As a member you must agree to the following Participant Release and  Club Policies

• Participant Release - Minor
• Denver Curling Code of Conduct  
• Ice House Rules
• DCC Bar Policy
• Whistleblower Protection Policy
• Weapons Policy

  By clicking below you electronically acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these documents. 

Why I became a Curling Official

By Rhonda Brandt

October 30, 2015

Fall in Wyoming -- when noses turn red and the wind really starts blowing. And, a few intrepid souls dig out their curling shoes, broom, and long-sleeved shirts to take up the ancient sport of curling. Having just turned 50 years old and had my knee replaced, I really appreciate being able to curl with a stick. Curling is a great sport where I can still compete with great athletes and friendly people.

I think I am the only curling official in Wyoming. There are not a lot of curlers in the world and there are even fewer curling officials. The Denver Curling Club is hosting the Mixed Doubles National Championship the first week of December. This is quite an accomplishment for a facility that has existed for only two years. But, it is also an accomplishment that needs officials.

Olympic-level curling events, to which this event leads, must occur in an unbiased and fair yet competitive environment for all. That means the players conduct themselves in a professional manner and compete as hard as they can. It also means they need help from volunteers to take care of tasks off the ice, so the athletes can concentrate on their games. This is where officials come in.

Officials are not referees. We do not blow a whistle nor do we throw flags or give out red cards. The best curling official is one you don’t know is even present. The first instruction at all officiating training is “do not interject yourself into the game, unless asked.”

Curling officials take care of the paperwork necessary to document this level of event. We run the timing clock because this level is a timed competition. We measure stones, so the reading is quick and unbiased. And, curling officials do whatever else is necessary so the athletes can concentrate on their games, including running to the First Aid box for bandaids, talking with the ice technicians, and keeping the event on schedule.

As you become a more experienced official, you may be asked questions by players or need to decide a ruling when two skips cannot agree on how to proceed. This happens rarely though as the teams are mostly self-regulating and the skips handle almost all issues. Plus, the players really know the rules at this level, so they don’t ask many questions.

So why would anyone sign up to stand around in the ice shed or sit and time a game? For me the answer is, because I know I will never play in one of those games. I want to still watch curling on television or the internet, so I want there to be games. If there are games, they need volunteers to make those games happen.

In addition, this is curling where everybody is nice. At the end of day, you might just have an Olympic or World Champion gold medalist buy you a drink and invite you to their broomstacking table. This happened to me last March. I served as the Deputy Chief Umpire for the 2015 Club National Championship. Lyle Sieg’s team won the men’s competition and Norma O’Leary’s women’s team won the bronze medal. Lyle invited me to sit down with his team for drinks and Norma’s team made sure I had food when I was working. Both teams were very gracious and I cheered them on during Senior World Championships in Sochi, Russia. I called my sister up and said “I know them!” when the Lyle won the gold medal and Norma won the bronze.

You just never know who you might meet while officiating at these events. The world of curling is a pretty small world. I also met and played with a little boy named Luke Shuster, who was running around the warm room at Club Nationals. His mother was playing on Norma O’Leary’s team and his Dad was supposed to be watching him but kept getting distracted watching and talking about curling. His Dad is the current US Men’s Champion skip.

Helping teams get to the Olympics and World Championships is probably the closest I will ever get to those events. My knees are just too old to get there myself. Plus, I know the Denver Curling Club and the USCA need volunteers. So, I take the officiating classes and learn how to run these events. I want the USA to do well. This means they have to play in conditions that are the same as at the Olympic and World Championships. That means trained officials.

I encourage curlers of all experience levels to try officiating. First, you learn quite a bit about the rules of the game. Second, you see some great curling and can learn a lot from these teams. And third, you feel more a part of the curling world and the US efforts to win gold. There are Level 1 and Level 2 Officiating classes being held November 14 and 15 at the Denver Curling Club. Sign up and be a part of the US quest for gold.

Sign up on the USCA registration page  and  find "Officiating Courses - Denver (Nov. 14-15)"

For more information see the USCA page:

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Sport-Education/Certifications-and-Training/Officiating

https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/curldenver%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics

The undersigned hereby makes the following representations: (i) that the undersigned understands that the sport of curling is played on ice and requires physical fitness; (ii) that the undersigned possesses such physical fitness; and (iii) that the undersigned understands that the risks of participating in any curling activity could involve serious injury or death.

In consideration of being allowed access to the Ice House (as defined below) as a participant in any curling activity in the Ice House, I, the undersigned, for myself and my estate, successors, heirs, beneficiaries, administrators, trustees, representatives, and attorneys do hereby remise, release, acquit, and forever discharge (i) Denver Curling Club, a Colorado nonprofit corporation (“DCC”), any club, team or other organization that is a member in good standing of the USCA (as defined below) at whose facilities I engage in any curling activity, including, but not limited to practices, clinics, exhibitions, games or tournaments (DCC and all such clubs, teams or organizations, collectively or individually, the “Club”); (ii) the United States Curling Association, Inc. (“USCA,” which term includes any and all successors and successors-in-interest to the USCA); (iii) any regional curling association (“Regional Association”) of which a Club is a member and is also a member in good standing of USCA; (iv) the respective successors and assigns of each of the Club, USCA, and Regional Association; and (v) the respective successors and assigns of each of the Club, USCA, and Regional Association, and (vi) the respective employees, officers, and directors, but only while acting in their capacity as such, of each of the Club, USCA, and Regional Association (collectively, the “Releasees”) from the following:  any and all actions, causes of action, claims, demands, and liabilities, both in law and equity for damages and any court costs and legal expenses and fees associated therewith in respect of physical, mental, and bodily injury occurring to me while I am at the Ice House or in any adjacent area within the building in which the Ice House is located (the “Building”) in connection with any activity in the Ice House prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below); provided, however, that in the event such injury was caused, in whole or in part, by the willful, intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent action or failure to take action of any Releasee, such Releasee shall not be so remised, released, acquitted, or discharged hereby; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or exclude any action, cause of action, claim, demand, liability, payment, reimbursement, other benefit, or any court costs or legal expenses and fees that I or my estate, successors, heirs, beneficiaries, administrators, trustees, representatives, or attorneys might have or seek against (a) any other participant participating in any activity in the Ice House or (b) against any other person or entity other than a Releasee.

I hereby grant the Club and the other Releasees permission to publish photos and videos of me, and my name, for use on their websites and other publications and media, whether now known or hereafter existing, in perpetuity, without compensation.  I agree that no rights of ownership in any photos or videos are conferred on me. I hereby release and forever discharge the Club and the other Releasees from all claims, demands, and causes of action which I, my estate, successors, heirs, beneficiaries, administrators, trustees, representatives, or attorneys have or may have by reason of this authorization.   

The "Ice House" shall mean, the Curling Center located at 14100 West 7^th Ave., Golden, CO 80401 owned and operated by DCC, and with respect any Building, any single room containing sheets of ice in which the sport of curling is played in such Building, which Ice House is owned and /or operated by a Club.  The "Expiration Date" shall mean the date which is one (1) calendar year after the date this Release is executed below.

I certify that I am at least eighteen (18) years of age & have the legal capacity to execute this Participant Release on my own behalf.

I hereby revoke any and all releases of liability, waivers, and indemnifications previously executed by me in favor of any of the Releasees.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Release shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Release, which shall remain in full force and effect.  If any provisions contained in this Release is found to be unenforceable by reason of the extent, duration or scope thereof, or otherwise, then the court making such determination shall have the right to reduce such extent, duration, scope or other provision so that in its reduced form any such restriction shall thereafter be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

BEFORE SIGNING BELOW, I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS PARTICIPANT RELEASE AND TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY AS TO ITS SIGNIFICANCE.  BY SIGNING BELOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM WAIVING SIGNIFICANT RIGHTS.  I UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THIS PARTICIPANT RELEASE AND THE RIGHTS I AM WAIVING.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, I HAVE CHOSEN, OF MY OWN FREE WILL, TO EXECUTE THIS PARTICIPANT RELEASE.

The undersigned, being a parent or legal guardian of the minor curler ("Minor") indicated below, hereby makes the following representations: (i) that the undersigned is legally responsible for the Minor and legally empowered to act for, on behalf of, and to execute this Participant Release and thereby bind the Minor; (ii) that the Minor will comply with the rules and regulations of the Releasees (as defined below); (iii) that the undersigned understands that the sport of curling is played on ice and requires physical fitness; (iv) that the Minor possesses such physical fitness; and (v) that the undersigned understands that the risks of the Minor participating in any curling activity could involve serious injury or death.

In consideration of being allowed access to the Curling Center (as defined below) as a participant in any curling activity in the Ice House, I, the undersigned, for the Minor and the Minor's estate, successors, heirs, beneficiaries, administrators, trustees, representatives, and attorneys do hereby remise, release, acquit, and forever discharge (i) Denver Curling Club, a Colorado non-profit corporation (“DCC”), and any club, team or other organization that is a member in good standing of the USCA (as defined below) at whose facilities the Minor engages in any curling activity, including, but not limited to practices, clinics, exhibitions, games or tournaments (all such clubs, teams or organizations, collectively or individually, the “Club”); (ii) the United States Curling Association, Inc. ("USCA," which term includes any and all successors and successors-in-interest to the USCA); (iii) any regional curling association (“Regional Association” of which a Club is a member and is also in good standing of USCA; (iv) the respective successors and assigns of each of the Club, USCA, and Regional Association; and (v) the respective employees, officers, and directors, but only while acting in their capacity as such, of each of the Club, USCA, and Regional Association (collectively, the "Releasees") from the following:  any and all actions, causes of action, claims, demands, and liabilities, both in law and equity for damages and any court costs and legal expenses and fees associated therewith in respect of physical, mental, and bodily injury occurring to the Minor while the Minor is at the Ice House or in any adjacent area within the building in which the Ice House is located (the “Building”) in connection with any activity in the Ice House prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below); provided, however, that in the event such injury was caused, in whole or in part, by the willful, intentional, reckless, or grossly negligent action or failure to take action of any Releasee, such Releasee shall not be so remised, released, acquitted, or discharged hereby; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or exclude any action, cause of action, claim, demand, liability, payment, reimbursement, other benefit, or any court costs or legal expenses and fees that the Minor or the Minor's estate, successors, heirs, beneficiaries, administrators, trustees, representatives, or attorneys might have or seek against (a) any other participant participating in any curling activity in the Ice House, or (c) against any other person or entity other than a Releasee.

I, the undersigned, for the Minor, hereby grant the Club and the other Releasees permission to publish photos and videos of the Minor, and the Minor’s name, for use on their websites and other publications and media, whether now known or hereafter existing, in perpetuity, without compensation.  I agree that no rights of ownership in any photos or videos are conferred on the Minor. I, for the Minor, hereby release and forever discharge the Club and the other Releasees from all claims, demands, and causes of action which the Minor, and the Minor’s estate, successors, heirs, beneficiaries, administrators, trustees, representatives, and attorneys have or may have by reason of this authorization.   

The “Ice House” shall mean, the Curling Center located at 14100 West 7^th Avenue, Golden, Colorado, owned and operated by DCC, and with respect any Building, any single room containing sheets of ice in which the sport of curling is played in such Building, which Ice House is owned and/or operated by a Club.  The Expiration Date shall mean the date which is one (1) calendar year after the date this Release is executed below.

In the case that the Minor requires urgent medical attention and I cannot be reached, I hereby authorize (i) emergency personnel and medical practitioners selected by any of the Releasees or other chaperone of the Minor, in their reasonable judgment and sole discretion, to take any and all necessary measures on behalf of the Minor and (ii) the disclosure of the information set forth below to emergency personnel and medical practitioners by any of the Releasees or other chaperone of the Minor.

I hereby revoke any and all releases of liability, waivers, and indemnifications previously executed by me I favor of any of the Releases.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Release shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Release, which shall remain in full force and effect.  If any provisions contained in this Release is found to be unenforceable by reason of the extent, duration or scope thereof, or otherwise, then the court making such determination shall have the right to reduce such extent, duration, scope or other provision so that in its reduced form any such restriction shall thereafter be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

BEFORE SIGNING BELOW, I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS PARTICIPANT RELEASE AND TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY AS TO ITS SIGNIFICANCE. BY SIGNING BELOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM WAIVING SIGNIFICANT RIGHTS. I UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THIS PARTICIPANT RELEASE AND THE RIGHTS I AM WAIVING. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, I HAVE CHOSEN, OF MY OWN FREE WILL, TO EXECUTE THIS PARTICIPANT RELEASE.