ARENA NATIONALS UPDATE
Photos: Bob Weder
The USA Curling Arena Working Group is developing material to help clubs that play in arena settings. This volunteer group has done amazing work already, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with members on our content platform shortly.
In our conversations with the Arena Club Working Group, we also have identified a section in our event eligibility rules for the Arena National Championships that requires greater clarity.
This relates to the number of games played on dedicated ice during the calendar year of the national championships. Previously, there was no reference to calendar year. The Event Eligibility will now read as follows, with the change shown in Bold:
Event Eligibility: U.S. citizenship or residency is required—there is no minimum residency time period. In addition to the USA Curling membership requirements in Section II, all team members must be dues-paying, league-playing members of the same USA Curling Arena Curling club. Team members cannot curl regularly in a league or leagues at a dedicated ice facility and cannot serve as a substitute in more than ten league games at any dedicated ice clubs in the calendar year of the championship. Curling in bonspiels at dedicated ice clubs does not affect event eligibility. Delivery of the stone with a stick device will be allowed. Wheelchair curlers are allowed to compete but must adhere to USA Curling’s wheelchair Curling rules. (See section R13)
With this adjustment, to allow Arena National Participants to actively play in no more than ten league games at any dedicated ice club in the calendar year of the championship, the group believes the change will prevent seasoned curlers from being excluded from National Championship participation.
We’re excited for the 2023 USA Curling Arena National Championships, and look forward to delivering a great event at Curl Mesabi in Eveleth, MN, from November 9-12, 2023.
