1. COMPOSITION OF RINKS
A) Each
rink must have at least (1) member of the opposite sex on its team at
all times.
B)
A team must have four (4) curlers, except for extenuating circumstances,
with one (1) of those being of the opposite sex
for the FIRST game.
C) A minimum
of three (3) curlers shall constitute a rink, with
one (1) of those
being
of the opposite sex for all other games.
D) At
least two (2) regular members of the team must be present, plus spare(s),
to constitute a rink.
E) Curlers,
except spares, shall play any postion but may not change those
positions during the game.
Interpretation:
Team members can change postions from game to game, at
their team's discretion.
2. COMMENCEMENT OF GAMES:
A) A team must have a minimum of three (3)
curlers, except for Rule 1 b).
B) In the event a team plays with three
(3) curlers, the lead and second throw
three (3) rocks each.
C) Games will commence promply on time. See
rule 5
a).
3. DURATION OF GAMES:
A) All Regular
games, shall be eight (8) ends, (Buzzer Rule).
B)
The
Semi-Finals in each event (A,B,C,) will be eight (8) ends
(Buzzer Rule), with ties
being resolved by Skip's rocks .
(Rule change February 7, 2009)
C)
The Finals in each event (A,B,C,) will be eight (8) ends
(Buzzer Rule), with ties
being resolved by extra ends.
(Rule change February 7, 2009)
D) The buzzer
will be used to signal the start and finish of all games.
E) Once
the finishing buzzer has sounded the teams will finish the end "IN
PROGRESS"
and curl one more end.
F) An
end is "IN
PROGRESS" if the final skip rock has not
been released.
4. BUZZER:
A) The
buzzer will be used to signal the start and finish of games.
B)
The starting buzzer will sound five (5) minutes before the start of game,
so
curlers will be ready to start promply on time.
C) The finishing
buzzer will sound twenty-five (25) minutes before the finish time.
See
rule 3 d). Hopefully this will give time for the curlers to complete
their
game in progress and give time for the
icemaker to prep the ice for the next
game to start on time .
5. LATE ARRIVALS:
A)
In the event that a team is late for its game, the team ready to
play will take
one (1) point and one (1) end for
each ten (10) minutes the opposition is late.
After
thirty (30) minutes the game is
forfeited and it is considered a loss,
with
the
losing team dropping
to the next event as per the master draw.
B)
If the late team arrives and is ready to play before a lapse of thirty
(30) minutes,
the team ready to play, (non-offending team) will be given last rock (hammer)
when play is ready to commence..
C) A curler who arrives late may join his team, in their
regular position, at any
time throughout the game, PROVIDING
it does not conflict with rules
7 b), 7 c)
& 7 d).
6. FORFEITS:
If
a team forfeits two (2) games, by Rule 5 a), it shall be disqualified
from any further
play
in the bonspiel.
7. SPARES:
A)
A spare cannot be a member of an other team in the bonspiel, except for
extenuating
circumstances. Exceptions
shall be the decision of the Judges and Drawmaster only.
B)
All spares will curl as LEAD, with the regular curlers moving up in position.
If a team has (2) spares they will curl as LEAD and SECOND.
C)
A spare obtained for the first draw will be a member of the rink
for the remainder
of the bonspiel, except for extenuating circumstances.
D)
Once the game has started the spare is entitled to complete the game.
In other
words if a late curler arrives a spare CANNOT be bumped from the
game.
E)
If a dispute arises over a spare, eligibility of the spare shall
be the decision of the
Judges and the Drawmaster only.
8. MEASUREMENT & DECISIONS:
All
measurements will be made by respective thirds. If the opposing teams
cannot agree,
any
disputes shall be settled by a Judge - his/her
decision is final.
9. TIE GAMES: (Rule
change February 4, 2006)
A)
For round robin games. "Only
skip rocks will be thrown" (one rock per team),
rules 9 b) through 9 e) shall apply.
B) Team that scores last throws first rock.
C)
Broom is held and sweeping is allowed for your team rock ONLY.
D)
You CANNOT sweep the oppositions rock even once it has passed
(behind) the T-line.
E)
The rock is measured by the Judge then it is removed, the other skip then
throws. The
closest rock to the button wins!
F)
For Semi-Finals and Finals Only
- An extra end will be played to break a tie.
10. MISCELLANEOUS:
A)
Any extenuating circumstances that arise during the bonspiel shall be
ruled on by
the Judges and the Draw Master, whose decision shall be final.
B)
A "BYE" in the draw shall be considered
as a game.
11. FIVE ROCK FREE GUARD ZONE :
A) The free guard zone is
the area between the hog line and the tee line, excluding the house.
Interpretation: - A stone
which comes to rest biting or in front of the hog line after
making contact with a stone in the free guard zone is considered
to be in the free guard zone.
- A stone which comes to rest outside the house but biting the tee
line is NOT in the free guard zone.
B) Any stationary stone(s)
belonging to the opposition that is located within the free
guard zone shall not be removed from play prior to the delivery of the
SIXTH stone
of an end.
Interpretation: - A delivered
third or forth stone of an end may hit an oppositions
stone(s) in the free guard zone onto a stone(s) not in the free guard
zone providing the opposition's original free guard zone stone(s)
remains in play. If the opposition's original free guard zone stone(s)
is removed from play, Penalty Situation #1
shall apply.
Penalty
Situation #1:
- If a stone(s) in the free guard zone
is removed from play prior
to the delivery of the sixth stone of the end, the non-offending
team may:
i) allow the play to stand; or
ii) remove the stone just delivered from
play and replace
the displaced stationary stone(s) as close as possible to
its original postion.
C) Your own rocks can be removed from the
free guard sone at any time during this four
rock period, but not an opposition's stone.
12. SPORTSMANSHIP :
“TOGETHER IN FRIENDSHIP”
The
Spirit of Curling
The
game of curling has always been noted for the prevalence of good sportsmanship
among its members
and the friendly, courteous rivalry that exists on and off the ice. Most
courtesies will not be found in the
rule books, yet they are practiced by all curlers who understand the true
spirit and traditions of the game.
Curlers
play to win but never humble their opponents.
A true curler would prefer to lose rather than win unfairly.
A good curler never attempts to distract an opponent or otherwise prevent
them from playing their best.
No curler ever deliberately breaks a rule of the game or any of its traditions.
But if they should do so inadvertently
and be aware of it, they would be the first to divulge the breach.
The
spirit of the game demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling and honourable
conduct.
This spirit should influence both the interpretation and application of
the rules of the game and also
the conduct of all participants on and off the ice.
Lastly,
please enjoy your bonspiel. Curl well, be a good sportsperson and always
have FUN!!!
 |
