Canadian Curling Association The home of curling in Canada.
The Officiated Rule Book (2014-2018) is not available online, but is available for purchase at: http://store.curling.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TRC
October 2014
Rule Changes for 2014-2018 with Rationale & Page Source
Changed: The CCA Rule Book will be reviewed every four years (or once per Olympic quadrennial).
Rationale: Rules will remain consistent throughout the Olympic qualification process, aligning with the procedures of the World Curling Federation; however, the CCA will consider rule changes (if any during the quadrennial) that make sense for fair play for all players following consultation with all stakeholders and approval of the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
Changed: Clarify all instances referencing to when a stone is to be re-delivered
Rationale: Any stone that is to be re-delivered must be the same called shot and the same amount of ice taken by the person holding the broom, as was the original called shot. The called shot cannot be changed.
Source: p.12 Rule 8(6) – p.12 Rule 8(7) – p.14 Rule 10(3) – p.20 Rule 17(5) – p.38 Rule 9(7) – p.39 Rule 10(2)(b)(i) – p.40 Rule 10(3)(c) – p.40 Rule 10(4)(b)(c) – p.40 Rule 11(3) – p.48 Rule 18(5)
Changed: Clarified all instances of when a stone is to be re-delivered
Rationale: Added words “consecutive stones” to the rule that addresses playing with three players, how many stones and when they are delivered. This is to reduce confusion (mainly at the club level) about the order of delivery.
Source: p.8 Rule 5(4)(c) – p.32 Rule 5(5)(c)
Changed: General Play Rule 8(1) Delivery & Officiated Play Rule 9(9) Delivery
Rationale: Specify which foot should be placed in which hack (two hack scenario) to clarify rule.
Source: p.11 Rule 8(1) – p.37 Rule 9(1)
Changed: Deleted previous General Play Rule 8(12) Delivery & Officiated Play Rule 9(11) Delivery
Rationale: Handles rarely come off the stone during delivery, therefore the rule is deleted. If it should ever occur in the future, any Umpire can deal with it under General Play Rule 19(3) and Officiated Play Rule 21(1)
Changed: General Play Rule 8(1) Delivery & Officiated Play Rule 9(1) Delivery
Rationale: This rule was split into two rules to separate the use of a single hack. General Play Rule 8(1) Delivery now becomes Rule 8(1) & Rule 8(2) & Officiated Play Rule 9(1) Delivery now becomes Rule 9(1) & Rule 9(2). The rest of both sections were renumbered.
Changed: General Play Rule 9(1) Touched Moving Stones & Officiated Play Rule 10(1) Touched Moving Stones
Changed: Clarified the rule allowing a stone to be re-touched by the person delivering the stone without penalty. The stone must be released by the hogline as per normal.
Source: p.13 Rule 9(1) – p.38 Rule 9(5)
Changed: General Play Rule 12(2) Free Guard Zone & Officiated Play Rule 13(2) Free Guard Zone
Changed: Added the phrase “without exception” to the text of what happens when there is an infraction in the Free Guard Zone (FGZ)
Rationale: Clarified the procedure to note there are no exceptions when there is an infraction. The delivered stone is always removed and the displaced stones are always replaced regardless of the situation.
Source: p.15 Rule 12(2) – p.42 Rule 13(2)
Changed: General Play Rule 12(2) Free Guard Zone & Officiated Play Rule 13(2) Free Guard Zones
Changed: Add a clarifying phrase for stones previously in the Free Guard Zone.
Rationale: During the course of the season, we receive dozens of e-mails asking ‘what if’ about stones that ‘were’ in the FGZ and when they can be legally removed from play. There is confusion that a stone that was originally in the FGZ but was moved to a non-FGZ position is still protected.
Source: p.15 Rule 12(2) – p.42 Rule 13(2)
Changed: General Play Stones in Play and Scoring & Officiated Play Stones in Play and Scoring
Changed: Added clarifying words to the section on scoring/posting incomplete ends.
Rationale: Further clarity.
Source: p.18 Rule 13(11)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) – p.44-45 Rule 14(12)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)
Changed: General Play Rule 5 – Teams & Officiated Play Rule 5 – Teams
Changed: Added clarifying words allowing the re-designation or re-identification of the skip and vice-skip when a substitute enters a game between ends.
Rationale: For clarity and for accuracy of records. This was unclear to teams when a substitute enters play. It is not a delivery rotation issue.
Source: p.8 Rule 5(4)(e) – p.32 Rule 5(5)(e)
Changed: General Play Rule 5 – Teams & Officiated Play Rule 5 – Teams
Changed: Added clarifying words allowing the re-designation or re-identification of the skip and vice-skip when a substitute enters a game during an end.
Rationale: Clarity and for accuracy of records. This was unclear to teams when a substitute entered play. It is not a delivery rotation issue.
Source: p.9 Rule 5(4)(f)(iii) – p.32 Rule 5(5)(f)(iii)
Changed: Officiated Play Rule 5 – Teams
Changed: Added clarifying words allowing the re-designation or re-identification of the skip and vice-skip when a team starts with three players and fourth player joins the game.
Rationale: Clarity and for accuracy of records. This was unclear to teams when the fourth player entered play. It is not a delivery rotation issue.
Source: p.32 Rule 5(6)(a)
Changed: Officiated Play Rule 6 – Skips
Changed: Added an exception for mixed curling to exclude the content of the rules about the vice-skip.
Rationale: Mixed curling has specific rules concerning the vice skip and skip (alternate genders) and Rule 6(3) was confusing the umpire’s ability to rule on a legitimate mixed line-up
Source: p.33 Rule 6(3)
Changed: Officiated Play Rule 8 – Game Time Operation
Changed: Thinking Time for a 10 end game will be 38 minutes per team. Thinking Time for an 8 end game will be 30 minutes per team. Extra ends will be 4:30 for each team. This is reduced from 40 minutes and 5 minutes for extra ends previously in the rule book.
Rationale: The move to Thinking Time was positive for players but the length of time to play the entire game is still a concern for television reasons, fan experience and player experience. The reduction is 12 seconds per end for a ten end game. Extra ends were tested at 4 minutes, which proved to be too low. It was moved to 5 minutes, which proved to be too long. The balance of 4 minutes and 30 seconds is the compromise.
Source: p.35 Rule 8(1)
Changed: Previous Officiated Play Rule 8(1)(a) Game Time Operation – page 34
Change: This rule is deleted. “A stone that has reached the nearer tee line before the time expires shall be allowed to continue and shall be considered as having been played within the allotted time.”
Rationale: This rule is now redundant as the clock stops for every shot when it reaches the tee-line. This rule was in place for ‘running time’.
Note: all other rules were re-numbered accordingly
Changed: Officiated Play Rule 18(8)(9) Wheelchair Curling
Changed: Updated the wheelchair curling game time operation to 36 minutes of Thinking Time and 6 minutes for any extra ends.
Rationale: Updated.
Source: p.48 Rule 18(8)(9)
Changed: Officiated Play Rule 19(10)(11) Vision Impaired Curling
Changed: Updated the vision impaired game time operation to 36 minutes of Thinking Time and 6 minutes for any extra ends.
Rationale: Updated.
Source: p.51 Rule 20(10)(11)
Changed: Officiated Play Rule 22(1)-(4) Age Eligibility
Changed: Update eligibility dates for all CCA staged events (added Mixed Doubles). Note: the Junior age has changed to 20 years and under as of July 1st the year preceding the championship beginning the 2015-2016 season. Previously, the Junior age was 20 years and under as of December 31st of the year prior to the championship.
Rationale: Updated.
Source: p.52-54 Rule 22(1)(2)(3)(4)