Schenectady, nY–Green Jr. Superior, Wi–northwest Tri-City, Wi–invitational Vikingland, Mn–runestone Vikingland, Mn–2+2 Waltham, iL mARCH 8–10 Cook County, Mn Granite, Wa–uSWCa Hibbing, Mn (3/9 only) Plainfield, nJ–PCC Stone Stevens Point, Wi St. Paul, Mn–Gopher State Wauwatosa, Wi mARCH 15–17 Crosby, nd duluth, Mn–dunlop Memorial Granite, Wa kettle Moraine, Wi Lodi, Wi nutmeg, CT–Golden Handle Superior, Wi–Lee Bergquist mARCH 22–24 arlington, Wi–Pride of Prairie Blackhawk, Wi–Last Chance Columbus, oH–SliderSpiel Grafton, nd itasca, Mn–Second to Last Lewiston, Mi Potomac, Md–Cherry Blossom Stevens Point, Wi APRIl 1–2 Hibbing, Mn APRIl 5–7 Hibbing, Mn–Last Chance Mankato, Mn–Bunny rochester, nY–international APRIl 12–14 anchorage, ak–Spring ’Spiel Granite, Wa Plainfield, nJ–Bonsqueal APRIl 19-21 Coyotes, aZ (Scottsdale) mAY 24–26 San Francisco, Ca JUNE 7–9 Granite, Wa JUlY 5–7 Hollywood, Ca–Blockbuster JUlY 26–28 anthracite, Pa–diamond City AUg. 2–4 Triangle, nC–Carolina Classic
X MW o M J M X M J o o X W X o o X J M X
to the Chinese. research efforts show us that universities are focused on understanding why and how curling performance can improve, and conversations about growing curling’s positive impact on Chinese society are ongoing. From a sport psychology perspective, we see that the fields of kinesiology and physical education are well represented areas with expertise, motor control and sport psychology predominate. What we learn from these findings is that curling is valuable to the Chinese and is helping them understand shot-calling, team chemistry, team selection and sport behaviors that work. research happens when the thing being investigated is seen to have value. Clearly, curling is of interest to researchers; and reading the comments of China’s coach at the last olympics, one learns the seriousness with which the Chinese approached international competition. Since 2006, Chinese women have won silver in 2008, gold in 2009 and bronze in 2011; junior men
By John Coumbe-Lilley, USA Curling sports psychology consultant
have made the playoffs twice and a bronze was won in the mixed doubles in 2011 at the world championship level not to mention a women’s bronze at the Vancouver olympics. as a relative newcomer to international curling, China is making progress and the energy in the research being done to learn how to perform better suggests that Chinese curling will be a competitive force at the world and olympic level in the foreseeable future. Check out John’s blog at http://www.learn2peak.com.
o W o J J o X J oC M o o X o W W M M W M o X J M X o J SM M M M o o o X SM M X o o o o o o o
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