The Team

A curling team is sometimes called a rink and consists of four players.  The skip is the team captain.  He/she sets the overall strategy, calls for specific shots, interprets the ice conditions and throws his/her team's last two rocks in each end.  A skip should be adept at all types of shots as well as making lemonade from his/her teammates' lemons.  The vice-skip, or third, holds the broom while the skip delivers his/her stones, assists the skip in reading the ice conditions and throws rocks number five and six.  The second throws stones number three and four and should be a powerful sweeper.  The lead throws his/her team's first two rocks in each end, setting the tone for how the end will play out.