Vision Impaired Curling
Curler trying out sight loss simulation glasses
What is Vision Impaired (VI) Curling?
Though many may assume that it would be near impossible to curl with a vision impairment, it has proved to be a sport that can be enjoyed by many. Vision Impaired Curling is a fast-growing discipline throughout the world’s curling nations.
Have you stopped curling because of deteriorating sight but would like to participate again? Do you have a vision impairment and are interested in trying a new activity? Are you interested in introducing Vision Impaired Curling to your area or undertaking the Coaching Vision Impaired Curling Coaching Module? If so, we would like to hear from you!
Benefits
Fun, fitness, friendship, communication and teamwork are developed as you get to grips with curling in a supportive environment.
How to get started
No special equipment is required to get started. Just wear warm clothes and bring a clean pair of shoes to change into. Delivery sticks are available for those who might find the traditional sliding delivery difficult, and wheelchair curling is also popular. The ice is less slippy than ice on a frozen puddle or a skating rink as it has a special finish called ‘pebble’; this gives the stones their characteristic curl. Special grippy overshoes are also available at the rink for extra confidence.
There is currently one dedicated club for Curlers with a vision impairment, The VICKs (Vision Impaired Curlers, Kinross). Dottie Burt and the team at Kinross have been instrumental in promoting Vision Impaired Curling in Scotland. Some young people from Uddingston Grammar with vision impairment enjoy curling at Hamilton Ice Rink and a couple of other multi-disability clubs cater for members with a wide range of impairments/disabilities. They are Scottish Disability Golf and Curling Club and the Kirkcaldy Inclusive Curling Group. Inclusive Curling sessions are held regularly at the Peak in Stirling. For information see the Peak website here for further information.
There are 22 curling rinks in Scotland where you can curl. Sign up for a general try curling session here (let the coach know when booking you have a VI). That website also has some information about the basics of curling, what to wear and what to expect. Alternatively, if you have a group of people interested, contact your local rink to arrange a special session.
When you start, the coach will take the time to explain the game, show you around the rink and let you become used to the ice and introduce the techniques to you gradually, letting you learn to throw the stones and practice before starting to play games.
How to develop your game
Curling is played at every level of ability. Fun leagues have complete beginners and people playing for the social side of the game. This is a great place to learn how to curl. As you improve, you may want to play in leagues that will test your skills. Scottish Curling runs regular courses on tactics and other topics of interest. The CUrlability Bonspiel has been running for 3 years in February and is open to curlers with any disability. Each year, several VI curlers have taken part, from those with many years experience to those with only a couple of sessions under their belt.
Take it further – competing
There is currently no Paralympic pathway for VI Curling so curlers can play in sighted clubs and leagues to progress their game. It is hoped that in the future, with enough players, games may played against other countries. With more vision-impaired curlers, we can begin to build up a competition structure and pathway.
Coach resources
An e-learning course on how to coach people with a Vision Impairment is available from UK Coaching here. The cost is £20 but a free demo is available to see if it is suitable for you.
A booklet called a Guide to Vision Impaired Friendly Sport is available from the British Blind Sport Website here
All coaching course information and dates can be found in the course brochure on this page. To become a qualified coach, you must do the Scottish Curling Level 1 Coaching course. Assistance may be available for disabled volunteers in the 20/21 season, contact the office for further information.
Disability Inclusion Training is currently being offered by Scottish Disability Sport. A Curling specific course is available if there is sufficient demand. For details of current courses on offer from SDS see here.
Videos
A video about VI curling produced in Canada is available here. Watch or listen some Discover Curling videos from the WCF with hints and tips on how to deliver stones. Also on that page is a downloadable Discover Curling Manual.
History of VI curling
In October 2010 we were privileged to host the first International Conference on Vision Impaired Curling. We were delighted that 3 delegates made the long trip from Canada to attend the Conference and share their knowledge with us. It has been established in Canada for over 30 years and it has many clubs throughout the country. The Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championships is held annually and in 2011 seven teams participated representing 6 different provinces. Some information about VI curling in Canada is available here.
In the 2017/18 season, a new course for coaches was developed and run by Scottish Curling to try to increase the number of coaches with the skills and confidence to coach curlers with a vision impairment.
Also in Season 2017/18, the Disabled Golf and Curling Club welcomed a group of Canadians with a vision impairment for a tour. The curlers played several games against various clubs throughout the country and some good links have been made.
In January 2024 Scottish Curling were delighted to take part in British Blind Sport’s ‘Have A Go’ Day at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. This was the first outing of our Express Street Rink. We were one of five sports alongside athletics, tennis, goalball, and judo. Around 40 participants with visual impairments took part, with children and adults. People love both the Express Street Rink and the curling, with everyone wanting to have a go, from parents to the other coaches! We even had a kids vs parents competition….and the kids won on the final shot.
