A full listing of the Rules of Curling for General Play, as published by the Canadian Curling Association is available at:
http://www.curling.ca/start-curling/rules-of-curling-for-general-play/
Following is an abbreviated version of the general rules of play followed by the Keene Curling Club.
Etiquette
1. Please show up for your games at least five minutes before your ice time, so you have time to change shoes and be on the ice at your scheduled time.
2. Teams shake hands before the commencement of play. A cordial "good curling" is often spoken.
3. To determine the order of play, vices chose heads or tails and then flip/tosses a disc. The winner of the toss chooses if their team throws rocks first or last. The other team chooses the colour of stones that they will be playing with.
4. Before throwing your rock, please set up the stone for the next opposing team’s player.
5. After all stones are thrown, and the vices have agreed on the final score for that end, leads, seconds, and vices clear the sheet of stones to get ready for the next end to commence. The winning vice posts their score on the board.
6. Thank the other team for playing with you at the end of the game by shaking hands again. A friendly "good game" is typically spoken.
Rules
1. Teams play a free guard zone game. This means that the first two stones played by each team cannot be removed unless they are touching the rings. If the stones happen to touch the rings, they are counting so they can be knocked off. If they land in a guarding position in front of the house, they can be moved around in front of the ring but can’t be taken off. If one of these stones are accidentally removed, the stone that knocked it off is taken off the sheet and the guarding stone is placed back where it was. The second’s stones are the first stones that are allowed to take out a guard. This strategy helps teams set up their end.
2. When sweeping a stone, sweepers cannot begin to sweep until their team mate has released the stone. If the stone is accidentally touched by a member of the delivering team, the stone must be removed from play.
3. A skip is not allowed to sweep the opposing teams stones unless it is past the centre or tee line in the house. A skip can sweep their own stones wherever they chose. They can go up the ice a bit and help their sweepers get the rock closer to the rings.
4. Behind the tee line, only one player from each team may sweep at any one time. This may be any player of the delivering team but only the skip or vice-skip of the non-delivering team.
5. Finally, have fun, enjoy the exercise, and friendships that you will discover on the curling ice. Plan on staying after the game to visit and get to know other members of the club.
