Are there volunteer opportunities?

A volunteer could run the activity with little formal training. Alongside setting up and structuring teams, and encouraging individuals to take part, volunteers could:

  • Collect money at the beginning of the class and take registration
  • Welcome new participants to the sessions
  • Help publicise the club by delivering leaflets
  • Establish links with other local groups that play on a semi-competitive basis to form a league

What are the potential costs?

  • New Age Kurling Kit – approximate cost £250
  • Venue hire – costs vary but it is estimated at about £15 per hour
  • Helper/assistant – for less-able groups, an activity organiser is essential. This role could be fulfilled by a volunteer or paid assistant
  • Refreshments, if incorporated in the session
  • Publicity materials
  • As membership grows and if the venue permits, a second kit may need to be purchased so that two groups can play simultaneously.

A charge to cover these costs is recommended to make the sessions sustainable.

Contacts

Great Britain Kurling Association

Equipment can be purchased from

For further information in your local area

Age UK Northallerton - Tel: 01609 771624

Hambleton District Council – Tel: 01609 767149

Age UK North Yorkshire is a Registered Charity (number 1124567) and Company Limited by Guarantee (number 6456185). Registered Office: 9 North Park Road, Harrogate, HG1 5PD. 04/14

HOW TO RUN A

NEWAGE KURLING CLUB


Brief details of the activity

New Age Kurling is a social activity that is easy to play.

  • Two teams take turns to push a weighted plastic stone (with ball bearings on the bottom) towards a circular target, either with a pusher or by hand. There is a team with red stones and a team with blue stones.
  • The teams take turns and push their stone towards the target mat. When all stones have been played, whoever is closest to the bullseye on the target wins that ‘end’.
  • The ‘end’ is then complete and the game restarts with another ‘end’.
  • You can play as many ‘ends’ as required, or determine a set number of‘ends’ if a mini tournament is taking place.

Who is New Age Kurling targeted at?

New Age Kurling can be played by anyone. Some of the most successful groups include those with members of varying ages, including those who are over 90 years old, as well as groups that take place in care settings. Since the rules can be adapted, it is an activity well suited as therapy, and can aid groups concerned with people who have various forms of dementia, stroke or physical disabilities.

It is also well suited for active retirement groups or day centres, since a volunteer or activity organiser can easily pick up enough skills from the game to encourage other participants to get involved. As a sport that is delivered in schools, it could also work well as an intergenerational activity.

What are the rules?

Scoring can be done in a number of ways as long as it is consistent. For most groups the appeal is the simplicity and flexibility of the activity and the non-serious approach.

Experience has shown that it is best not to go into detail about scoring or tactics when developing a taster session for a new group. The objective is simply to encourage them to have a go.

Rules for groups wishing to play competitively can be obtained from the Secretary of the Great Britain Kurling Association at

Are there professional requirements?

  • The activity does not require specialist instructors. However, there are different levels of training available through the national governing body, GB Kurling Association, aimed at people wishing to become a recognised coach for competitive playing.
  • There is also a New Age Kurling Skills Awards scheme, if groups wish to work to these see more information.
  • Instructors must have valid public liability insurance
  • The venue must have public liability insurance in place
  • Instructors must hold an appropriate first aid certificate

Are there environmental/space requirements?

It is normally played indoors in any large room with a hard floor or thin carpet. It is therefore suitable for community centres, village halls and sheltered housing groups.

What equipment is needed?

  • New Age Kurling Kit – consists of eight stones in a padded carrying bag: four red, four blue
  • Pushers – long, very light aluminium poles with plastic head to enable participation
  • Target mats

Optional extras:

  • Kurling ramps for use with wheelchair users
  • Scorecards and scoreboards
  • Additional targets