Curling Rules

Rules of the Game

Teams will play matches of 3 games to 21. Each game will count as a win or a loss in the standings. There will be a 60 minute time limit for each match.

RULES FOR CURLING
CCA Recreational Curling is a fun and simplified version of Ice Curling.  Up to two sweepers will be allowed per team.  No contact may be allowed with the stone by the sweeper or any other players once the stone has been released.  A stone may only be contacted by another thrown stone.

Teams of four will compete against each other with no gender requirement.  Each present player must throw a stone.  In the case of three players, one player may throw a second stone, however, this must alternate throughout the game.  In the case of two players, each would throw two stones.
 

MINIMUM/MAXIMUM REQUIREMENTS
A team may play with a minimum of one player with the consent of the opposing captain and/or league staff member. If a team has more than 4 players, they may rotate throughout the match, but only 4 players, and the same four players, may play in each game.

STARTING THE MATCH

The team to go first is decided by rock-paper-scissors. 

Fair play is of huge importance so there is a culture of self-refereeing with regards to fouls and this is a big part of curling.

Players alternate sliding stones, aiming for the House (circular target) so they come to rest past the Mid-Pitch Line.

Each team begins with a total of 4 stones. The aim is to have more stones closer to the button (the white circle inside the blue circle in the middle of the House) than your opponent after each round when all 8 stones have been thrown.

The board will be cleared of all stones before a new round is commenced at the other side of the Pitch.

Opposing team members will shoot side by side at both ends of the Pitch.

When sliding the stone to the opposite side of the board, your hand must not pass the red Hog line.

Any stone that falls into the Gutter or doesn’t pass the Mid-Pitch Line, will be removed from play. 

SCORING

The goal is to place the most stones in the center of the house while knocking out opposing team stones. Only one team can score points in an end. The team that has one or more stones closest to the center of the house (the "button") scores the point(s). Rocks that are not in the house do not score even if no opponent's rock is closer.

The team that scored throws a stone first in the next end so that the team did not score has the “hammer."  If no one scores (a "blank end"), the throwing order stays the same for the next end.

A score of up to 4 points in an end is possible
 

TIMING

LENGTH – Each match will be allotted 60 minutes of playing time. Any warm up time used beyond the scheduled start time will cut into this match time.

LEAGUE POLICIES

FORFEITS:

Circle City Athletics will provide a staff member on-site to assist players with any problems or questions they may have. There are no referees.

If your team forfeits a match during the season, the following rules apply:

First Offense: Loss of game.

Second Offense: Loss of game and staff reserves the right to remove team from playoffs.

Third Offense: Removal from the league.

Any team that forfeits more than once also forfeits any guarantee or right to a certain number of guaranteed games.

If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to email the league manager so as to help us schedule your opponent a game.

Teams may play more than one match per day, and/or play matches on days/nights other than your regularly scheduled league day/night.  CCA reserves the right to schedule playoff games on days other than your regularly scheduled league night.

Any questions regarding rules, policies, or eligibility must be addressed before the start of the game. 

STANDINGS:

The updated standings will be posted weekly, displaying each teams rank within its skill level.

PLAYOFFS:

Playoffs are single-elimination. Playoffs will take up to 2 weeks to complete and will best 2 out of 3 matches.

Playoff Substitute Policy 

WAIVERS:

In order to participate in the league, each participant must sign the team waiver. Waivers are provided and must be completed and handed in no later than the first night of play. Players not present the first week of play will still be required to sign a waiver with our staff before participating. These waivers will also serve as your final roster.

SPORTSMANSHIP:

The idea of CCA is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league.

To coordinate and run the league, our refs and/or staff will be available at all times to help the league run as smoothly as possible. If you have questions regarding schedules, policies, rule interpretations, directions to the bar, etc. please ask or call our office.

LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:

Leagues may be cancelled due to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions, facility constraints, scheduling conflicts, etc. CCA staff makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will not have an answer until close to the start of the league.

If the league is cancelled, CCA staff will post all notices on social media sites (Facebook/Twitter).  CCA will then email/text all of the captains if possible. If a league is cancelled on site, CCA staff will attempt to contact those teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night. Depending on the time of cancellation, some teams will have to be notified on site. In extreme circumstances, CCA reserves the right to run a shortened season without a refund or schedule matches on days and/or locations other than our regularly scheduled league day/night/location.