Curling Investigates Shorter Games -- Federation Focus

(ATR) The World Curling Federation releases the findings of a survey of its athletes on topics pertaining to the length of the games.

The results of the survey, which was completed by 290 curlers from 46 member associations during May and June, is part of the WCF’s Maximising the Value project designed "to understand the views of its vital stakeholders".

The survey primarily set out to gauge elite athletes’ views on the number of ends played in games at World Curling Championships and the Olympic Winter Games. Currently, ten ends are standard at these events.

The sample size for the survey ensured that the majority of respondents had played in competitive matches under both eight and ten end rules.

Respondents were split almost down the middle when asked if ten ends were appropriate for championships, with 51 percent either strongly agreeing or agreeing. The numbers in favor went up to 65 percent when asked about eight ends being appropriate. The support for ten ends was less (44 percent) among those curlers who had competed only in the last eight years, with that group also being slightly more in favor (67 percent) of eight ends than the entire group of respondents.

When asked if longer games – ten ends – "enables the most athletic and talented teams a greater chance of success", 60 percent of all respondents strongly agreed or agreed. Those numbers were only slightly less (57 percent) among those who have only been competing for the last eight years.

Far more men (73 percent) than women (40 percent) believe that longer games provide a greater chance for the better team to win. Eight ends also received more support among women (70 percent) than men (64 percent).

Among other findings, responses showed a clear majority – 84 percent – of athletes in favor of the current system of thinking time per game – which allows athletes to have more control over how they manage their time. When asked about shortening the time allocation, 77 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed.

In a series of questions tied to coaching interaction with the players, a majority were in favor of coaches being able to call a time-out. There was also a clear majority against coach interaction at any time, while there was some disagreement over whether to allow interaction between coaches and players between every end. Currently, only the players can call for a time-out. Each team is allowed one per game and an additional one after each extra end.

"Understanding all the varying opinions regarding the pace and length of games, and the implications of any changes, is a priority for the future of our sport. It is important that we start the process, hearing the views of all our stakeholders, beginning with the athletes," World Curling Federation President, Kate Caithness, said in a statement.

The World Curling Athlete Commission will take the findings to the World Curling Federation Board and Competitions and Rules Commission to determine the implications of the results.

Beach Volleyball World Tour Schedule Unveiled

The 2019-2020 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar features 42 events, including the tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) unveiled the schedule on Thursday. The season actually began at the beginning of October in Bandar Torkaman, Iran. The next stop is Qinzhou, China from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.

The 2019-2020 calendar includes Beach Volleyball Major Series events in Gstaad, Vienna and Hamburg, as well as a 5-star tournament in Rome in June that will define the final Olympic Ranking towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The calendar also includes new events in Laos, Cambodia, Israel, Korea, the Cook Islands, Guam, Iran and China, as the World Tour prepares to visit all five continents for a total prize purse of $6.56 million. The 2019-2020 season ends in August.

WBSC Reveals Premier12 Rosters

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) published the 28-man rosters of the 12 countries competing in next month’s WBSC Premier12®, the top international baseball tournament of the year and Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifier.

The 12 highest-ranked baseball nations and territories in the world -- No. 1 Japan, No. 2 USA, No. 3 Korea, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Cuba, No. 6 Mexico, No. 7 Australia, No. 8 Netherlands, No. 9 Venezuela, No. 10 Canada, No. 11 Puerto Rico and No 12 Dominican Republic – will feature athletes who have experience in the top professional baseball leagues throughout the world.

The rosters for all the teams can be found here.

WBSC tournament regulations allow teams to make up to eight substitutions to their rosters prior to their first game. All players/citizens are eligible to compete on their respective National Team, subject to the agreement of the respective leagues/clubs.

Team USA announced a change in manager on Wednesday. Joe Girardi, who was named to the position in August, has stepped down as he pursues one of the open managerial positions in Major League Baseball. Current USA Baseball Senior Director of Player Development Scott Brosius replaces him.

The 2019 WBSC Premier12 will award two tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in addition to $5.2 million in prize money.

Written by Gerard Farek

For general comments or questions,click here.

Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.