The revised Rules of Curling for General Play are now available for downloading at the Canadian Curling Association website, and the rules for both General and Officated play may be purchased from the CCA webstore.
Click here to view/download Rules for General Play (PDF)
The new rules includes changes to timing, to use “thinking time”, and also incorporate wheelchair and stick curling rules.
Here is a summary of and rationale for the changes, from the CCA website:
Summary & Rationale of Rule Changes for 2012-2014
GENERAL RULES SECTION
Rule 12 ~ Free Guard Zone (FGZ) – The wording in red was added to clarify this rule.
(5) You may also raise your stone located in the FGZ on to an opposition stone located in the house (not in the FGZ) and remove it from play. If an opposition’s stone(s) is removed from play from the FGZ during the execution of the raise, then apply Rule 12(2).
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Rule 18 ~ Stick Curling
(1) The use of a curling aid commonly referred to as a “delivery stick” which enables the player to deliver a stone without placing a hand on the handle is considered acceptable.
(2) The use of a delivery stick is not allowed in events leading to CCA championships with the exception of wheelchair curling.
(3) If a player starts a game with a delivery stick then that player shall use a delivery stick throughout that game. A player may not alternate delivery from the traditional hand delivery to a delivery stick or vice-versa.
(4) If delivery begins from the hack, then players using the delivery stick must adhere to Delivery Rule 8(1) and, stones must be delivered along a straight line from the hack to the intended target broom.
(5) The delivery may also begin anywhere along the centre line with a portion of the stone touching the centre line prior to delivery. The stone must be delivered along a straight line from this position along the centre line to the intended target broom.
(6) A stone delivered with a delivery stick must be released before it reaches the hog line at the delivering end – [Rule 8(4)].
(7) All other delivery rules apply.
Previous references to Stick Curling were in section 15 under Equipment. A new section 18 was created and additional rules governing Stick Curling were added to clarify what a legal delivery is using the stick. If a player decides to begin their delivery from the hack, they must follow the delivery rules in Section 8 which says right handed players must deliver from the left hack etc. The rule also allows the stick player from starting their delivery anywhere inside the hog line to the target broom as long as the stone at the beginning of the delivery is touching the centre line.
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RULES FOR OFFICIATED PLAY
Rule 2 ~ Definitions
(5) “delivering team” means the team in control of the house and whose turn it is to deliver.
(16) “time-out” means stopping the delivering team’s time clock and stopping play.
(19) “thinking time” is the allotted time for each team to complete a game. The time clocks will operate while a team deliberates about choice of shot. The clock will stop when the delivering team’s stone reaches the nearer tee-line.
Background – (5) The reference to “time clock” was removed as under “thinking time” the time clock does not operate when the delivery team is in control of the house. (16) We removed the word “game” from “game time clock” because of the change to “thinking time”. (19) Added definition reference for “thinking time”
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Rule 5 ~ Teams
(2) Unless otherwise specified in the rules of the competition:
(b) A player from the team will deliver a stone (full sweeping allowed) and the closest draw to the button between the two teams will receive last stone advantage in the first end. In competition, each player will deliver a minimum number of draw shots for last stone advantage. The actual number will be identified in the Competitor’s Guide for each competition.
(d) Ties in draw shot distance will be decided as follows:
(i) If the first team records a distance of 0.00cm or 185.4cm, a second player from that team will deliver a draw to the button. If the second player records a distance of 0.00cm or 185.4cm, a third player from that team will deliver a draw to the button.
(ii) If the second team records the same first throw distance as their opposition, another player from that team will draw to the button. If the second stone distance is the same, a third player will deliver a stone.
(iii) If, following the second team practice, an identical distance is recorded for both teams (excluding a distance of 0.00 cm or 185.40 cm), a second (or more) player(s) from each team will deliver a stone to break the tie.
(e) Stones not delivered within the time allotted by the umpire will be assigned a distance of 185.40 cm (the stone must reach the nearer tee line before time expires).
(b) “within one (1) minute” was removed to allow the Chief Umpire flexibility to administer the draw to button for hammer in a manner conducive to the building they are in and the number of umpires on site.
(d) The method of deciding ties has been changed as well as the removal of the average draw shot distance. The new format is simple and ties will be broken by the players. The first distance is the one always recorded for the total distance number required at the end of the round robins to break unsolvable ties. Any second draw required to the button is only recorded for the purpose of breaking the tie. Any player can play a tie-breaking draw regardless of how many ‘regular’ draws they have taken to date.
(e) The reference to “one minute” was removed to give the chief umpire the flexibility to run the draw to the button based on the building and the number of umpires.
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Rule 8 ~ Game Time Operation
(1) Thinking Time allotted to each team to complete a ten (10) end game shall be 40 minutes. Thinking Time allotted to each team to complete an eight (8) end game shall be 32 minutes. Thinking Time allotted to each team to complete each extra end shall be five (5) minutes.
(a) A stone that has reached the nearer tee line before time expires shall be allowed to continue and shall be considered as having been played within the allotted time.
(b) If the allotted time of a team expires before the team’s final stone of the game has reached the nearer tee line, the umpire shall call a time-out and apply the penalty as follows:
(ii) If the non-offending team is not declared the winner as per 8(1)(i), they shall be provided the opportunity to use their remaining time to continue play in an attempt to tie or win the game as outlined in 8(2); or
(iii) If the non-offending team has no stones left to deliver, the end shall be considered over and the score for the end determined as per Rule 14. If the game results in a tie, an extra end(s) shall be played in accordance with Rule 14(11). The team that incurred the time violation shall deliver the first stone of the extra end.
(2) A team may continue play after their opponent’s time clock has expired in an attempt to tie or win the game within their allotted time.
(b) The non-offending team shall be allotted an interval of a maximum of twenty (20) seconds between their consecutive deliveries. Time management shall be under the direction of the Chief Umpire who shall communicate as required with the Time Clock supervisor. Their time clock shall start at the expiration of the 20 second interval. The time clock will stop when the delivered stone reaches the nearer tee line.
(3) During a ten (10) end game, a mandatory break of five (5) minutes shall take place at the conclusion of the fifth (5th) end. During an eight (8) end game, a mandatory break of five (5) minutes shall take place at the conclusion of the fourth (4th) end. All other allotted time for breaks between ends including extra ends shall be determined by the rules of the competition or as determined by the Chief Umpire.
(7)
(a) If a player is allowed or required to redeliver a stone, the time clock will not operate.
(8)
(a) Each team may request two (2) time-outs per game and one (1) time-out during any extra end. The time-out will be a maximum of ninety (90) seconds in length. It will include any travel time by the coach (or alternate) to access to the field of play.
(b) During an end, a time-out may only be requested from the playing surface by a player of the delivery team. A team’s coach or alternate player may physically signal a request for their players on the ice but are only permitted to communicate with their players during the time-out.
(d) In arena settings and with the approval of the Chief Umpire, the coach and alternate player may communicate with their team during breaks between ends when neither team’s time clock is running.
(e) For communication as permitted in Rule 8(8)(c);
(i) The coach or alternate player of the team who requested the time-out may access the playing area adjacent to or at the end of the sheet but shall not access the playing surface.
(ii) The team that did not request the time-out may communicate for the same time as the coach or the alternate player who called the time-out, however, they must stay at the home end. They shall not cause any delay to the stone being delivered.
(9) Except as provided for in Rule 17(4), the delivering team’s time clock shall be started when:
(c) The opposing team has relinquished control of the house.
(10) At the conclusion of each end [Rule 14(7)] both time clocks shall be stopped for a period of time as determined by the rules of the competition or the Chief Umpire.
With the adoption of ‘thinking time’, here are the parameters to operate the clocks.
Both teams are off clock to start the game. Team A delivers first stone in the first end (no clocks are running). The delivering team is allowed a maximum of 1 minute to deliver the first stone of an end. If the delivering team has not delivered its first stone within one minute, their clock will start.
Team B’s clock will start when:
(a) all stones have come to rest in play or have crossed the back line, and
(b) the sweepers and player who has just delivered have moved to the extreme side of the sheet, and
(c) the delivering team has relinquished control of the house.
Team B’s game clock will continue to run until Team B’s delivered stone reaches the near tee-line, at which time Team B’s game clock will stop and no clock will run until points (a) (b) and (c) above are met. Then Team A’s clock will begin.
No clocks are running when a stone is in motion after the near tee-line.
At the conclusion of each end, both game time clocks shall remain stopped for a period of time as determined by the rules of the competition or the Chief Umpire. The appropriate game time clock shall be started when points (a) (b) and (c) above are met following the delivery of the first stone of the subsequent end.
(3) This removes the countdown clock as it is no longer relevant. Also, the clock will not start at the end of the 5th end break.
(8) Time-outs – this rule was changed in 2011-2012 but is now in the rule book. Umpires should remember this is not a 60 second time-out with 30 seconds of travel time. This is a 90 second time-out that includes any travel time. If a coach gets to the team in 15 seconds, they still have 75 seconds left. If they take 75 seconds to get to their team, then they have 15 seconds to visit.
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Rule 11 ~ Displaced Stationary Stones
(1)
(a) If a stationary stone, which would have had no effect on the outcome of a moving stone, is displaced, or caused to be displaced by a player, it is replaced in its original position to the satisfaction of the game umpire. If there is any question as to which stone was counting, the displaced stone shall be positioned in favour of the non-offending team.
(b) If a stationary stone, which would have had no effect on the outcome of a moving stone, is displaced, or caused to be displaced by an external force, it is replaced in its original position to the satisfaction of the game umpire.
A sub-section (b) was added to Rule 11(1) to more accurately describe what happens when an external force has an outcome on a moving stone.
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Rule 13 ~ Free Guard Zone (FGZ)
(5) You may also raise your stone located in the FGZ on to an opposition stone located in the house (not in the FGZ) and remove it from play. If an opposition’s stone(s) removed from play from the FGZ during the execution of the raise, then apply Rule 13(2).
This clarification was added to address a number of questions about what happens while playing this shot if a stone in the FGZ gets removed from play. The shot is ‘legal’ but there are consequences if the opposition’s stone in the FGZ gets removed.
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Rule 22 ~ Age Eligibility
The dates were updated to reflect the 2012-13 and 2013-14 curling seasons.
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Questions and comments relating to the rule book or the interpretation of the rules should be sent to [email protected].