Curl for Kids program offers lifelong benefits
This fall, one local sports organization is encouraging children to play with rocks.
From October to March, Curl Regina will be continuing its popular Curl for Kids program, which targets students from Grade 5 through Grade 8. Offered through the Callie Curling Club, Tartan Curling Club and Highland Curling Club, the program provides children with a true introduction to the game.
“It’s really about bridging the gap between learning the sport in school and keeping kids active in the sport,” said Larisa Murray, a junior coordinator for Curl Regina. “In a school setting, they usually get four on-ice sessions. Through this program, they’re exposed to curling for a 16- to 18-week season. We teach them the general rules of curling. They’ll learn the basics of delivery, slides, how to sweep and how to work together with other curlers. We teach them how the game is run and how we keep score. At the end, each club does a wind-up, such as hosting a bonspiel.”
According to Murray, children don’t need to be familiar with curling to take part in the Curl for Kids program. She said they see a wide range of participants every year.
“There are some kids who start as early as five years old in Fun Curl, which progresses to Curl for Kids, but some children also enroll who have never hit the ice before,” Murray said. “There might be some kids who have seen curling on TV and maybe learned a little bit through school and want to become more involved.”
The ultimate goal of the program, Murray said, is to teach children the fundamentals of curling so they can be successful and feel confident in joining a youth league and continuing on with the sport as they enter their earlier adulthood. Starting young, she said, opens the doors to a lifetime of enjoyment.
“Curling is really a lifelong sport,” Murray said. “The sport is accessible for all athletes and it’s inclusive because it allows men and women to play on the same team. There’s no barrier to getting involved. It’s our official sport in Saskatchewan, so obviously we have a lot of great curlers in the province. We’ve got people in their 90s still curling.”
Murray can personally attest to the value of starting curling at a young age. Growing up in Gainsborough, she began curling at the age of eight. Murray, who majored in Recreation and Sports Administration at university, continues to curl into her 30s.
“One of the reasons I got involved in curling was because one of my teachers in school took us to the rink for more than four sessions because she loved the sport,” Murray said. “This was super fundamental to me. In a small town you didn’t have tons of opportunities, but we had a rink. I was there all the time.”
The program costs $155, though a prorated price is offered for those who join during the season. Fee assistance is available through Regina KidSport. The days and times of the sessions vary by curling club. For more information or to register, visit