Rules and Format of Play

Format and Rules of Play

1. Introduction

This document outlines the format and rules of play for both the Whitby Curling Club (WCC) Ladies Section rated league and team entry/skip’s choice league. The rated league plays on Mondays and Thursdays while the team entry league plays on Tuesdays.  As the format and rules differ for each league, they will be documented in two separate sections.

The owner of this document is the Vice Chair of the WCC Ladies Executive.  All proposals for changes must be presented in writing to the Ladies Executive who in turn will assess and determine the requirement to present the change(s) to the membership for a vote. 

1. Monday and Thursday Rated League Format and Rules
   1. Format

There will be three draws over the season with approximately seven games per draw. At the end of each draw the team that has accumulated the most points will be the trophy winner. The trophy winner and second place teams will be awarded prizes. 

The games committee will make up the teams for Monday and Thursday curling. The committee will post the schedules in the ladies locker room.

The Free Guard Zone (FGZ) applies for all games. A game will consist of a minimum of six completed ends. In the event both skips agree to terminate after six ends, only the number of ends played is recorded. The winning team is not awarded the ends not played. 

1. Time

The game starts at 1:00PM.

a) Each team is expected to keep the games moving to play within the two hour time period. The computerized clock at the viewing end of the club will turn red and give a warning sound when the clock runs down to zero time.  When the clock turns red that means you may complete the end you are playing and one more.

b) An end has begun if the first rock is in motion.

c) In the event the computerized clock does not sound or run down to zero time, both teams are expected to monitor the time displayed on the computerized clock on the scoreboard wall in the curling rink. In this case, no new end will be started after 1450 hrs/2:50 pm. 

1. Team

A team consists of four players, but it may play with three players, provided two members are regular members of the team. With a team of three, two players throw three stones each, leaving two for the skip. 

In fairness to the team, if a member is going to be away for more than 50% of the draw, she should consider being a rover or sharing the position with another curler who is of an equal rating or within one rating point.  This should be discussed with the Games Convenor who has final approval.

1. Rovers

A rover must be a lady member of the WCC that is in good standing.  She may be a full member or she may be a social member.  A social member may play up to three games in the curling season.

A rover will play lead position and each member of the team will move up a position accordingly with the exception of the following:

1. If both the skip and the vice are absent, one rover may play skip position and the other will follow the rover rule (conflicts will be resolved by the Games Committee). 
2. If the lead is a brand new curler (less than one year curling experience from any league or club ) she does not have to move up. 

Each player is responsible for arranging her own rover and notifying her skip. If the skip is unable to curl please notify the vice. 

Under certain circumstances,  the Games committee can provide a permanent replacement, however the original member cannot return for that draw. 

In the event that a team member is participating in an Ontario Curling Association (OCA) event, it is WCC policy to allow a player of the same or a lower rating to replace the OCA participant. This policy is in place so that a member’s team will not be adversely affected while she is representing the club at an OCA event. The policy states that “Anyone curling in any OCA competition will be exempted from regular play and cannot default. Curlers may replace themselves with substitutes of equal or lower rating to the position” i.e., If a vice is missing, the position may be replaced by a vice or a second but not by a skip. The lead and second would not have to move up a position but would remain in their normal positions. 

1. Latecomers and Forfeits

OCA rules will apply for latecomers and it states in Section 5 Teams rule 5(a) that: “A team that commences a game with three players and expect the fourth player to join the team, the fourth player may enter an end already in progress providing they are able to deliver a stone within the team’s established delivery rotation.”  This also means that the fourth player may not enter the game to sweep if she cannot deliver at least one stone within the established rotation. 

If unable to ice a team at 1:00 p.m, a score of one point and the end will be lost for every 15 minutes with a limit of one half hour. Therefore the non-offending team receives a score of one point and the end.  Additionally, one end of the game is considered completed.  If the play has not started after 30 minutes the non-offending team is declared winner by forfeit.  Reference 2.8 Scoring for scoring a forfeited game.

1. Defaults

In the event that a team cannot play a game as per the schedule, and all possible spares have been exhausted, the offending team should notify the non-offending team as well as the Games Convenor.  Under unusual circumstances in which a game might have to be defaulted, the non-offending team wins by default/and receives 10 points for the win plus 4 ends for a total of 14 points. The offending team receives 0 points. 

if the non-offending team arrives at the club and is not notified prior to their arrival, the game will be treated as a forfeit and points will be awarded as above. 

1. Byes

When a team is assigned a bye in the schedule, it does not play a game on that date. This usually occurs as a result of an odd number of teams in the draw and therefore not all teams will play the same number of games.  A bye will not penalize a team. Scoring is done as follows: total accumulated points divided by the number of games played times the number of games in the draw. For example: 60 points, divided by six games played, times seven games in the draw = 70 points. 

1. Scoring

Each game is scored as follows:

1. Ten points for a win
2. Five points for a tie
3. One point for each end scored
4. Half a point per blank end
5. 14 points for a team winning by default or forfeit , plus 4 ends
6. Zero to the team who defaults or forfeits a game

In the event that there are byes in the schedule, scoring is adjusted as discussed in section 2.7.

The accumulated points for each team are posted on the ladies section bulletin board in the ladies locker room.  In the event that teams are tied in points, the tie will be broken as follows:

1. Determine if tied teams played each other; the winner of game will move ahead of loser to break tie; if tie still not broken, then
2. Determine total ends won by each team(s); rank team(s) in decreasing order of ends to break tie; if tie still not broken, then

1. Determine differential (total ‘points for’ versus total ‘points against’); rank team(s) in decreasing order of differential to break tie

1. Weather

In case of extreme weather conditions any decision regarding the playing of games will be made by 11am. The Games committee in agreement with the WCC will determine whether the games will be played.  The games committee will notify the skips who will in turn notify their respective team members. 

1. 3.10. CurlON (formerly OCA ) Rules

Except for the aforementioned in-house rules CurlON rules apply. Beginning October 2018, in accordance with CurlON ,  the 5 rock rule will be adapted by the Whitby Curling Club

 TUESDAY LADIES SKIP’S CHOICE CURLING

Format

As the number of teams varies each year, the regular curling season will consist of round robin draws, or possibly skins play for one draw. Should there be need for change to the playoff format, due to the number of participating teams, this will be determined by the membership at the beginning of the season The round robin games are eight ends. A minimum of 6 ends must be played. At the end of the round robin(s), all teams will enter the playoffs.

Total cumulative points from the round robin draws will determine placement in the playoffs. The teams with the most points will play in the A division while the remaining teams will play in B division. 

Should the membership decide to reinstate skins play after the round robin format, then please see Section 3.13 ( Skins Play ) for format and rules. 

The Free Guard Zone (FGZ) applies for all games. 

1. Time

The game starts at 1:00PM.

a) Each team is expected to keep the games moving to play within the two hour time period. The computerized clock at the viewing end of the club will turn red and give a warning sound when the clock runs down to zero time.  When the clock turns red that means you may complete the end you are playing and one more.

b) An end has begun if the first rock is in motion.

c) In the event the computerized clock does not sound or run down to zero time, both teams are expected to monitor the time displayed on the computerized clock on the scoreboard wall in the curling rink. In this case, no new end will be started after 1450 hrs/2:50 pm. 

1. Team

A team will consist of four players of any rating but may play with three if necessary. When playing with three players, the lead and second will throw three rocks and the skip will throw the last two rocks. 

Any team wishing to have 5 players must declare their 5 person team at the beginning of the curling season. Additionally, each person on the team must pay the full amount towards the league’s prizes to be eligible for a prize and to have their name on the applicable trophy.

1. Rovers

A rover must be a lady member of the W.C.C that is in good standing.  She may be a full member or she may be a social member.  A social member may play up to three games in the curling season.

Rovers of any rating may be substituted in any position.  In regular season play you must have one original member.  In playoffs, at least two of the original members must participate.

The WCC policy discussed in section 2.4 above, regarding replacement of team members participating in OCA events, does not apply to the Tuesday team entry league as it is not a rated league.

1. Latecomers and Forfeits

OCA rules will apply for latecomers and it states in Section 5 Teams rule 5(a) that: “A team that commences a game with three players and expect the fourth player to join the team, the fourth player may enter an end already in progress providing they are able to deliver a stone within the team’s established delivery rotation.”  This also means that the fourth player may not enter the game to sweep if she cannot deliver at least one stone within the established rotation. 

During regular season, if two or more members are late in arriving & are unable to ice a team at 1:00 p.m, a score of one point and an end will be lost for every 15 minutes with a limit of one half hour.  If the play has not started after 30 minutes, the non-offending team is declared winner by forfeit.  This applies to all games played in the round robin format.  The winning team, as a result of the forfeit, is awarded one point for the win and four ends.  The offending team gets zero for the loss and zero for the ends.

1. Defaults

In the event that a team cannot play a game during the round robin format schedule, the team must notify the opposition. Every attempt will be made to play a make-up game so that there is no default. The make-up game must be played before the end of the draw (ice to be arranged with the club manager).  If, after every attempt is made to come to a mutually acceptable day and time for a make-up game, and teams are unable to come to an agreement, each team will receive zero points and zero ends. 

 During the playoffs, all games must be played. A make-up game must be played before the end of the draw.

1. Bye

When a team is assigned a bye in the schedule, it does not play a game on that date. This usually occurs as a result of an odd number of teams in the draw and therefore not all teams will play the same number of games.  A bye will not penalize a team. Scoring is done as follows: total accumulated points divided by the number of games played times the number of games in the draw. For example: 60 points, divided by six games played, times seven games in the draw = 70 points. 

1. Round Robin Format, Rules and Scoring

There must be a winner in each game.  The winner is appointed 1 point on the score board posted in the ladies locker room.  The loser is appointed a zero for the game.  Although each game is only appointed one point for the win, both teams must record their final score and number of ends won.  This information will be important in determining placement of teams for the playoff format and is an aid for resolving any ties in accumulated team points. 

A game will consist of a minimum of six completed ends. In the event both skips agree to terminate the game after six ends only the number of ends played will be recorded. The winning team is not awarded the ends not played. 

In the event there is a tie game after end of regulation play, the tie must be broken by a draw to the button with sweeping.  The team closest to the button is awarded the win.If the rings are not reached by both initial throwers, then two other players shall throw next and so on, until the rings are reached and a winner is declared.

At the end of the draw the games committee will review the score sheet to determine that the accumulated points have been correctly recorded.  The committee will then rank each team in order of accumulated points to determine two divisions of teams for the playoffs.  In the event that teams are tied in points, the ties will be broken as follows:

1. Determine if tied teams played each other; the winner of game will move ahead of loser to break tie; if tie still not broken, then
2. Determine total ends won by each team(s); rank team(s) in decreasing order of ends to break tie; if tie still not broken, then
3. Determine differential (total ‘points for’ versus total ‘points against’); rank team(s) in decreasing order of differential to break tie
4. Points from the 'shoot out' scoring could apply

3. 9  Playoff Format, Rules  and  Scoring

The Games Convenor will give each skip a shoot out ( draw to the button)  scoresheet. This must be completed by each team and returned to the Games Convenor prior to the start of the playoff round. 

For the playoffs there will be two divisions playing a round robin format.  Each team will be ranked in order of accumulated points totalled from both the round robin draw(s).  Assuming that there are 12 teams, the A division will comprise the top six teams while the B division will comprise the next six teams.  The Games committee will determine how the divisions are set up in the event that there are less than 12 teams.

There must be a winner in each game.  The winner is appointed 1 point on the score board posted in the ladies locker room.  The loser is appointed a zero for the game.  Although each game is only appointed one point for the win, both teams must record their final score and number of ends won.

All games must be played and therefore defaults or forfeits will not be permitted.  A make-up game must be played before the end of the draw. 

A minimum of six ends must be completed. Both skips must agree in order to terminate the game after six ends.  The winning team is not awarded the ends not played.

In the event there is a tie game after end of regulation play, the tie must be broken by a full end played towards the glass.

Once the playoff draw is completed the accumulated points for each team is reviewed by the games committee.  The trophy winner for each of A and B division is determined by these points.  In the event there is a tie(s) for first place, the tie(s) must be broken as follows:

1. If two teams are tied for first place they shall play a tie-breaker to determine the champion. This game shall take place on a mutually agreed upon day by the two teams and club manager. The game must be completed before the closing banquet. 

1. In the event that there is a three-way tie, the scores from the shoot out sheets, (that were completed prior to the end of the round robin schedule), shall determine which team will be in the #1 position for the final game and which two teams will play off to meet the #1 team in the championship game. The #2 and #3 teams shall play their game as soon as possible ( pre-arranged with the club manager)  in order that the championship game be played prior to the closing banquet.

1. In the event of a four-way tie, the shoot out scores as in (b) will determine places one through four. The team in the #1 spot will play the team in the #4 spot and the team in #2 spot will play the team in the #3 spot as soon as possible  ( pre-arranged with the club manager)  in order that the championship game be played prior to the closing banquet.

3. 10   Trophies

The Gord Carroll Manager’s Trophy is awarded to the team that accumulates the most points over the entire season prior to the playoffs.  A team must play the whole season to be eligible. 

The R.J.Winters Services Trophy is awarded to the winner of the A division during the round robin playoff draw.

The Munro Trophy is awarded to the winner of the B division during the round robin playoff draw. 

During the awards ceremony, the Gord Carroll Manager’s trophy is awarded first. The winning team receives an award/gift card from the presenter. 

The winner of the R J Winters Services trophy is presented next with each winning team member receiving a gift card/prize.

The presentation of the Sharon Munro trophy to the B division winner follows with each team member receiving a gift card/prize. 

An announcement will be made to inform the membership of the finish position of the remaining teams, beginning with the A division and then the B division. However, the remaining teams in A & B division will not come up to receive their gift card/prize, but these will go to a designated team member, at their convenience, throughout the evening of the closing dinner

3. 11 Weather

In case of extreme weather conditions any decision regarding the playing of games will be made by 11am. The Games committee in agreement with the WCC will determine whether the games will be played.  The games committee will notify the skips who will in turn notify their respective team members.

3. 12  CurlON ( formerly O.C.A.)  Rules

Except for the aforementioned in-house rules CurlON rules apply. Beginning October 2018, in accordance with CurlON ,  the 5 rock rule will be adapted by the Whitby Curling Club

3.13  Skins Play

Should the membership decide to have a skins format incorporated into their round robin play, the following rules have been established. 

At the end of the round robin draw the games committee will review the score sheet to determine that the accumulated points have been correctly recorded.  The committee will then rank each team in order of accumulated points to determine two divisions of teams for the skins format draw.  In the event that teams are tied in points, the ties will be broken as follows:

1. Determine if tied teams played each other; the winner of game will move ahead of loser to break tie; if tie still not broken, then
2. Determine total ends won by each team(s); rank team(s) in decreasing order of ends to break tie; if tie still not broken, then
3. Determine differential (total ‘points for’ versus total ‘points against’); rank team(s) in decreasing order of differential to break tie
4. Points from the 'shoot out' scoring could apply

Skins Format, Rules and Scoring

For the skins draw there will be two divisions.  Each team will be ranked in order of accumulated points after the round robin play as discussed in section 3.8 above.  Assuming that there are 12 teams, the A division will comprise the top six teams while the B division will comprise the next six teams.  The Games committee will determine how the divisions are set up in the event that there are less than 12 teams.

The format for skins play is as follows:

1. All games are seven ends.
2. Free guard zone rule applies.

Once the draw is completed the accumulated points for each team is reviewed by the games committee.  The games committee will add these points to the points from the first draw of round robin play.  The teams will then be ranked in order of total points from both draws to determine the two divisions for the final playoffs.  In the event that teams are tied in points, only games from the round robin play will be used to break the ties as described in section 3.8. 

3.13.1 Skins Rules of Play 

1. Each end will be referred to as a skin.
2. A coin flip will determine the hammer and the stone colour.
3. If a team has the hammer, you must have at least two stones counting to take the skin.
4. If a team does not have the hammer, you must steal at least one rock to take the skin.
5. If the team with the hammer only counts one point or the end is blanked, the skin is carried over and added to the value of the next skin.
6. After a skin is taken by a team, the hammer belongs to the other team for the next end (same as when you win the end in a regular game, the other team gets the hammer).
7. The hammer will also turn over to the opposing team if the end is blanked or the team with the hammer only counts one stone for the end. 
8. If a skin is not earned in the seventh end (or the last end of the competition) each team shall designate one player to draw to the house, with sweeping and choice of target permitted. The skin (and carry over if applicable) shall be awarded to the team drawing closest to the button.    

3.13.2 Skins Scoring

Each end of play will be scored as follows:

End 1 – 1 point

End 2 – 1 point

End 3 – 2 points

End 4 – 2 points

End 5 – 2 points

End 6 – 4 points

End 7 – 5 points