We use Curling Canada rules of curling for general play. You may download a pdf version online at Rules of Curling
- All games have a maximum of eight ends, or until the team with the lower score concedes, or time prevents starting a new end.
- The intent of the game is to finish eight ends in the time allowed. The first rock of each end needs to be played on the quarter hour in order to keep pace.
- No end may start after 11:03am for a 9:15am start time or after 2:48pm for a 1pm start time. The time is checked when the skip's final rock comes to rest.
- The lead for the team scoring in the previous end will NOT assist in clearing the near end but immediately prepare to throw the first rock.
- Five rock rule: An opponent’s rock in the Free Guard Zone may be moved but not removed until delivering the sixth stone in each end. (12.2)
- Hog line rule: Rocks must be clearly released before the front of the stone touches the near edge of the near hog line. (8.4)
- Touched Moving Stone rules (touched between hog lines) (9.3):
- If touched by delivering team, stone is immediately removed. If touched by opposition or external force, stone is stopped and stone is thrown again.
- Touched Moving Stone rules (if over far hog line) (applies to thrown & raised stones) (9,4):
- All stones are first allowed to come to rest. Any moving stone touched shall be treated as a Touched Stone. Any moving stone touched by both teams shall be treated as if only touched by the last team to touch stone.
- If touched by own team, non-offending team chooses to a) remove touched stone and return stones to previous position; OR b) Leave all stones where resting; OR c) Place stones where they would rest if stone not touched.
- If touched by opposition, non-offending team places stones where they would rest if stone not touched.
- If touched by external force (from another sheet), place stones where they would rest if stone not touched, OR return stones to previous position and stone is thrown again.
- If touched by deflection off bumper, non-delivering team places stones where they would rest if stone not touched.
- No stone may be swept until it is set in motion. (11,2)
- For the first five stones of an end, two players of the non-delivering team may sweep their own raised rocks before the tee line. (11.3)
- For the last seven rocks of an end only the skip or vice of the non-delivering team may sweep their own raised rocks. (11.4)
- An opponent’s moving stone may be swept when an edge of the stone touches the far tee line and sweeping only takes place behind that tee line (11.7).
- When using a delivery stick, players must start in the hack or the stone must touch the centre line. (17.6)
Legal team definition
To play an official game, you must have a legal team. If a legal team is not present within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, the team will default the game for zero points. Borrowing or co-opting a player from the opposing team does not qualify as a Spare, even if a game is played.
A legal team is defined as follows:
- 3 or 4 team members
- 3 team members plus one spare
- 2 team members plus one or two spares
Jitney to Start Season
- For the first game of the season a Jitney format will be played. This game is optional with teams being selected the day of the Jitney. Please come 30 minutes before start time to pick position and team.
Schedule
- The season is broken into three or more rounds so curlers may socialize with as many members as possible.
- Teams are picked randomly before the beginning of each round.
- Teams are selected with the intent that members curl with different members from one round to the next.
Number of Teams
- The league can accommodate up to 56 curlers in each event. If there are 56 curlers, there will be 14 teams.
- The league will publish the names of curlers willing to spare.
- Players wanting to spare can be found on the Club website, under the League page & the SUBS tab.
- If required, games may be scheduled at a different time on the same day.
Throw off
- As a tie-breaker for standings in the round, teams throw five rocks after the first game played in each round. No deferral if playing with a spare player.
- Teams not participating will score zero.
- The winning team throws first. Sweeping is allowed.
- Rocks shall be thrown in the order of: lead, second, vice & skip in the same order as played in the game just completed.
- Lead, second, & vice throw one rock each. If the team only has three curlers, the lead throws two rocks. The skip throws two rocks. The skip’s second rock counts double.
- The rocks are left in place until all five of the team's rocks are thrown & counted.
- The center of the 2 foot circle is “the pin”. Touch Pin=9, Full Two=8, Touch Two=7, Full Four=6, Touch Four=5, Full Eight=4, Touch Eight=3, Full Twelve=2. Touch Twelve=1.
Scoring for Standings
- Winning team will receive three points, defeated team will receive one point.
- Both teams tying will receive two points.
- Teams that default will receive zero points & the winning team will receive three points.
Prizes and Resolving ties in Standings
- There are prizes for the winning teams from each round.
- For Leagues with one Division, the top two teams receive a prize. For Leagues with two Divisions, the top team in each Division receives a prize.
Ties in the standings for a Round are decided in the following order:
- If there is a tie in the standings for two teams, the result of the head to head game is used, unless tied.
- If there is a tie for three teams & one team defeated both the other teams, the winning team is selected.
- In all other cases, the team scores from the throw off for that round will be used.
- If the throw off is tied between the top two teams, and the teams are in a league with one Division, the total prize money for first and second place shall be evenly split between the two teams. Otherwise a public coin toss shall be held to determine placement, allowing the coin to fall to the floor.
Concussion Awareness
- It does not take much to cause a fall on the ice. It is recommended that you wear some form of head protection.
- The club has a number of options for sale. There are visors, toques, helmets, headbands & caps.
- The Province of Ontario has implemented Rowan's Law to highlight the need for concussion awareness. Learn more about Rowan's Law.
