Rough guide to curling
Curling Etiquette
Curling Equipment
Apollo Curling Rules

Rough guide to curling

• Curling is a sport played on ice with two teams of four players.
  
  The purpose of the game is to put your stones (made out of granite and about 42 lb in weight) closer to the centre of the house (the target area defined by circles drawn on the ice surface) than the other team.
• After all stones have been played, the team with the stones closest to the centre of the house scores points for that end. There are typically eight ends in a curling game. The points total is equal to the number of stones closer to the centre than the nearest stone of the opposing team. After the ends (game time about two hours) the team with the most points wins the game.
• The stones do not move in a straight line. They are thrown with a turning motion and due to the friction with the ice they move along a curved path. While the stone is travelling down the ice, the delivering team's players are allowed to sweep in front of the stone as a method of controlling the stone's speed and direction.
• Sweeping is done with a broom designed for curling. The sweeping action very slightly melts the surface of the ice creating a thin water film, which lowers the friction between stone and ice. This has two effects: the stone does not slow down as quickly and runs further before it stops and the curved path becomes straighter. Therefore the place where the stone stops and its direction can be changed while it is running without touching it. When players aren't throwing, they sweep the stones for their teammates.
• At the highest-level curling is a skilful game of precision (inches over a distance of 40 yards) and physical endurance (for the sweeping). On a lower level curling is, however, a game that can be enjoyed by men and women from the young to the old.
• An introduction to curling strategy can be found here: Introduction to Curling Strategy.pdf

Curling Etiquette

Below are some important etiquette callouts. Check out this document for a more complete discussion of curling etiquette. Curling Etiquette.pdf

• Only skips and thirds should stand at the end of the ice. Leads and seconds should remain between the two hog lines.
• The third is responsible for judgement calls on scoring. This includes measuring questionable rocks, placing the score on the board, and agreeing on the points scored. The winning third is also responsible for recording the final game score in the League Buddy website.
• When the opposing team is throwing, players should stand off to the side, and brooms should be kept off the ice to avoid distraction.
• After your shot has been thrown, please move off the centre of the ice so that the other team can prepare their shot.
• Keep an eye on the time, ends should take roughly 15 minutes each.
• A player shall never attempt to distract an opponent or otherwise prevent them from playing their best.
• No curler shall deliberately break a rule of the game. But, if they should do so inadvertently and be aware of it, they are the first to divulge the breach.
• Emphasizing the social nature of the sport, it is the custom that the winning team buys the losing team a round after the game.

Curling Equipment

• There are two essential pieces of equipment required for curling: a curling broom and proper footwear.
• Curling shoes can be purchased from a pro-shop at a curling rink, however clean running shoes and a slip-on slider are usually adequate.
• Brooms and sliders can be rented from the curling rink, however it is recommended that you purchase your own.
• It is suggested that you wear comfortable (loose fitting) pants, and a warm top (sweatshirt, sweater or jacket).
• Gloves are also recommended. The gloves will serve two purposes: (1) they'll keep your hands warm. (2) it will be more comfortable when you're sweeping.

Apollo Curling Rules

1. League play is by the CCA rules - Free Guard Zone Rule: The first five stones cannot be removed by an opponent if they are guards. They can be moved, but not taken out. If the opponent's stone takes out a guard in the first five plays then the opponent's rock is removed and the one taken out is replaced. A team can remove their own rocks at any time.
2. Only thirds and skips may sweep stones past the tee line. A team can only sweep a stone of the opposing colour past the tee line, and only one person (either third or skip) can sweep the opposing stone.
3. If two stones are close to each other in scoring position, either skip or third may request that the stones be measured at the conclusion of the end. If the two stones in question are EXACTLY the same distance from the button, they cancel each other out. If the two stones being measured are considered first shot, in the event of a tie, the end is blanked. Otherwise, the stones already determined to be closer to the center count, and the tied stones do not.
4. A stone must fully cross the hog line at the far end of the sheet to remain in play.
5. Synthetic brooms only are allowed. Hair, corn or other shedding materials are not allowed on the ice.
6. For spare players, see the Spares page.
7. Two regular team members must be present to avoid forfeit of a game.
8. If a team is late by 10 minutes, the late team will relinquish hammer and lose one point; 10 - 20 minutes late will result in another point lost. Any game delayed by more than 20 minutes is deemed to be forfeit by the late team.
9. Skips are responsible for determining prior to game play if games played in an unconventional manner (ie. the loan of a player, started after twenty minutes, etc) are to be recreational or count for league play.
10. Skips are responsible for advising their opposing skip and the League Organizers of a no-show at a reasonable time in advance. Once a game is advised as forfeited, it cannot be rescheduled.
11. All games are a maximum of eight ends. A buzzer will go off 10 minutes prior to the end of Apollo's contracted ice rental time, at which point all teams may complete the end in progress. An end is considered in progress once the last stone of the previous end has been delivered (left the hand of the thrower). So, if you're on the 7th end and the Skip is throwing the last rock, once that rock has left his/her hand and the buzzer sounds, you may play one more end. This allows for time of measuring, etc. of that last stone if necessary.
12. Only clean footwear is allowed on the ice. Smoking, food and alcohol are prohibited in the ice area.
13. Payment of league fees is due once the organizers have finalized the fee amount, and this typically happens once the number of teams and the schedule is finalized for the season. The deadline for paying fees will be advertised through League Buddy. Teams who do not pay the complete team fee by the deadline will be levied an additional 4% late payment charge on the total team amount, not just the unpaid portion.
14. The Apollo Curling Organizers reserve the right to ban / bar players from the league if they are found to be in violation of the rules, for non-payment of fees / dues, or for un-sportinglike conduct.

Canadian Pride Curling Championships Eligibility

1. To be eligible, teams must comprise of at least 2 (or 3 in the case of a 5 person team) active league members in good standing who are currently registered as a full time player. The remainder of the team may be drawn from the official spares list if necessary.