WCF

Section 1: Introduction

1.1 Overview and History

Curling is a precision team sport played on a rectangular sheet of prepared ice, in which two teams take turns sliding polished granite stones towards a circular target known as the house. Originating in medieval Scotland during the 16th century, the earliest recorded curling match dates to 1541 in Paisley Abbey. The sport spread throughout Europe and to Canada via Scottish emigrants, where it became deeply embedded in the national sporting culture.

1.2 Governing Body

The World Curling Federation (WCF), headquartered in Perth, Scotland, is the international governing body for curling. Founded in 1966 as the International Curling Federation (ICF) and renamed in 1991, the WCF oversees all international competition and publishes The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition, reviewed annually by the World Curling Competitions & Rules Commission, with Member Associations able to submit suggested revisions to the Secretariat by 31 December each year. The current edition is dated August 2026. The WCF comprises over 60 member associations spanning six continents.

1.3 Olympic Status

Curling appeared as a demonstration sport at the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix. It returned as a full medal sport at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics with Men's and Women's events. Mixed Doubles was added at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. All three disciplines — Men's, Women's, and Mixed Doubles — remain on the Olympic programme.

1.4 The Spirit of Curling

Curling is distinguished by a deeply held tradition of sportsmanship and fair play known as the Spirit of Curling, set out at the front of the WCF rulebook ahead of the numbered Rules of Curling (R1–R19) and Rules of Competition (C1–C10). It holds that curlers play to win but never to humble their opponents, that a true curler never attempts to distract opponents or prevent them from playing their best, and that curlers never knowingly break a rule of the game — and will be the first to divulge a breach they become aware of, even if inadvertent. The tradition of Broomstacking — where the winning team buys drinks for the losing team after a match — embodies this ethos. The Spirit of Curling is stated to influence both the interpretation and application of the rules and the conduct of all participants on and off the ice.

Section 2: Equipment

2.1 Curling Stones

Curling stones are made of dense, polished granite. The majority of competition stones are crafted from granite quarried on Ailsa Craig, a small volcanic island off the coast of Ayrshire, Scotland. The two granite types — Blue Hone (extremely rare, used for the running band) and Common Green — are prized for their low water absorption and consistent hardness. Some stones are also sourced from Trefor, Wales.

• Weight: No less than 17.24 kg (38 lb) and no more than 19.96 kg (44 lb), including handle and bolt (Rule R2(a)).
• Circumference: No greater than 914 mm (36 in) (Rule R2(a)).
• Height: No less than 114 mm (4.5 in) (Rule R2(a)).
• Running band: A narrow, concave annular ring on the bottom of the stone — the only part that contacts the ice. The concavity reduces friction and allows the stone to curl.
• Handle: A gooseneck handle bolted to the top, used to impart rotation (turn) during delivery. Handles are colour-coded to distinguish the two teams.

Each team uses a set of eight stones with the same handle colour, individually identified by visible markings (Rule R2(b)). If a stone is damaged and becomes unsuitable for play, it is replaced; if no replacement is available, a stone already delivered in the end is redelivered (R2(b)). If a stone breaks in play, the teams use the Spirit of Curling to agree where the pieces should be placed, and if agreement cannot be reached, the end is replayed (R2(c)).

2.2 Brooms and Brushes

• Purpose: Sweeping the ice surface ahead of a moving stone to influence its speed and trajectory.
• Construction: Modern brooms use a carbon fibre or fibreglass shaft with a fabric pad head. Traditional corn brooms are rarely used in competition.
• WCF Approval: All broom heads must comply with WCF specifications. Directional fabric, waterproof coatings, or any material that deposits debris on the ice is prohibited — the brush head must not deposit debris in front of a moving stone (Rule R8(a)).
• Stabiliser broom: The delivering player uses a broom or stabiliser (delivery stick) in the non-throwing hand for balance during the slide.

2.3 Footwear

• Slider shoe: Worn on the sliding foot (left foot for right-handed deliverers). The sole is coated with Teflon or a similar low-friction material to allow a smooth glide during delivery.
• Gripper shoe: Worn on the hack (push-off) foot. The sole features a high-traction rubber coating for grip on ice.
• Slider guards: Removable rubber covers placed over the slider sole when not delivering, to prevent slipping while sweeping or walking.

2.4 Additional Equipment

• Stopwatch: Used by the skip or vice-skip to time stone speed (split times between hog lines) for weight judgement.
• Measuring device: Used by officials to determine which stone is closest to the tee when it cannot be determined visually, per Rule R2(i).
• Eye on the Hog: Electronic sensor embedded in the stone handle that detects whether the stone was released before the hog line. A green light indicates a valid release; a red light indicates a violation.

Section 3: Playing Area

3.1 Sheet Dimensions

Under Rule R1(a), the length of the ice sheet from the inside edges of the back boards is a minimum of 45.720 m (150 ft), and the width from the inside edges of the side lines is a maximum of 4.750 m (15 ft 7 in). If an existing facility cannot accommodate these measurements, the length may be reduced to a minimum of 44.501 m (146 ft) and the width to a minimum of 4.420 m (14 ft 6 in).

3.2 Key Lines and Markings

Rule R1(b) sets out the markings at each end of the sheet, drawn from side line to side line:

• Tee line: Maximum width 13 mm (1/2 in), placed so its centre is 17.375 m (57 ft) from the middle of the sheet.
• Back line: Maximum width 13 mm (1/2 in), with its outside edge 1.829 m (6 ft) from the centre of the tee line. A stone that completely crosses the outside edge of the back line at the playing end is removed from play immediately (R2(g)).
• Hog line: Width 102 mm (4 in), with its inside edge 6.401 m (21 ft) from the centre of the tee line. The delivering player must clearly release the stone before it reaches the near (delivery-end) hog line (R5(e)), and a stone must come to rest completely beyond the inside edge of the hog line at the playing end to remain in play, unless it strikes another stone already in play (R2(f)).
• Centre line: Maximum width 13 mm (1/2 in), joining the midpoints of the tee lines and extending 3.658 m (12 ft) beyond the centre of each tee line.
• Hack line: Length 457 mm (1 ft 6 in), maximum width 13 mm (1/2 in), placed parallel to the tee line at each end of the centre line.
• Courtesy line: Length 152 mm (6 in), maximum width 13 mm (1/2 in), placed 1.219 m (4 ft) outside and parallel to the hog lines on each side of the sheet.

3.3 The House (Target)

Rule R1(d) provides that a centre hole (tee) is placed at the intersection of each tee line and centre line. With the tee as centre, there are four concentric circles at each end of the sheet: the outer circle has a radius of 1.829 m (6 ft, the 12-foot ring), the next a radius of 1.219 m (4 ft, the 8-foot ring), the next a radius of 610 mm (2 ft, the 4-foot ring), and the innermost circle a minimum radius of 152 mm (6 in, the button). A stone may be measured only visually until the last stone of the end has come to rest, except to determine whether a stone is in play or, before the second through fifth stones of an end, whether a stone is in the Free Guard Zone (R2(i)).

3.4 Ice Preparation

The ice surface is maintained at approximately −5°C (23°F). After being levelled flat, the ice is pebbled — fine water droplets are sprayed onto the surface and allowed to freeze, creating a textured finish of small bumps. This pebble reduces the contact area between stone and ice, lowering friction and enabling the stone to curl. The pebble is nipped (shaved level) before play to ensure consistency.

3.5 Free Guard Zone

Under Rule R6(a), a stone that comes to rest between the tee line and the hog line at the playing end, excluding the house, is within the Free Guard Zone (FGZ). Stones resting in this zone are protected under the FGZ rule until the delivery of the sixth stone of the end (R6(b); see Section 5). This rule does not apply to Wheelchair Curling or Mixed Doubles competitions (R6(c)).

Section 4: Players & Officials

4.1 Team Composition (Standard)

Under Rule R3(a), a team is composed of four players, each delivering two stones in consecutive order in each end while alternating with an opponent. Roles follow the traditional throwing order:

• Lead: Throws the first two stones for the team. Typically responsible for placing guards and early draws. Sweeps for all other teammates.
• Second: Throws stones three and four. Often plays takeouts or draws to build on the lead's positioning. Sweeps for all other teammates.
• Third (Vice-Skip): Throws stones five and six. Acts as skip (strategist/caller) when the skip is delivering. Holds the broom as target for the skip's deliveries. Agrees on scoring with the opposing vice-skip at the end of each end.
• Skip: Throws the last two stones (seven and eight). Directs team strategy, calls the line and weight for each delivery, and positions the broom as the target for teammates. The skip is typically the team's most experienced player.

A team may also register a fifth player acting as an alternate, plus team officials (R3(a)). A team declares its delivery rotation and skip/vice-skip functions before the start of a game and must maintain them for that game; deliberately changing rotation or functions during a game results in forfeiture, except when done to bring in an alternate (R3(b)).

4.2 Mixed Doubles Teams

Under Rule R17(a), a Mixed Doubles team is composed of two players, one male and one female; alternates are not permitted, and a team must forfeit any game it fails to complete with both players participating for the entire game. Per R17(d), each team delivers 5 stones per end. The player delivering the team's first stone of the end must also deliver the team's last stone of that end; the other team member delivers the second, third, and fourth stones. The player delivering the first stone may change from end to end. Every Mixed Doubles game is scheduled for 8 ends (R17(c)).

4.3 Officials

• Chief Umpire: The senior official responsible for final rule interpretation and dispute resolution (see Rules of Competition, Section C10). Has authority to forfeit a game in cases of unsportsmanlike conduct or repeated time violations.
• Deputy Chief Umpire: Assists the Chief Umpire and oversees assigned sheets.
• Game Umpires: Assigned to individual games to monitor play, verify scoring, operate measuring devices, and enforce rules.
• Eye on the Hog Operators: Monitor the electronic hog-line release detection system. In events without electronic handles, a human hog-line judge makes the call visually.
• Ice Technicians: Responsible for ice preparation, pebbling, nipping, and temperature control. Under Rule R17(f)(I), the Chief Umpire together with the Chief Ice Technician determines pre-game placement points for Mixed Doubles "positioned" stones on each sheet.

4.4 Coaches

Each team may have a designated coach who can communicate with players only during timeouts and between ends. Coaches are not permitted on the ice surface or in the field of play during live play. At WCF events, each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per game.

Section 5: Rules of Play

5.1 Game Structure

A standard game consists of 10 ends (8 ends in Mixed Doubles, per R17(c)). Each end is analogous to an inning in baseball: both teams deliver all their stones, and then the end is scored. In the standard four-player game, each team delivers 8 stones per end (2 per player), for a total of 16 stones per end. Deliveries alternate between teams.

5.2 The Hammer (Last Stone Advantage)

The team that delivers the last stone in an end is said to have the hammer. Under Rule R5(a), unless predetermined or decided by the Last Stone Draw (LSD), teams use a coin toss to determine which team delivers the first stone of the first end; this order is maintained until one team scores, after which the team that most recently scored delivers the first stone in any subsequent end — meaning the team that did not score holds the hammer. If an end is blanked (no score), the team that had the hammer retains it. Deliberate blanking — intentionally preventing a score — is a legitimate strategy to retain hammer for the next end.

5.3 Stone Delivery

The delivery is the fundamental action in curling, governed by Rule R5:

• Starting position: The player places one foot in the hack and positions the stone on the ice ahead of the hack. Right-handed deliveries are made from the hack on the left of the centre line, and left-handed deliveries from the hack on the right; a stone delivered from the wrong hack is removed from play (R5(c)).
• Backswing and slide: The player draws the stone back, then pushes forward from the hack into a gliding lunge, sliding along the ice on the slider shoe.
• Release: The stone must be delivered using the handle, and must be clearly released from the hand before it reaches the hog line at the delivery end (R5(d)–(e)). If the stone is not released in time, it is immediately removed from play by the delivering team; if not immediately removed and it strikes another stone, the delivered stone is removed and any displaced stones restored (R5(f)).
• Rotation (turn): As the stone is released, the player imparts a slow, deliberate rotation. An in-turn rotates the stone clockwise (for a right-hander), causing it to curl to the right. An out-turn rotates counter-clockwise, causing it to curl left. Typically 2–3 full rotations over the length of the sheet.
• Weight (speed): The force applied during delivery determines how far the stone travels. Weight control is one of the most difficult skills in curling and is measured by timing the stone between hog lines (split times).

A stone is considered in play once it reaches the tee line at the delivery end (hog line for Wheelchair Curling), and is considered delivered once it reaches the hog line at the delivery end (R5(g)).

5.4 Sweeping

Sweeping is a critical skill that allows players to influence a stone's speed and trajectory after release:

• Mechanics: Sweepers vigorously brush the ice surface directly in front of the moving stone. This friction heats the pebble, creating a thin film of water that reduces friction between the stone and ice.
• Effects: Sweeping causes the stone to travel farther (by reducing friction) and straighter (by reducing curl).
• Between hog lines: A stationary stone must be set in motion before it can be swept. Once set in motion by a delivered stone, directly or indirectly, it may be swept by any one or more of the team it belongs to, anywhere in front of the tee line at the playing end (R8(b)).
• Behind the tee line: Behind the tee line at the playing end, only one player from each team may sweep at any one time — any player of the delivering team, but only the skip or vice-skip of the non-delivering team (R8(f)). The delivering team has first privilege of sweeping its own stone but must not obstruct the opponent's sweeping (R8(g)).
• No sweeping before hog line: A delivered stone must not be swept until it has crossed the hog line at the delivering end (R8(e)).

Rule R8(a) of the WCF's August 2026 Rules of Curling sets out specific restrictions on sweeping technique: sweeping may be in any direction and need not cover the entire width of a stone, but the brush head must not be raised in front of a moving stone, must not deposit debris in front of a moving stone, and a sweeping motion must finish to either side of the stone rather than in front of it. In officiated play, umpires observe sweeping under R8(a); if an umpire sees a team sweeping its own stone in violation of these restrictions, an official warning is issued to the entire team. Any subsequent violation by the same team during the same event is penalised: if it occurs during a Last Stone Draw, the maximum distance achieved is recorded against the team; if it occurs during a game, the non-offending team may choose either to let the delivered stone remain in play or to remove it and restore any stones displaced by the violation to their prior positions (R8(a)).

5.5 Free Guard Zone Rule

The Free Guard Zone (FGZ) rule is one of the most important strategic rules in modern curling. Under Rule R6(a)–(b), a stone that comes to rest between the hog line and the tee line at the playing end, excluding the house, is deemed to be within the FGZ. If, prior to the delivery of the sixth stone of an end, a delivered stone causes an opposition stone to be moved directly or indirectly from the FGZ to an out-of-play position, the delivered stone is removed from play and any displaced stones are restored by the non-offending team to their positions prior to the violation (R6(b)).

A related provision, the No-Tick Shot rule (R7), applies before the delivery of the sixth stone of an end: if a delivered stone causes an opposition stone touching the centre line within the FGZ to be moved to an off-centre-line position, or to a position outside the FGZ, the non-offending team may choose either to remove the delivered stone and restore all displaced stones to their prior positions, or to leave all stones where they came to rest (R7(a)). If the stone is instead moved from the centre line to an out-of-play position, the ordinary FGZ rule (R6(b)) applies. Neither R6 nor R7 apply to Wheelchair Curling or Mixed Doubles (R6(c), R7(c)).

5.6 Mixed Doubles Specific Rules

• Pre-placed ("positioned") stones: Before each end, one stone per team is pre-positioned at the playing end. Under Rule R17(f), as it applies from the 2026–27 season, the two placement options are Position A — a guard stone bisected by the centre line, placed immediately in front of or behind one of four marked points on the centre line at 4 ft 6 in (1.372 m), 6 ft 6 in (1.981 m), 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m), and 10 ft 6 in (3.200 m) from the outermost edge of the top of the house — and Position B — a stone in the back of the house, bisected by the centre line, with its back edge aligned to the back edge of the 4-foot ring. One team places its stone in either Position A or B, and the opponent's stone is placed in whichever position remains (R17(f)). This four-point centre-guard layout replaces the previous three-marked-point, six-option system used through the 2025–26 season.
• Power Play: Once per game, when it holds the decision on placement, a team may invoke the Power Play (not available in extra ends). The in-house stone (Position B) is moved to either side of the house, with its back edge on the tee line at the point where the 8-foot and 12-foot rings meet; the guard stone (Position A) is shifted to the same side of the sheet, at the same distance from the house used for the centre guard that game (R17(f)(III)).
• Decision on placement: Teams use the LSD to determine which side has the decision on placement in the first end (the lesser LSD distance decides); thereafter, the team that did not score in the previous end has the decision. If neither team scores, the team that delivered the first stone of that end retains the decision for the next end (R17(g)).
• Sweeping: While a team is in the process of delivery, the non-delivering player may be anywhere on the team's sheet. After delivery, either or both players may sweep their team's delivered stone and any stones it sets in motion, anywhere in front of the tee line at the playing end, including during the LSD (R17(l)).
• Protected stones: The standard FGZ rule (R6) does not apply in Mixed Doubles (R6(c)). Instead, under R17(e), if a delivered stone causes any previously delivered or placed stone to be moved to an out-of-play position before the delivery of the fourth stone of an end, the delivered stone is removed and the displaced stone restored — in effect protecting stones delivered or placed through the first three deliveries of each end.

5.7 Strategy and Shot Types

• Draw: A stone delivered to come to rest at a specific location, typically in the house.
• Guard: A stone placed in front of the house to protect a scoring stone behind it.
• Takeout: A stone delivered with enough weight to remove an opponent's stone from play.
• Hit-and-roll: A takeout where the delivered stone rolls to a strategic position after contact.
• Freeze: A draw that comes to rest directly against an opponent's stone, making it difficult to remove without also removing the frozen stone.
• Raise: A stone that strikes a stationary stone (often a guard) and promotes it into the house or to a better position.
• Peel: A takeout of a guard where the delivered stone also exits play, clearing the path.
• Come-around: A draw that curls behind a guard stone and comes to rest in a protected position.
• Angle raise: A shot that strikes a stone at an angle to redirect it to a desired target.

5.8 Timing and Clocks

At WCF international events, thinking time clocks are used to manage the pace of play. Each team's clock runs only while that team is making decisions (from the moment the opponent's stone comes to rest until the delivering player's stone is released):

• 10-end games: 38 minutes of thinking time per team.
• 8-end games (Mixed Doubles): 22 minutes of thinking time per team.
• Extra ends: Each team receives 4 minutes 30 seconds of additional thinking time per extra end.

Travel time (walking between ends, getting into position) does not count against thinking time. If a team's thinking time expires, the team forfeits the game.

Section 6: Scoring

6.1 End Scoring

After all 16 stones (10 in Mixed Doubles) have been delivered in an end, the vice-skips from each team jointly determine the score. Only one team can score per end. The team with the stone closest to the tee (button) scores one point for each of its stones that is closer to the tee than the opponent's closest stone. In Mixed Doubles, the "positioned" stones placed before the end are eligible to be counted in the scoring (R17(b)).

6.2 Determining Position

A stone must be touching or within the 12-foot ring (the outermost circle of the house) to be eligible for scoring. The ring lines themselves are part of the house. A stone may be measured only visually until the last stone of the end has come to rest (R2(i)); when it is unclear which stone is closest to the tee, officials use a measuring device that pivots from the tee to determine the distance from the centre of each stone to the tee.

6.3 Blank Ends

If no stones from either team are in the house at the conclusion of an end, the end is blanked (no score is recorded). The team that had the hammer retains it for the next end. Deliberate blanking is a common strategic tactic: a team with the hammer may intentionally remove all stones to preserve last-stone advantage for the following end.

6.4 Extra Ends

If the score is tied after the regulation number of ends (10 or 8), extra ends are played until one team leads at the conclusion of an end. Each team receives 4 minutes 30 seconds of additional thinking time per extra end. The hammer for the first extra end follows the standard rule (awarded to the team that did not score in the last regulation end). The Mixed Doubles Power Play option is not available in extra ends (R17(f)(III)).

6.5 Concession

A team may concede the game at any point by offering a handshake to the opposing skip. Concession typically occurs when the score deficit is too large to overcome in the remaining ends. Conceding is not considered unsportsmanlike and is in keeping with the Spirit of Curling.

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

7.1 Hog Line Violation

Under Rule R5(e), the delivering player must clearly release the stone from the hand before it reaches the near (delivery-end) hog line. If the stone is not released in time, it is immediately removed from play by the delivering team; if it is not immediately removed and it strikes another stone, the delivered stone is removed and any displaced stones are restored by the non-offending team (R5(f)). At WCF events, the Eye on the Hog electronic handle system automatically detects the release point: a green light on the handle indicates a clean release, while a red light indicates a violation. In events without electronic handles, a hog-line judge makes the determination visually.

7.2 Touched Running Stone (Burned Stone)

Rule R9 governs touched moving stones. Between the tee line at the delivery end and the hog line at the playing end, if a moving stone is touched by the team to which it belongs, or by their equipment, the touched stone is removed from play immediately by that team (R9(a)(I)); a double touch of the handle by the delivering player before the delivery-end hog line is not a violation. If touched by the opposition or an external force, a delivered stone is redelivered, or a non-delivered stone is placed where the team reasonably considers it would have come to rest (R9(a)(II)). Inside the hog line at the playing end, if a moving stone is touched by the team to which it belongs, the non-offending team's skip may choose to: remove the touched stone and restore displaced stones; leave all stones where they came to rest; or place all stones where they reasonably consider they would have come to rest had the touch not occurred (R9(b)(I)).

7.3 Free Guard Zone Violation

If a team removes an opponent's stone from the Free Guard Zone before the delivery of the sixth stone of the end, the delivered stone is removed and the displaced FGZ stone is restored to its original position by the non-offending team; any other affected stones are likewise restored (R6(b)). A related violation under the No-Tick Shot rule (R7) applies when a delivered stone moves an opposition stone touching the centre line within the FGZ to an off-centre-line position or out of the FGZ before the sixth stone of the end; the non-offending team may choose to remove the delivered stone and restore displaced stones, or leave all stones as they came to rest (R7(a)).

7.4 Sweeping Technique Violation

Rule R8(a) of the WCF's August 2026 Rules of Curling prohibits specific sweeping techniques: raising the brush head in front of a moving stone, depositing debris in front of a moving stone, or failing to finish a sweeping motion to the side of the stone. In officiated play, an umpire who observes a team sweeping its own stone in violation of these restrictions issues an official warning to the entire team. Any subsequent violation by the same team during the same event carries a penalty: during a Last Stone Draw, the maximum distance achieved is recorded against the team; during a game, the non-offending team may choose to let the delivered stone remain in play or to remove it and restore any stones it displaced to their prior positions (R8(a)).

7.5 Delivery Out of Order

If a player delivers a stone out of proper rotation, under Rule R5(j) the end continues as if the mistake had not occurred: the player who missed a turn delivers the last stone for that team in that end, or, if it cannot be determined who delivered out of order, the player who delivered the team's first stone in the end delivers the last stone.

7.6 Stone Crossing the Back Line or Side Line

A stone that completely crosses the outside edge of the back line at the playing end is removed from play immediately (R2(g)). A stone that touches a divider or a side line is removed from play immediately and prevented from entering an adjacent sheet (R2(h)). A stone that does not come to rest completely beyond the inside edge of the hog line at the playing end is also removed, unless it strikes another stone already in play (R2(f)).

7.7 Time Violation

If a team's thinking time expires on the game clock, the team forfeits the game. This is strictly enforced at WCF international events. Teams are responsible for monitoring their remaining time.

7.8 Equipment and Conduct Violations

• Illegal broom heads: Use of non-approved broom head material results in disqualification from the event.
• Prohibited substances: Under Rule R18, use of performance-enhancing drugs without a therapeutic use exemption, whether taken knowingly or otherwise, is prohibited; violators are disqualified from the competition, their Member Association is notified, and further suspension may follow.
• Inappropriate behaviour: Rule R19 prohibits improper conduct, foul or offensive language, equipment abuse, or wilful damage by any team member. A violation may result in suspension of the offending person(s) by the curling organisation having jurisdiction.
• Electronic devices: Players may not use electronic communication devices or receive coaching signals during play (except during designated timeouts).

Section 8: Safety Considerations

8.1 Ice Surface Safety

• Footwear: All players and officials must wear clean, appropriate curling footwear. Slider guards must be worn when not delivering to prevent accidental falls.
• No running: Running on the ice surface is strictly prohibited. Players must walk carefully, especially when moving between ends.
• Awareness of moving stones: All personnel on the ice must remain aware of stones in motion. A moving stone weighing up to 19.96 kg (44 lb, per R2(a)) can cause serious injury to feet, ankles, and shins.

8.2 Equipment Safety

• Brooms: Brooms must not be thrown, slammed, or used in any manner that could damage the ice surface or endanger other players.
• Stones: Players must not drop or kick stones. Stones should be placed gently on the ice when being positioned.
• Stabiliser devices: Players using delivery sticks or stabiliser aids must ensure they are in good condition and do not leave debris on the ice.

8.3 Facility and Environmental Safety

• Ice maintenance: The ice surface must be properly maintained between games, including re-pebbling and temperature monitoring. Deteriorated ice with excessive frost, uneven pebble, or pooling water must be addressed before play resumes.
• Ventilation: Curling facilities must maintain adequate ventilation. Ice-making equipment that uses ammonia or other refrigerants must comply with local safety regulations.
• Emergency access: Clear pathways to exits must be maintained. First aid equipment and trained personnel should be available at all sanctioned events.
• Cold exposure: Players should dress in layers appropriate for extended periods in sub-zero temperatures. Facilities should monitor for signs of hypothermia or cold-related illness during extended competitions.

8.4 Warm-Up and Physical Preparation

Players should perform appropriate warm-up exercises before taking the ice, particularly for the lower body, core, and shoulders. The deep lunge required for stone delivery places significant strain on the hips, knees, and quadriceps. Stretching and mobility work helps prevent injury over the course of a multi-game event.