Guiding Principles
Our club has utilized the Curling Canada / CurlON Return to Play Guidelines and tailored them to the unique needs of KCC and the Trisan facility specific restrictions.
The KCC Board of Directors believes a safe return to curling play can be achieved by following the CurlON Guidelines, *current Provincial guidelines, and local municipal health and safety regulations.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (1/31/22)
As per the recent changes announced by the Provincial government it will be required for the 2021-2022 season that every member over the age of 12 will have to have received two doses of a Health Canada approved vaccine (or any combination of two vaccines is acceptable) at least 14 days prior to beginning to start participating at the KCC.
If there are members who have not been vaccinated and provide a medical certificate or doctor's note indicating their inability to be vaccinated, then the KCC Club will try to ensure reasonable accommodation.
We are committed to doing our part in keeping the members and our community safe. In light of the current pandemic landscape this is the safest and most responsible way forward. If you have any questions about this or any other club policy, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The current Provincial guidelines require that everyone entering a public facility must provide proof of double vaccination *using an Enhanced Vaccine Certificate with QR code. Either in digital form (on your phone) or a printed copy will be accepted. If you have not already obtained yours, pleave visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/proof-covid-19-vaccination to download or learn more. The Township of King will have a representative present at the Trisan Centre who will review and confirm your vaccination status at point of entry each day upon arrival. *Be prepared to show one piece of government issued photo identification along with your proof of vaccination. If you do not present *your Enhanced Vaccine Certificate with QR code, access to the facility will be denied.
*Please note the King Township Daily Screening Form is no longer required, instead you must now answer COVID screening questions at point of entry.
The following guidelines are to be followed for the 2021/22 Season. These guidelines may be revised at any time during the season in response to changing government regulations and/or at the discretion of the King Curling Club Board of Directors.
General guidelines:
- All Members must, prior to the start of the season, sign a Declaration of Compliance – COVID-19 and a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims and Indemnity Agreement. In the case of minors (under 18 years of age) an Informed Consent and Assumption of Risk Agreement. These forms will be made available as part of the registration process.
- KCC is encouraging ill people or people who are at risk for severe illness not to attend. In addition we are asking each member to:
- Stay at home if they or anyone in their household are exhibiting signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and immediately notify KCC of their condition.
- Self isolate and not attend the KCC for *a minimum 5 days if diagnosed (confirmed or presumptive) or exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (please refer to Government of Ontario regulations for current isolation policies; depending on circumstances longer isolation periods may be required).
- *If within 48 hours after attending the King Curling Club you either fall ill, or know/suspect you have COVID, please stay home and inform the Club immediately. For your privacy, we have established a confidential and dedicated email account for you to use for this purpose, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Your identity will be kept private.
- Members are required to follow all directional signage located throughout the facility and be aware and maintain a safe physical distance from others at all times.
- Physical distancing approximately (2m/6 feet) must be observed at all times in the Curling Rink and all other areas of the Trisan facility;
- Access to the lounge and locker rooms has been approved by the Township as well as use of the bar and kitchen however there are imposed restrictions. Social distancing of 2 metres must be maintained at all times, and masks must be worn at all times unless eating or drinking *while seated. The lounge will be open with the restriction of 8 persons seated per 2 tables pushed together. The locker rooms will be open however social distancing must be maintained. Given the close proximity of lockers and the limited space in the locker rooms KCC is strongly recommending that you arrive dressed with your curling clothing on and only change into your curling shoes on arrival. If you must use the locker room it will be your responsibility to make sure that social distancing is maintained at all times. This may mean waiting until others are finished and have left the room before entering. Washroom facilities will be open however you must maintain social distancing. Showers will be closed and off limits. The bar will be available for those who decide they would like to use the lounge. Please note that KCC has gone to a tap payment system at the bar and cash will no longer be accepted. The kitchen is available for use provided social distancing is maintained.
- Trisan will provide hand sanitizing stations strategically placed throughout the facility.
- Spectators will be allowed on a limited basis, but must not attend while players are in the lounge.
- It is recommended that players bring their own equipment to the playing surface, however club equipment will be available for those who need it.
- Scoreboard use will be permitted however each sheet must designate one player to keep score for both teams. Vices of each team will be required to keep track and reach agreement on game scores. For relevant leagues, vices will be required to report game scores to their league convenors within 24 hours following game play.
- Reciprocals, inter-club bonspiels, guests, and 3rd party rentals will not be permitted until further advised;
- “Hand-shaking or high 5’s” are not permitted, but players are encouraged to demonstrate other kind gestures pre/post play;
- Water dispensing coolers will be removed from the Ice shed. Members will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles for their own personal use and not to share with other members. We ask that you please identify your water bottle by placing a label or marking your name on the container.
Face Covering / Mask Wearing:
The King Township policy states all persons entering the facility must wear a mask. King Curling Club will require that face coverings or masks be worn at all times with the following exceptions only:
- While delivering a stone
- *While sweeping a stone if done alone, i.e. single sweeper (if using 2 sweepers on the rock, then both must wear masks).
- *While seated in the lounge consuming food or beverage.
- *Youth League and Little Rock Members must wear masks at all times while in the ice shed, no exceptions.
* Masks need to be worn so they fully cover your mouth, nose and chin at all times.
On-ice guidelines for safe social distancing:
KCC will be following the CurlON on-ice distancing guidelines. For greater certainty, the following KCC guidelines apply:
- Coins will not be available for pre-game coin toss. Use your own coin or alternate method.
- *Sweeping a delivered stone, two scenarios allowed; 1) one sweeper over the rock (with or without a mask), the otherwise second sweeper will have to stay at the throwing end of the sheet and will not be involved in the shot. No relaying (second sweeper taking over halfway down the sheet); or 2) two sweepers over the rock, mandatory that both be wearing masks. Under either scenario, if the thrown rock comes into contact with another rock, the sweeper(s) can only sweep rocks of their own colour and only as far as the Tee Line. The ice will have locations marked for players to stand while not involved.
- As much as possible, yelling to direct sweepers should be minimized. Consider the use of hand signals.
- *Sweeping of rocks behind the Tee Line, whether it be the shooter or rocks of either colour put into motion during play, will be allowed but only by the Skips, from either team, and always while wearing their masks. It is conceivable that both skips could be sweeping the same rock behind the Tee Line.
- Opposing skip is to stay on the backboards when opponents are making a shot. * Exception, as each individual shot is made, once a rock enters the house, the opposing skip may leave the backboard to sweep a rock, of either colour, but only behind the Tee Line and always while wearing a mask.
- No swapping of rocks between team members will be allowed during a game.
- *Curling Canada has a recommended process for curler movement and on ice positioning during play in order to maintain adequate social distancing. Please see the illustration at bottom. Special markers have been installed on the ice to indicate where players are to be positioned during play. We ask all members to abide by these recommendations. Please carefully study the Illustration and come prepared to follow these guidelines.
- There will be no water jug or cups provided so please bring your own water bottles with ID markings.
- KCC owned curling equipment is available for use however the Club strongly recommends you bring your own.
- Scoreboards will be available however one person per sheet should be designated to keep score for the game.
- After completion of an end, only 2 predetermined players from each team should be involved in returning rocks to their backboard ready position. While maintaining adequate social distancing, one player can feed the rocks to the player who is placing them in order. At game’s end, if rocks need to be returned from the far end of the sheet, all curlers can be involved in transporting them but only while maintaining adequate social distance. We recommend they be delivered to the back of the house where it will be left to the 2 designated players from each team to organize the rocks as discussed above.
- *Teams will start games at alternating ends of the ice pad. You will now find the rocks for sheets ‘I’ and ‘G’ at the ‘far end’ for starting a game, while ‘K’ and ‘N’ rocks will remain in their traditional ‘near end’ of the sheet. Please remember to return the rocks at the end of play according to this new set-up.
Youth League specific guidelines:
- We are reviewing our Little Rock (ages 7 -11) program to ensure social distancing for this age group. Parents/guardians may be limited to drop off and pick up of minors at the facility entrance. *Masks must always be worn while in the ice shed.
- Our Youth members (U15, U18 and U21) will follow the same pre-game, on-ice and post-game guidelines as proposed for our adult members *with the exception that they must always be wearing a mask while in the ice shed.
*Mixed Doubles League:
*Given the natural spacing of curlers during play of a Mixed Doubles game, and the low numbers of curlers involved, it will be left to the discretion of the Mixed Doubles League Convenor, in conjunction with its participants, to determine what the on ice masking rules and protocols will be.
Post and pre-game guidelines:
- Staggering arrivals may be required to comply with distancing regulations and capacity of the change room
- There will be a designated entry and exit for the ice
- Playing times may be staggered by 30 minutes to allow for social distancing between those entering / leaving the ice
- Social distancing will be required in the lounge area, and masks will be required except when eating or drinking while seated. *Up to 8 people are permitted to be seated per 2 tables pushed together.
*denotes most current updates (2/14/22)