KING CURLING CLUB SPARES POLICY - Revised December 2022

General

Curling is a team sport and as such the team suffers when a member of the team is unable show up to play.

When other commitments may interfere with a player’s ability to play, spares are used in order to ensure teams have a full complement of players and everyone enjoys the sport on a level playing ground.

This policy sets out some high-level guidelines for the use of spares. The existence of a sparing policy recognizes that appropriate use of spares is critical to the smooth functioning of all leagues in any curling club and if not handled in a fair and consistent manner will quickly become an irritant to all club members.

The sparing guidelines below have been created by your Executive and League’s Committee in the belief that guidelines may be more effective than detailed rules, as they allow for common sense to be applied in the spirit of good sportsmanship, fair play and in the interest of promoting an overall positive experience for KCC members.

Guidelines

When arranging for spares, KCC strongly recommends the following process:

• For leagues that have teams with a bye week, first approach the bye team skip or team member to ask if a team member is available
• Second is to ask a spare from the club league member spare list (available on the website or ask your convener).
• If no league spare members are available, then a club member outside the league spare list could be used as a spare.
• Non-club members may be used when it is not possible to arrange a spare from within the club or special circumstances exist.  This can be an effective way to introduce new non-members to King. However, we ask that Non-club spares be limited to no more than 3 appearances in any given league.
• For competitive leagues with a registered 5^th player the 5^th player can be their first choice and for any additional spares the above recommendations still apply.

Please recognize that timing of need does not always allow for this exact process.

KCC members spare at no charge.  Non-members pay a $10.00 fee. We ask skips to collect spare fees on behalf of the league convener. Fees can be put in an envelope clearly marked with spares name, date, and league spared in. Place envelope in mailbox outside Club Office

5^TH PLAYER POLICY FOR COMPETETIVE LEAGUES

A – A fifth team member is a player selected by the team to act as their designated spare in the event one of the registered team members is not available for any game. There will be no cost associated to naming a 5^th team member.

B – In order to qualify as a 5^TH team member, they must be a current registered and paid member from any KCC league, this may include being a member of the league in which they will be a 5^th team member.

C – A fifth team member will be considered a team member and not as a spare and as such will be allowed to play any position on the team. This also allows a team to play with one regular player, their 5^th player and 2 additional spares and they will not default their game.

D – It will be left to each individual team to decide if they would like to name a 5^TH member and if they choose to do so it will be that team’s responsibility to find and sign on the additional member.

E – If a team selects a 5^th team member and in order to qualify as such it will be the skips responsibility to provide the name of the 5^th player to their league convener. This must be done during the registration period and the 5^th team member must be confirmed and registered before the teams first game of the season.

F – If the 5^th team member is part of the mixed team entry league rules below regarding gender will still apply.

G -If a team has a designated 5^th team member and that 5^th team member is not available to play in a game when called upon then that team can use up to 2 regular spares as per the rules below.

H – A team may only use one 5^th team member per curling season.

MEN / WOMEN TEAM ENTRY LEAGUES

1 -- A maximum of two spares on any team for a scheduled game and there must be at least two original team players on the team or offending team will forfeit.

2 -- An original team member must throw rocks in the positions of third and skip for seasonal and playoff games.

3 – A spare can call the game, but an original team player must throw skip rocks.  The spare must play lead or second.

MIXED TEAM ENTRY LEAGUES

4 -- Mixed entry teams shall have no more than two female and two male members per team playing in a game.  Positions for throwing must alternate gender, example male (lead),

female (second), male (third), female (skip).

Example -- If two members are missing from a team, one of each gender, the male and female spares would be required to throw lead and second, in no particular order as long as the alternating positions rule (4) is adhered to.  Either spare could call the game.

5 -- Mixed entry teams having a situation where two members of one gender are absent would be permitted to deviate from item (4) in that one of the spares could Vice, however Skip rocks must be thrown by an original team member.

Example – Two males missing in a mixed entry team would permit one spare male calling the game, but that person must throw lead or third and the other male spare would throw either lead or third.

DAY AND SOCIAL LEAGUES

At the discretion of the league convener, however it is suggested the Team Entry League format be maintained whenever possible.  Playoffs in ALL leagues would abide by Team Entry Sparing guidelines.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MIXED RECREATIONAL LEAGUES

Due to the nature of these leagues, i.e., teams are assigned on a weekly basis, spares are not required.  Members of other leagues will be allowed to participate a maximum of three times during the season at no charge as an introduction to the format.

After a three game “trial”, registration and payment are required.

The $10.00 fee will apply to non-members who wish to try these leagues.         

Long Term Replacement Players:  If a team requires a replacement player for any reason and the expected duration is 10 weeks or more. A new player will be selected or assigned to the Team. This player will be of equal to, or as close to caliber of the player being replaced and may assume a position equal to or lower than the player being replaced. (ex. A Skip may be replaced by a Skip). The replacement player must be approved by the League Convener and Respective Leagues Director.  This player will be deemed a Regular Team member and is not considered a “spare” for the purposes of the spare policy.

Replacement for Players with extended injury or Illness: In the unfortunate circumstance that a team player is unable to play for an extended period (4 weeks or more) due to an illness or injury a “Medical Spare” will be assigned to the team. As to not penalize the rest of the team in respects to player minimums, the following guidelines will be followed

• The Medical Spare must be requested and approved by the League Convenor and respective Leagues Director, and once assigned will be considered a temporary “Team Member”
• As a temporary “Team Member” they will not be counted as a spare in regards to the minimum number of Team players (2) required. It is expected that the Medical Spare will play all games, however if they are unable to play a game, then the player replacing the Medical Spare will be considered as a spare and quota will apply, and regular spare policy applies.
• The Medical Spare should be equal to, or as close to, the skill level of the player being replaced. If the player being replaced regularly plays in a Vice or Skip position, the Medical Spare could throw as high as Vice stones, but not Skip stones. Otherwise, they will throw Lead or Second stones.
• If the Medical spare is currently a member of KCC no additional spare fees would apply. If the Medical Spare is not currently a member of KCC then a prorated fee would be charged as determined by Membership Director.
• This rule applies to all Leagues that have regular team assignments (Social and Team Entry)
• This rule does not apply for absence due to vacations.

2023/24 Curling Season

Registration for current and past members will commence on August 13, 2023 and will remain in place until August 28. Thereafter, registration will be opened up to include the general public and all league registrations will close on September 15, 2023. 

Registration is only confirmed when full payment is received. Online payments can be made at the time of registration. Those wishing to pay by cheque may register online and submit payment by mail or deposited in the Club mailbox outside the office door.  Cheques must be received by September 16th.  No league positions will be held, either for Teams or Individuals, who have not registered nor paid in full. A full refund will be granted if a cancellation occurs prior to the first day of curling.  For full details see the "Refund Policy" under the Club info tab.

In a Team Entry League, for a team to be guaranteed placement, it must be a returning team from the previous season with a minimum of 3 returning team members, all of who must have registered and paid. It will be the Skip’s responsibility to ensure that the minimum of 3 returning team members are properly registered. New Teams will be accommodated if space is available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. 

All other League registrations, including Individuals expressing an interest in playing in a Team Entry League are accepted on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and will be considered if space remains available.

Once registered and placed in a league, changes may only be made by contacting the Membership Director.

For membership enquiries, please contact our Membership Director at [email protected]

Revised Sept. 2018

In the interest of Fun, Fair Play and Good Sportsmanship all King Curling Club curlers are reminded that:

1.  The clock on the ice will be considered the official timepiece for the Club.

2.  Skips should ensure their teams are ready to play 10 minutes prior to game time.  A game may start if a team has three players and may add a fourth player in their regular position only at the start of a new end.  Teams without a minimum of 2 regular team members will forfeit the game.

3. Whenever possible the ice will be ready for play 5 min. before the scheduled game time.  Teams should be ready to enter the Ice area and assume play as quickly as possible. Teams are encouraged to start game as early as possible and encourage quick play to increase the likelihood that eight ends may be played.

4.  League games are a maximum of eight ends.  Ties are not broken.

5.  5 Rock Free Guard Zone Rule will be in play for all Leagues.

6.  In playoffs, tie games will be decided by a "measure and remove" draw to the button towards the glass.  One throw per team will be take place with sweeping. For Team Entry Leagues, skips should confirm this rule with League Convener  

7.  If a team is not present or does not have 3 players by 5 min after the official start time,

the non-offending team will be awarded the end and two points in first end.  In that case, game play would start in the second end.  

8.  If a team does not have at least three players by 15 min. after the start time, the game will considered as a forfeit.  The skips may then chose to play an exhibition game or not or practice in any manner they so chose. Skips are expected to notify the opposing skip well in advance if they are going to forfeit a game.

9.  Skips shall follow the guidelines to encourage a good speed of play in order for eight ends to be played within the allotted time. Team Entry Teams refer to specific League rules for possible “pace of play” incentive points.

10.  In the case of the evening 7-9 and 9-11 draws, no new end is permitted to begin after 8:45pm on the earlier draw or 10:55 on the late draw.  That is, the first rock of the end must be released while the clock still reads 8:45 or 10:55 or earlier. Ice maintenance often takes time from the 9pm draw. Consequently, the allotted time has been adjusted to compensate on the late draw.

11. Vices are responsible for agreeing on the score in an end before any rocks are moved. Vices will perform the measure where needed.  All other players should stay out of the house until the results of the measure are agreed upon.

Note: These are General House Rules and Guidelines. Teams are encouraged to check with League Conveners for any league specific rules that may be in place.

Revised Sept. 2018

Goal; The goal of the incentive is to encourage faster pace of play and to ultimately have teams playing a full 8 end game. Fast play leads to a much more enjoyable curling experience.

Application:

• For Team Entry Leagues only, teams that play quickly will be rewarded for quick play with ½ point extra if they meet the criteria listed below during Regular League play. The ½ point will be added to your game point standings After any adjustment for prorating of divisions is applied for League Rankings.
• Both Teams will receive ½ point each
• A minimum of 6 ends must be completed for incentive points to be awarded
• For 2017-18 season this rule will be reviewed prior to Dec 31, 2017 and a decision to carry on or remove this rule will be made by the Leagues Committee

Ways to score pace of play points:

• A game in which 8 ends are completed. Congratulations!!!!

     The 8^th end must have started within the allotted scheduled time(8:45pm or 10:55pm)or earlier.

• A game in which the teams have completed 7 ends prior to the scheduled allotted time (8:45pm or 10:55pm) and BOTH Teams mutually agree to end the game.
• A game in which the teams have completed 6 ends at least 15minutes ahead of the scheduled allotted time (8:30pm or 10:40pm), and BOTH Teams mutually agree to end the game

Vices must report the extra points when completing the scorecard in the clubhouse. Number of ends completed and game end time must be recorded on scorecard. Points will be awarded based on scorecards. However the League Convener will have final say in awarding or removing points in the event of a discrepancy or abuse of the rule.

Definitions:

• Allotted scheduled time: No new end can begin after 8:45 for the early draw or 10:55 for the late draw. This means that the first rock of the end must be delivered while the clock still reads 8:45 or 10:55 or earlier
• Completed # ends: After the final rock has been delivered and has come to rest, and both Vices have agreed on the score the end will be deemed complete. The time on the clock will need to be recorded and must not have exceeded the allotted scheduled time.