This content is intended to answer common questions from those new to curling and also from experienced curlers who are new to the Barrie Curling Club. If you do not see the information that you are looking for, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Questions you might have:
- What is Curling? (a brief, slightly humourous introduction)
- Why Curling?
- How to choose a league (or leagues)
- What are the fees?
- How do I pay? Installment payments?
- How can I Learn to Curl?
- How long Is the curling season? When does curling start?
- Do I have to curl every week?
- How does the Spares List work?
- Do I curl with the same team for the entire season?
- How are teams selected? Can I be on a team with my friends?
- When can I practice?
- Bonspiels
How to choose a league (or leagues)
Start by looking at the League Information page on our website. This page has a graphical summary of our weekly league schedule (a bit like a class schedule from high school). Likely the first step for you will be to find leagues that fit into your schedule. To learn more information about a specific league, scroll down the page and find the league you are interested in. Click on the "+" to expand the league description. The league description generally includes:
- Eligibility requirements such as age.
- Competitive level of the league. Leagues are rated Recreational/ Competitive/ Very Competitive.
- Suitability of the league for newer curlers.
- Registration requirements such as team registration.
As part of the sign-up (registration process), you can specify what position you want to play. If you are a newer curler, you can indicate that you want to play lead (throw the first two rocks), or second (throw the next two rocks). Lead and second players generally are called upon for less difficult shots.
If you want to discuss league selection or have other questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give us a call at 705-726-1351, option 1.
What are the fees?
The Membership & Fees page outlines curling fees. Fees are determined by two factors:
- How often you curl - the BCC has one set of fees for once-a-week curlers and one set of fees for curlers who curl more than once-a-week (unlimited curling).
- Your age - There are different fees for Juniors (under 20), adults under 30, adults aged 30 to 59, and adults 60 and over.
Several leagues have reduced fees if you curl only in that league (once a week curling). These fees are less because the league plays fewer games or the games are shorter.
Unlimited curling memberships allow you to curl in as many leagues as you want. We have members who consistently curl every day of the week. Unlimited memberships do not include entrance fees for bonspiels or special events.
How do I pay? Can I pay in installments?
The Barrie Curling Club accepts the following methods of payment:
- On-line by Visa or Mastercard credit card
- In-person at the BCC by Visa or Mastercard credit card
- E-transfer (to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- By cheque - drop off at the BCC or send by mail (175 Essa Road, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 3L2
In additional to the methods of payment, the BCC also offers two payment options:
- Payment in full at the time of registration.
- Installments - 50% at the time of registration, 50% by December 1. Members not paid in full by December 1 will not be able to curl after December 1.
How can I Learn to Curl?
The Barrie Curling Club offers an excellent Learn to Curl Program. These beginner-friendly classes will teach you the basics in a relaxed, welcoming environment—no experience or equipment required (other than of running shoes or similar soft-soled, flexible indoor shoes) (helmets are also strongly recommended). Join as an individual or encourage your friends to sign up too.
For fall 2025, the Barrie Curling Club will be offering the following Learn to Curl programs:
Adult Learn to Curl Fall 2025 - Saturday, October 18th, 9:00 a.m. to noon
You can also join the mailing list to receive updates on future instructional events where you can learn to curl.
Learn to Curl graduates typically follow one of following paths to join league play:
- Complete the Tuesday/ Thursday or the Saturday Learn to Curl and join league play at the start of the curling season (for 2025, league play starts October 14th).
- Complete the 6 Sundays program and then join the Development League which starts play the week after at the same time each Sunday.
- Register for one or more leagues and sign-up for Learn to Curl. Start league play on October 14 and attend Learn to Curl in parallel.
In recreational curling leagues the league convenors (organizers) will create teams composed of veterans and new curlers where possible. Veteran curlers in recreational leagues are expected to help new curlers improve their game.
How long Is the curling season? When does curling start?
For the 2025-2026 season, league play starts October 14th. Play-offs and the Tournament of Champions end April 12th, 2026.
Do I have to curl every week?
Attendance expectations vary by the type of league (see League Information for a listing of the different leagues):
- Jitney: teams are created from whomever comes that day to curl. There is no requirement to show up every week.
- CYO (Choose Your Own): if you cannot attend, you are expected to find a spare. If you want to join a CYO team but cannot commit to curling most/ all weeks, consider joining a team as a 5th or 6th player.
- Doubles: doubles players are strongly expected to find spares if they cannot play because a doubles team cannot play if it is one curler short.
- Other leagues: curlers are expected to find spares.
If you are not able to attend most/ all games in a league due to other commitments, consider signing up as a spare for that league.
How Does the Spares List work?
For all leagues except Jitney leagues, curlers are expected to find a substitute player (spare) if they cannot play. One source of substitute curlers is the Spares List. For each league (except Jitney leagues), a list of curlers who may be available to spare can be found on the Barrie Curling website. Many spares specify the position(s) that they want to play. You can contact all spares (or selected spares) by e-mail from the website spares list. Some spares also provide their cell #.
The Spares List is also a great way to get in more curling. If there are days or evenings that you might want to curl, you can add yourself to the spares list for the applicable leagues. if you are contacted and are not available, reply to the curler looking for a spare that you are not available.
The Spares Lists can be accessed after logging into the Barrie Curling Club website.
Do I curl with the same team for the entire season?
At Barrie Curling, the curling season is divided into three draws. Each draw is a set of games (approximately 7). The first draw ends mid-December; second draw ends in February; third draw ends in early April.
Whether or not you curl with the same team for the season depends on the type of league (refer to League Information for a listing of the different leagues):
- Jitney: new team every week
- Skip's Picks: new team every draw
- Social: new team every draw
- CYO: same team for the season
- Doubles: same team for the season
How are teams selected? Can I be on a team with my friends (or significant other)?
How the teams are selected varies by the type of league (refer to League Information for a listing of the different leagues):
- Jitney: Teams are randomly selected each week. You and a friend might be assigned to the same team, but the process is random. Curlers specify the position that they want to play at time of registration.
- Skip's Picks: At the start of each draw the skips (like a team captain) select their teams using a draft process. The draft order is randomly selected. Curlers specify the position that they want to play at time of registration.
- Social: At registration, curlers specify the position(s) that they want to play and one person that they want to curl with. At the start of each draw, the league convenor (organizer) determines teams, taking into account the information provided at registration (desired position, person you want to curl with).
- CYO (Choose Your Own): Each team determines all team members. If individuals without a team want to play in a CYO league, the league convenor will try to find a team that needs players.
- Doubles: At registration, curlers specify the other person on their Doubles team.
Some leagues have minor variations on the processes outlined above. Check the league description on the League Information page.
When can I practice?
While you can practice your sliding before a game, throwing a few practice shots before the game is not permitted. Practice ice is available Monday through Thursday starting at 1:30 p.m. This practice ice is provided on a first-come-first-served basis at no charge to Barrie Curling members. Check the Practice Times page for specific schedules as ice availability may change due to maintenance.
New for 2025-2026: Practice ice will be available at other times during the day, evening, and weekends. Stay tuned for more details including how to book these practice times.
Bonspiels
In its simplest form, a Bonspiel is a curling tournament. Some bonspiels are one day while others are over a weekend or across multiple days. Teams play multiple games each day. Some curling bonspiels involve four person teams while others are Doubles bonspiels or Triples. Games can be 6 or 8 end games. While most bonspiels following the traditional curling format, more innovative bonspiel formats include:
- Progression CurlingTM where teams play a single end and then winners move up a sheet while non-winners stay on the same sheet.
- Cash Spiels where teams compete for cash prizes, usually with the prizes increasing in later ends of a game.
- Fun Spiels where score is not tracked.
Most bonspiels are, however, much more than the curling. Barrie Curling bonspiels are events where the food and the social aspects are as important as the game. Many Barrie Curling bonspiels have a theme. Popular Barrie bonspiels include the Turkey Spiel, Beef & Beer, Sweeps & Swings (Curling and Golf on the same day), the Harry Armstrong (Senior Men), and the Mary Lynne Gray Memorial Women's Bonspiel. Bonspiels usually attract curlers from other rinks and Barrie curlers frequently make the trip to other clubs for bonspiels.
Curling Etiquette
