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.