Rules, Etiquette & Club Policies

The Cumberland Curling Club follows Curling Canada’s General Rules of Play and Curler's Code of Ethics. In addition to national rules, all members and guests must adhere to our local house rules and etiquette below.

1. Ice Etiquette & Sportsmanship

The Spirit of Curling

• The Greeting: Games always begin and end with a handshake and a customary greeting ("Good Curling", "Good Game").

• Respect: Compliment good shots, no matter which team makes them. Never celebrate or cheer an opponent's mistake.

• Broomstacking: Tradition calls for both teams to sit together in the lounge after the game. The winning team customarily offers to buy the first round of drinks for their counterparts, and the losing team returns the favor for the second round. While we highly encourage this social tradition, we will never pressure members to stay after a game, or to purchase or consume alcohol. Our canteen offers a wide selection of beverages, including pop, Gatorade, juice, and non-alcoholic beers/coolers. Always consume alcohol responsibly and ensure you have a safe plan to get home.

Position on the Ice & Courtesy

• Position for Sweepers: When your opponents are throwing, the two sweepers who are not throwing next must stand completely still in a single-file line on the extreme edge of the sheet, strictly between the hog lines. Do not cross the sheet or walk down the sidelines until the opponent's rock has been released.

• Position for the Next Thrower: To keep the game moving, the next scheduled thrower should not wait down between the hog lines. Instead, stand quietly on the extreme sideline near the backboard, well behind the hack and completely out of the opponent's line of sight.

• The House: Only Skips and Thirds (vices) are allowed behind the tee line back in the house. Leads and Seconds must remain between the hog lines unless actively sweeping.

• The Count: Other than the Vice-Skips in charge of the house, no players should stand in the house while the score is being decided or measured. Stand back beyond the back line.

Pace of Play

• Be Ready in the Hack: Delays detract from the sport. The exact millisecond the opponent releases their stone, the next thrower should step directly into the hack, clean their rock, and slide into position. You should be down in the hack, gripped, and ready to deliver your stone the moment the opponent’s rock comes to a complete stop.

• Help Your Teammates: Leads and Seconds should grab and place the next stone in front of the hack for their Third or Skip to help speed up the game.

• Keep Moving: Sweepers returning to the opposite end after a shot should walk single file at the extreme side of the sheet—never two-by-two—so you do not block the view of the throwing player.

2. House Rules: Evening Leagues

Time Limits & Game Cutoffs

• Games cannot extend beyond 1 hour and 50 minutes. Please reference the printed schedule sheets posted on the water bottle ledge to easily see exactly when your final end must begin based on your specific game start time.

• The 1 hour and 50 minute rule still applies to the final draw of the evening.This strict cutoff ensures competitive fairness across the entire league, guaranteeing that every single team has the exact same amount of time to win or lose their match. Allowing the final draw of the night to play "extra time" just because there is no game following them would give those teams an unfair advantage in the standings over teams that didn't have that luxury earlier in the evening.

Rosters & Spares

• A legal game can be played with a minimum of 3 players.

• Spares must play at or below the position of the player they are replacing (e.g., if replacing a Third, the spare can play Lead, Second, or Third, but cannot skip or throw fourth).

• Teams playing with more than two spares will automatically receive a 1-point loss (and a 3-point win for the opponent) unless agreed upon with the opposing team beforehand.

Rescheduling & No-Shows

Leagues use a point percentage system (Total Points / [Scheduled Games x 3]) for Club Championship qualification to keep standings fair across bye weeks.

• Win = 3 points | Tie = 2 points | Loss = 1 point | No-Show = 0 points

• Mutual Reschedule: If both teams agree to reschedule but cannot find a date, both receive a 2-point tie.

• Single Team Reschedule: If only one team requests a reschedule and a date cannot be found, that team receives a 1-point loss, and the opponent gets a 3-point win.

• Unannounced No-Show: 0 points for the missing team, 3-point win for the team that showed up. Please give opposing skips and the club plenty of notice if you must cancel so free ice can be reassigned.

3. Strictly Enforced Ice Rules (Top Pet Peeves)

To avoid damaging our facility or breaking official regulations, please avoid these top infractions:

1. No Cell Phones: Mobile phones are not permitted on the ice during game play.

2. Protect the Ice: Do not rest hands, knees, or your body on the ice surface. Your body heat instantly melts flat spots into the pebble.

3. No "Snowplowing": Your sweeping motion must strictly go across the running path of the stone.

4. Invalid Sweeping: Behind the tee line, only the skip or vice-skip of the non-playing team may sweep when the opposing team is playing.

5. Improper Measuring: Never use a regular broom to measure a close rock—you risk moving it and automatically forfeiting the shot. Use an official measuring device.

4. Footwear & Club Cleanliness Policy

Every speck of dirt removed at the front door protects our ice and saves hours of maintenance. This policy applies to all members, renters, and spectators:

• The Front Door Bench: Use the fold-down bench at the entrance to immediately remove outdoor footwear. Brush your shoes using the mounted boot brush.

• No Outdoor Shoes: Outdoor boots and shoes are restricted from all areas of the club, including the upstairs lounge. Place them on the entryway boot racks. Members must wear socks or bring clean "indoor-only" slippers, Crocs, or shoes. You may store your indoor lounge shoes on the change area shelves during the season (please take them home for the summer).

• Curling Shoe Care: Curling shoes should never be worn as casual lounge footwear. Clean your curling shoes and the insides of your rubber grippers regularly with warm, soapy water to remove rubber debris.

• Clothing Alert: Do not wear fleece or fuzzy materials that shed lint or "pill." Dropped fabric fibers ruin the trajectory of the rocks.

• Post-Game Clean: The non-winning team is expected to sweep the ice and clean out the hacks so they are pristine for the next draw.

5. How to Find or List a Spare

Sparing Priority

1. Consult the official club spares list.

2. Reach out to club members who have a "bye week" in your league.

3. Reach out to external spares. Note: Non-members must pay a $30 spare fee at the bar terminal before playing.

Using the Website for Spares

• To Find a Spare: Log into the website, go to the Members Home menu, and select "Find A Spare." Select your league to view available players, contact info, or to email the pool directly.

• To Volunteer to Spare: Go to Members Home > "My Sparing Availability" to check off which leagues and positions you are willing to fill in for.

🤝 Note from the Board: As Cumberland Curling Club is a 100% volunteer-run establishment, the support, clean-up efforts, and sportsmanship of all our members is what makes our seasons successful. Thank you for doing your part!