When you think of curling, you probably imagine an older couple in plaid rocking sweaters and heavy jackets standing at opposite ends of a narrow ice surface vigorously sweeping their stones down the sheet toward a bull’s eye. Even if you’ve never watched a game of curling before, you probably know that this is not quite accurate. Yes, there are old people (mostly men) who wear plaid and heavy jackets while trying to slide rocks across the ice toward some sort of target. But they don’t just stand there and sweep; they vigorously move around the ice with brooms in hand as they chase after their stones. There are even pants! And yes, there are also a lot of strategies that go into it. The key to winning or losing any given game seems to be how well players anticipate which way their stone will curl based on where they shoot from and how fast they can sweep in order to get back out on the playing field fast enough to catch up with their own shot.
What is a power play in curling?
Power play in curling is when one team gets an advantage such as extra delivery by placing its stones in front of its opponent. This can be done by many tactics such as, ‘pegging’ or ‘hanging’, as it’s called. Generally, the team with stones in the front controls the game and is favored to win. The team without stones in front has to make long shots difficult to deliver while putting themselves in danger of getting swept.
What Is The Different Type Of Power Play?
1. Pegging
Pegging is one of the most common types of power play in curling. It is done by two people: a player who throws the stone and a sweeper who catches it. Pegging requires that the thrower throw his or her stone in front of the sweepers’ target with enough aim to make the shoot difficult for the opponent’s sweepers to reach. The pegger stands behind his or her target, facing away from it, and throws it in one motion so that it lands on its edge. The pegger then drops down quickly and sweeps away any stones that are against their target. This is usually done after throwing, but may be done before throwing, depending on the situation (see below).
2. Hanging
The other common type of power play is called hanging. This is done by one person who throws the stone and two people who catch it. The thrower stands behind his or her target, facing away from it, and throws it in one motion so that it lands on its edge. The thrower then drops down quickly a few steps away from the stone, with the sweepers advancing toward him or her. few feet behind the stone, so that a sweeper’s broom can not reach it.
3. Kicking
Kicking is a type of power play in curling in which one player stands on the opposite side of the sheet from the other and throws his or her stone with enough force to make it curl around a corner and go into the side of his or her teammate’s target. The thrower then helps to sweep the stone onto its edge by pushing it with his or her broom. The kicker then runs forward and catches the stone as it flies out from behind his or her team’s screen. This shot can only be delivered from one spot on the ice, where there is an open line between two brooms (or ‘stacks’) at opposite ends of the sheet. This is called ‘open.’ Kicking requires that both thrower and the catcher have a good long-range shot because that’s where they will be standing during their run across the ice to catch their few steps to the right so that the stone slides along the ice a few feet to the left of him or her. The sweeper then has to run over and pick up the stone before it gets swept away. few feet in front of the target to sweep the stone toward a position in front of the sweepers’ target. The sweeper should be positioned so that he or she can reach the pegger’s stone with little effort.
4. Pegging in Front of Endzone
This is another common form of power play used in curling when teams are playing each other close to their end zone (the end zones are marked a few inches and slide his or their hand along the ice until he or she can grab the stone. The sweeper then picks up the stone and places it in front of its target.
How Does A Power Play Work?
Identify the Thing You Need to Influence
The first step to using a power play is to identify the thing you need to influence. The item you want to use as a power play could be data, a resource, or even information. It could also be something intangible like credibility or access to people. Whatever it is, that item is the trump card that gives you the power to influence people. For example, let’s say you’re working as a consultant and a large client has failed to pay their bill. You have the power to influence the client to pay you, but they have more economic power than you do. You could use your expertise in the industry as your trump card in the power play.
Determine Who Has the Power
The next step in the process is to determine who has the power. In the example above, the client has the economic power as they owe you money. However, you have clout in the industry as a recognized expert. Who has the power in the situation may vary based on your specific situation. To determine who has the power, you need to think about what the other person values. You can then use that thing to get them to do what you want. For example, let’s say that the client values their reputation within the industry. If you could get them to publicly acknowledge their debt and apologize for it, you may be able to use that as leverage to get them to pay you.
Determine What They Value
As we discussed above, in a power play, you need to identify what the other person values. This may be something tangible like money or it could be something intangible like reputation or pride. It could even be something negative, such as avoiding shame or embarrassment. Whatever the value is, you need to use it as leverage in your power play. You do this by bringing up their value and letting them know that you can use it against them if they don’t do what you want them to do. For example, let’s say that the client values their reputation and you know it. If they don’t pay you, they will lose face in the industry and that could cost them future work. For this power play to work, you don’t have to directly threaten their reputation. Instead, you can casually bring it up and let them know that you can damage it if they don’t pay you.
Make Your Case
Next, you need to make your case. You want to convince the other person that you are serious about the power play and that they should do what you want them to do. You do this by letting them know that if they don’t do what you want, you will use your trump card against them. For example, let’s say that the client doesn’t dispute that they owe you money. If they still don’t pay you, you could casually bring up their reputation in the industry and let them know that you will let your peers know that they owe you money.
The Benefit Of The Power Play
- The power play is a good way to get the ball back into the attacking zone more quickly. The attack can then be set up by the defense, and possession can be maintained.
- It is also a good way to score goals, as there are more opportunities for shots on goal (see below).
- It is also a good way to prevent goals, as it forces the other team to defend deeper and allows the attack to play in their own half of the field.
- It can force opposing defenders off their position, creating space for an attacker to exploit (see below).
The Disadvantage Of The Power Play
- The power play is not as effective if the other team defends with a high line. If they defend with a low line, however, it is an excellent way to score goals (see below).
- It can be very difficult to set up a successful power play without having the ball for several minutes in your own zone. The key is to make sure you have enough time to set up your attack when you get possession.
- It can be very difficult for the players on the power play to get open in their offensive zone without a lot of help from their teammates.
- The penalty kill will be more effective than the power play when they are tied or trailing by one goal late in the game, as they will have more time and space to stop shots on goal.
Summary
The power play is a tactical advantage that is available to all curling teams but is particularly useful to a team that is behind in the game. The team that is behind shoots first during the in-turn, giving them the advantage of being the first to know what shots their opponents are attempting. The team that is ahead getting a chance to shoot last in the out-turn, giving them a chance to catch up if their first shots don’t work out as planned. The power play is such an important part of curling that it even has its own song.
