Rules and Policy

Curling

Curling Rules

SPIRIT POINTS: An integral part of all the sports that the Ottawa Sport & Social Club offers. It is based on the primary focus of the OSSC, which is sportsmanship and to have FUN...NOT on competitive and aggressive sport.

1. Equipment/Field Set-Up: All curling equipment will be provided at the Curling Club (brooms, rocks, etc). All players are responsible for bringing CLEAN indoor shoes. Boots, outdoor shoes, or large chunky shoes are not acceptable - players will not be allowed to play.

2. Game Time/Default: Please arrive 15 minutes early so that you can start your games on time. Games are 2 hours in length, and 8 ends are to be played in that time. Please agree on one person to act as timekeeper. Teams are comprised of four (4) players, however a team can play with 3 players. There are no gender requirements for curling, however we strongly encourage teams to be co-ed. A default will occur if any team cannot field the minimum requirement of players by 15 minutes after the official start time. A team of more then four people is allowed to have players sitting out each end, or having people on the team only throw one rock each. Captains may agree to waive the rules regarding minimum players, and should be decided before the game starts. IF IT IS AGREED THAT THE GAME COUNTS, IT COUNTS!

3. General Rules:

  1. Teams score 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 for a loss and –1 for a default
  2. Positions alternate throwing rocks, throwing 2 rocks each team.
  3. The rocks must completely cross the hog line to stay in play.
  4. Throwers must release the rock before the hog line.
  5. If a rock hits the sideboard or the sidelines, they are out of play.
  6. Only one team can score points for any given end. The team with the closest rock to the center scores one point. This team can score additional points for each rock that is closer to the center than their opponents’ closest rock.
  7. A team can only begin to sweep the oppositions rock(s) once it has completely passed the T-line (the line that intersects the house). Only one sweeper can sweep past the T-line per rock.
  8. All curlers MUST wear clean shoes on the ice, with either clear tape on the sliding shoe or a slider. People who are right handed wear tape or a slider on their left foot and vice-versa for left handed people.
    **BE CAREFUL NOT TO STEP ON THE ICE WITH YOUR SLIDER FOOT FIRST**
  9. Please do not hit the ice with brooms.
  10. Please do not crash the rocks on the ice
  11. Have Fun!

4. Tie Breaker rules (for Playoffs)
 If a playoff game ends in a tie at the end of regulation time, a tie breaker will be played to decide a winner. The tie breaker will be as follows.

A draw to the button will be used to break a tie. The team whose rock is closest to the button will be deemed winner.

i. Coin toss: The team winning the coin toss will decide weather they will curl first or second.
ii. Each team will decide on 4 players to take part in the tie breaker. 1 person to throw, 2 sweepers, and 1 "skip" who will direct the shot. The positions should be chosen at the time of the coin toss.
iii. The first team will throw their rock. Both teams (+ a neutral player from another team) should agree on where the rock landed. The rock is then removed from play allowing the second team to shoot at an empty house. Both teams (+ the same neutral player) will agree on where the second team's rock stopped. If possible, a winner will be determined.
iv. If no rocks land in the house, the teams will repeat step "iii" until a winner can be determined. The same order should be maintained throughout the shootout.