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).