 1. Interpretation
2. Application
3. Rink
4. Stones
5. Teams
6. Skips
7. Positions of players
8. Delivery
9. Sweeping
10. Touched running stones
11. Displaced stationary stones
12. Scoring
13. Umpire
14. Chief Umpire
15. General
16. Doping
17. Smoking
18. Foul or abusive language
19. Warm-up period
20. Postponement
21. Free guard zone
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1. Interpretation:
In these rules, umpires' rulings, and other official documents of the Federation and its
officers:
(a) "competition" means a playdown by any number of teams playing games to determine a
winner;
(b) "end" means that part of a game in which the two opposing teams each deliver eight
stones alternately and then determine the score;
(c) where five (5) players are registered, these five (5) players have equal standing and
may be used at any time in accordance with the rules, at the discretion of the Skip or
Coach;
(d) "Federation" means the World Curling Federation;
(e) "game" means play between two teams to determine a winner;
(f) "house" means the area within the outside circle at each end of the rink;
(g) "match" means play between two or more teams on one side against an equal number of
teams on the other side to determine a winning side by the total number of shots or
games;
(h) "rink" means an area of ice marked in accordance with Rule 3.
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2. Application:
These rules apply to games:
(a) within the jurisdiction of the Federation; or
(b) to which they have been made applicable by the curling body having jurisdiction.
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3. Rink:
(1) Where possible, the rink shall be drawn on the ice in accordance with the diagram below:
(2) Two rubber hacks of a style and size approved by the Federation shall be placed on the
foot line with the inside edge of each hack 7.62 cm (3 inches) from the centre line and
on opposite sides of the centre line. The length of the hack shall not exceed 20.32 cm
(8 inches). The rubber of the hack shall be attached firmly to wood or other suitable
material and the hack shall be recessed into the ice as much as is practical, but no
more than 5.04 cm (2 inches) in depth. There shall be no obstruction behind the hack
structure.
(3) The back edge of the back line shall be at the outer edge of the outer circle where the
centre line crosses the back line.
Interpretation: Because the outer markings of both the circle and back line are in fact
one, it is important that prior to the beginning of the competition, the markings on all
sheets are checked. The 6-foot measure should be exactly at the outer-most marking. If
this is not the case, all teams shall be informed of any discrepancies prior to the first
game.
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4. Stones:
(1) Curling stones shall be of circular shape.
(2) No stone, including handle and bolt, shall be of greater weight than 19.96 kilograms
(44 lbs.) or of greater circumference than 91.44 centimetres (36 inches) or of less
height than 11.43 centimetres (4.5 inches).
(3) If a stone is broken in play, a replacement stone shall be placed where the largest
fragment came to rest. The end in play and the game shall be completed using the
replacement stone.
(4) A stone that rolls over in its course or comes to rest on its side or top shall be
removed immediately from play.
(5) Where the handle of a stone quits the stone in delivery, the player is entitled to
replay the stone, if the delivering team so desires.
Interpretation: The handle must be completely separated from the stone.
(6) A stone that does not clear the farther hogline shall be removed immediately from play
except where it has struck another stone lying in play.
(7) A stone which comes to rest beyond and lying clear of the back line shall be removed
from play immediately.
(8) A stone which hits a side board or touches a side line shall be removed from play
immediately.
(9) No stone(s) shall be measured by instrument until the last stone of the end has come to
rest except by the umpire, when requested by a skip, to decide whether or not a stone is
in play.
Interpretation: If the position of the stones in the house makes it impossible to use
the 6-foot measuring device to decide whether a stone is in play at the 6 o'clock
position, the umpire shall do this visually and his decision shall be final.
(10) All sixteen stones assigned to a given sheet shall be delivered at each end unless the
players in charge of the head have agreed a score for the end or the game has been
conceded.
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5. Teams:
(1) At the start of a competition every team shall be composed of four players, each player
playing two stones and playing each stone alternately with his opponent. Where five
players are registered, these five players have equal standing and may be used at any
time, in accordance with the rules, at the discretion of the skip or coach.
(2) No player shall use footwear or equipment that may damage the surface of the ice.
Interpretation: Any equipment which may possibly come into contact with the ice surface
may be inspected by the Chief Umpire of the competition and rejected if that official
feels that such equipment is either faulty or is being used in a manner to provide an
unfair advantage (examples - faulty slider, extremely dry corn broom, shedding brush,
etc.)
(3) The rotation of play stated on the line-up card shall be observed throughout the game.
Interpretation: The rotation of throwing by team members shall be submitted to the Chief
Umpire on the line-up card at the team meeting prior to the beginning of the competition.
The skip and the vice skip selected under 6 (3) shall be designated on this card and the
substitute player, if appropriate, shall be listed. Should there be any change, a new card
shall be submitted to the Chief Umpire at least 30 minutes prior to the game in which the
change is occurring.
(4) Where a player is unable to continue to play in a game, or to play at the start of a game,
his skip may:
(a) finish the game then in progress and start any subsequent game with the remaining
players, in which case the first two players shall throw three stones each; or
(b) bring in a qualified substitute for the game then in progress at the beginning of the
next end, or at the start of any subsequent game.
Interpretation: A qualified substitute is a person from that country who meets the
criteria for that competition. Any substitute must play in the position of the
replaced player when entering a game in progress;
(c) commence the game with three players if one player is late for a reason adjudged
valid by the umpire. The late player may enter the game in the next end, in his
normal position.
(5) A player who has left a game because of illness, accident or other extenuating
circumstances may rejoin his team at any time during any game in the competition. If a
substitute was selected, the player may rejoin his team for the next game.
(6) No team shall play more than one substitute in a competition.
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6. Skips:
(1) The skip has the exclusive direction of the game for his team.
(2) Subject to Rule 5 (3), the skip may play in any position in his team that he chooses.
(3) When it is the skip's turn to play the vice skip designated on the line-up card shall
take charge of the head.
Interpretation: The vice skip, as designated on the line-up card, shall be the only
player beside the skip allowed in the house when the opposition is throwing.
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7. Positions of players:
(1) Only skips and vice skips in charge of the house for the time being may stand within
the house and the skip of the playing team has the choice of place and shall not be
obstructed by the other skip, but behind the tee line the privileges of both in regard
to sweeping are equal.
(2) The players, other than the skip and vice skip, shall not stand behind the house, but
shall place themselves along the side of the rink between the hog lines, except when
sweeping or about to deliver a stone.
Interpretation: Non-delivering team members shall not take a position or cause such
motion that would obstruct, interfere with or distract the delivering team. The umpire
shall not allow any action that could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate an
opponent.
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8. Delivery:
(1) Right-handed players shall play from the hack on the left of the centre line and left-
handed players from the hack on the right of the centre line. Any stone delivered from
the wrong hack shall be removed from play immediately.
(2) In the delivery of the stone, the stone shall be clearly released from the hand before
the stone reaches the nearer hog line. If the player fails to so release the stone, it
shall be removed from play immediately by the playing team. If the stone has struck
another stone, the played stone shall be removed from play by the playing team and any
displaced stone shall be replaced as nearly as possible where it originally lay to the
satisfaction of the opposing skip.
Interpretation: Clearly released means that not only must the player release the stone,
he must also ensure that his hand does not prevent the umpire from seeing that the stone
is released.
(3) The following hog-line violation procedures shall be applied:
(a) The first warning shall be considered the instruction given by the Chief Umpire at
the Pre-Event Meeting.
(b) any infraction occurring subsequently during play shall result in the stone being
removed by the team at the instruction of the umpire.
Interpretation : All hog-line violated stones shall be removed and any displaced
stones shall be repositioned. Benefit to either team is not a factor.
(4) A stone that has not been released from the player's hand and that has not reached the
nearer tee line may be returned to the hack and re-delivered.
(5) Each player shall be ready to deliver his stone when his turn comes, and shall not take
an unreasonable time to play. Where the Chief Umpire considers that play is unnecessarily
slow, he shall notify the skip of the team at fault that if their next stone is not
delivered within 30 seconds from the time he gives a signal, he will order the stone to
be removed from play immediately.
Interpretation: The lead and second shall be ready to deliver their stones whenever it
is their turn to throw. If the third or skip has not moved towards the throwing end at
two minutes, the skip shall then be informed that his player has 30 seconds to throw the
stone.
(6) Where a player delivers a stone belonging to the opposing team, a stone belonging to his
team shall be put in its place.
(7) Where a player delivers a stone out of proper rotation, it shall be removed from play
immediately by the playing team and returned to the player to be delivered in proper
rotation, but when the mistake is not discovered until after the stone has come to rest
or struck another stone, the end shall be continued as if the mistake had not occurred,
and the missed stone shall be delivered by the player missing his turn as the last stone
for his team in that end.
(8) Where the skips agree that a stone has been missed but are unable to agree as to which
player missed his turn, the lead of the team that made the mistake shall play the last
stone for his team in that end.
(9) Where two stones of a team are delivered in succession in the same end, the opposing
skip shall remove the stone played by mistake, replace to his satisfaction any stone
displaced by the stone played by mistake, and continue the end as if the mistake had
not occurred, and the player who delivered the stone played by mistake shall re-deliver
it as the last stone for his team in the end.
Interpretation: Should the infraction not be discovered until after further stones have
been played, the end shall be replayed.
(10) Where a player delivers three stones in one end, the end shall be continued as if the
mistake had not occurred and the fourth player of the team that made the mistake shall
deliver one stone only in that end.
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9. Sweeping:
(1) Between the tee lines, a running stone, or stone(s) set in motion by a running stone,
may be swept by any one or more of the team to which it belongs.
Interpretation: Any stone in motion is a running stone. A stationary stone must be set
in motion before it can be swept.
(2) Between the tee lines, no player shall sweep an opponent's stone.
(3) Behind the tee line, if the delivering team's choice is not to sweep, they shall not
obstruct or prevent the opponent from sweeping the stone.
(4) Behind the tee line, only one player from each team may sweep at any one time. This may be
the skip or vice skip from either team. Only the player in charge of the house shall be
allowed to sweep behind the tee line, and shall not start to sweep an opponent's stone
before the stone reaches the line.
Interpretation: (a) The vice skip does not assume charge of the house until the skip
leaves to throw his first stone, and then remains in charge.
(b) If the skip throws other than fourth stones, he shall resume control
of the house when his second stone, and any other stone whose movement
has been generated by that stone, has come to rest.
(5) (a) The sweeping motion, which shall be from side to side, shall leave no debris in front
of the running stone and shall finish to either side of the stone.
(b) The sweepers and their equipment must be seen to be clear of the stone at all times.
Penalty: If a team draws an infraction and the stone involved is their own, it shall be
removed from play at the discretion of the umpire. However, if the stone involved belongs
to the opposition, the umpire shall direct the repositioning of the stone to where he
considers it would have come to rest had it not been infringed. If, in the opinion of the
non-offending skip, repositioning of the stone would benefit the offending team, it may be
left where it came to rest.
(6) At the start of each game, each player shall decide which broom or brush he/she will use
for sweeping purposes during the game and only that broom or brush may be used for
sweeping by the player during that game. If the broom or brush becomes unfit for further
use during the game it shall be replaced by the same type of broom or brush. The
replacement shall be inspected and approved by an umpire prior to use. Brushes may be
exchanged between players on the same team during the course of a game but a corn-broom
may not be exchanged.
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10. Touched running stones:
(1) If a running stone is touched by any of the playing team or by his equipment, the touched
stone shall be removed from play immediately by that team. However, if in the opinion of
the opposing skip, removal of the stone would be beneficial to the offending team, then
he may place the stone as nearly as possible to the position where he considers it would
have come to rest had it not been touched. He may also reposition any stone or stones
that would have been displaced had the running stone not been touched and been allowed
to continue.
Interpretation: For an opposing skip to reposition any potentially displaced stones, the
infraction must have occurred inside the hog line at the playing end.
(2) If a running stone is touched by any of the opposing team or by his equipment, the stone
shall be placed where the skip of the team to which it belongs considers it would have
come to rest if it had not been touched.
(3) If the position of any stone is altered by a touched stone, the skip opposed to the team
at fault may elect:
(a) to remove the touched stone and replace all other altered stones to the position where
he considers they originally lay; or
(b) to leave the touched stone and all altered stones where they came to rest.
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11. Displaced stationary stones:
(1) If a stone which would have altered the course of a running stone is displaced by the
playing team, the running stone shall be allowed to come to rest and may be left there or
removed from play immediately at the discretion of the opposing skip:
(a) If the running stone is removed from play then all displaced stones shall be placed
where the opposing skip considers they originally lay.
(b) If the running stone is left where it came to rest, then displaced stones shall remain
where they came to rest.
(2) A stationary stone which is displaced and has no effect on the outcome of the running
stone shall be replaced where it originally lay, by the opposing skip.
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12. Scoring:
(1) Games shall be decided by a majority of shots and a team scores one shot for each stone
that is nearer the tee than any stone of the opposing team.
(2) Every stone that is within 1.83 metres (6 feet) of the tee is eligible to be counted.
Interpretation: The 6-foot measuring device shall be the sole instrument used to determine
whether a stone is in the house, at the conclusion of the end.
(3) Measurements shall be taken from the tee to the nearest part of the stone.
Interpretation: Because a stone may vary in width, measurements may not be taken from the
outer edge of the stone.
(4) An end shall be considered as decided when the skips or vice skips in charge of the house
at the time agree upon the score for that end.
Interpretation: Should any stone(s) be displaced before agreement has been reached, the
non-offending team shall receive the benefit which may have accrued from a measurement.
Should an umpire displace a stone when measuring one of the stones involved in the
measurement, the stones shall be considered a tie.
(5) If two or more stones are so close to the tee that it is impossible to use a measuring
device to determine the scoring stone, the determination shall be made visually by the
Chief Umpire. If no decision can be made, the end shall be scored as a blank end.
(6) When a team decides to concede the game before the completion of an end, the game shall
finish only when it is the conceding team's turn to play. The score for that end shall be
determined at that time and recorded on the scoreboard. If this occurs prior to the final
end of the game, the remaining ends shall be recorded by an X on a manual scoreboard, or
a - on an electronic scoreboard.
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13. Umpire:
(1) The Umpire has the general supervision of all games to which he is assigned.
Interpretation: The Umpire shall function as directed by the Chief Umpire in accordance
with the Rules of Play.
(2) The Umpire shall determine any matter in dispute between opposing Skips, whether or not
the matter is covered in the rules.
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14. Chief Umpire:
(1) The Chief Umpire shall hear and determine appeals from decisions of Umpires. His decision
is final.
(2) Where the Chief Umpire has been so authorized, he may intervene at any time in any game
and give such directions concerning the conduct of the game as he considers proper.
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15. General:
(1) Should any situation occur which is not covered by the rules, the decision will be made
by the Umpire in accordance with fairness.
Interpretation: Example - Any outside physical interference with the delivery or the
course of a running stone shall result in the stone being replayed by the delivering team,
if so desired.
(2) In all situations involving penalties, a warning shall be issued by the Umpire at the Pre-
Event Meeting with the teams.
(3) The Pre-Event Meeting will involve all teams, the Chief Umpire and the Rules Committee
Chairman or his Designee.
Interpretation: All teams and coaches must attend the Pre-Event Meeting.
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16. Doping:
(1) The use of all performance-enhancing drugs, whether they have been taken knowingly or
otherwise, is prohibited.
(2) A competitor may be required prior to, during, or after the course of a competition, to
submit himself/herself for drug testing.
(3) A competitor found to have a positive test will be banned from further competition while
the reason for the presence of the banned substance is considered.
(4) A competitor refusing to submit to testing will be banned from further participation in
the competition.
Note: The Federation's Policy and Procedures in respect of Doping is published [in the World
Curling Federation] Handbook and is deemed to be part of this rule.
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17. Smoking:
(1) There shall be no smoking within the confines of the playing area in World Championships
or in play leading to World Championships.
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18. Foul or abusive language:
(1) In all World Championships, participating competitors are prohibited from using foul or
offensive language at any time in the playing area. Any violation may result in suspension
by the Federation of the offending player.
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19. Warm-up period:
(1) In all World Championships, a warm-up period shall be allowed for each team on the ice on
which they will be playing, immediately prior to the start of each game, in accordance
with instructions given by the Chief Umpire.
(2) Immediately prior to the warm-up for the first round robin game, a disk, light-coloured on
one side and dark on the other, or a coin, shall be tossed by an official in the presence
of a member of each team. The team winning the toss shall decide which team shall have
last stone at the first end, after which the winner of the preceding end shall lead. For
the remaining round robin games, each team shall have last stone at the first end on an
equal number of the remaining round robin games. This shall be determined in advance and
indicated in the official draw.
(3) The team which has last stone at the first end shall practice first.
(4) The ice will be cleaned after the warm-up period but will not be re-pebbled.
(5) Details of the time and duration of the warm-up period will be given by the Chief Umpire
at the team meeting.
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20. Postponement:
(1) If for any reason a game is postponed to another time, or a game is suspended, the game
will continue at the point the game was suspended.
Interpretation: If ice-conditions are declared unfit by the Chief Umpire and the senior
Federation Official in attendance, the game or partial game will be suspended to a later
time - the time and ice to be determined by the above named parties.
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21. Free guard zone:
(1) The area between the Hog Line and the Tee Line, excluding the House, shall be a "Free
Guard Zone" [as in the diagram below:]
(2) No stone lying within this zone may be removed from play by the opposition until the
first four stones played in any end have come to rest. Any shot played in those
circumstances which results in an opposition stone being moved from the free guard zone,
either directly or indirectly, to an out-of-play position is an infraction which shall
result in the played stone being removed from play and any other stone if moved being
replaced where it previously lay. All stones shall be replaced to the satisfaction of
the skip of the non-offending team.
(3) For any stone lying in the House, the normal Roles of Play shall apply at all times.
Notwithstanding the Rules of Play No.4 (9), a stone may be measured by instrument by an
Umpire to determine whether or not it is the House.
(4) In all other respects the normal Rules of Play shall apply.
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