Revised Oct. 2025
In the interest of fun, fair play and good sportsmanship, all King Curling Club members and non-members are required to follow these general house rules. Teams are encouraged to check with League Conveners for any league-specific rules that may be
in place.
- The clock on the ice will be considered the official timepiece for the club.
- Whenever possible, the ice will be ready for play 5 minutes 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 their game as early as possible and encourage quick play to increase the likelihood that 8 ends may be played.
- Skips should ensure their teams are ready to play 10 minutes prior to game time. A game may start if a team has 3 players and may add a 4 th 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. If a team does not have 3 players or is not present 5 minutes after the official start time, the non-offending team will be awarded the end and 2 points for the first end and game play will start in the second end.
- If a team does not have at least 3 players15 minutes after the start time, the game will be considered a forfeit. The skips may then choose to play an exhibition game or use the ice for practice. Skips are expected to notify the opposing skip if they are going to forfeit a game.
- League games are a maximum of 8 ends. Ties are not broken.
- The 5-rock Free Guard Zone Rule (FGZ) will be in play for all leagues. Prior to the delivery of the 6 th stone of an end, a delivered stone causes an opposition stone in the free guard zone which is touching the centre line to be moved to an off-centre line position or to a position outside the FGZ, the non-offending team has the option to:
(i) remove the delivered stone from play, and replace all stones that were
displaced to their positions prior to the violation taking place; or
(ii) leave all stones where they came to rest.
If the stone is moved from the centre line to an out-of-play position, then the FGZ
rule applies.This does not apply for wheelchair curling or for mixed doubles competitions. - In the 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 the League Convener.
- Skips shall follow the guidelines to encourage a good speed of play in order for 8 ends to be played within the allotted time.
- For 6:30-8:30PM and 8:30-10:30PM draws, a new end is not permitted to begin after 8:15PM or 10:25PM. That is, the first rock of the end must be released while the clock still reads 8:15PM or 10:25PM or earlier. Following this rule will ensure that ice maintenance does not impact the late games. Consequently, the allotted time has been adjusted to compensate on the late draw.
- For 7:00-9:00 PM and 9:00-11:00 draws, a new end is not permitted to begin after 8:45PM or 10:55PM. That is, the first rock of the end must be released while the clock still reads 8:45PM or 10:55PM or earlier. Following this rule will ensure that ice maintenance does not impact the late games. Consequently, the allotted time has been adjusted to compensate on the late draw.
- Vices are responsible for agreeing on the score in an end before any rocks are moved. Vices will perform a measure when needed. All other players should stay out of the house until the results of the measure are agreed upon.
- All bonspiels organized and hosted by the King Curling Club will follow the 'No-Tick' rule as mandated by Curling Canada.
KING CURLING CLUB SPARES POLICY
Revised September 2025
REVISED SEPTEMBER 2025
Click here to download as a PDF
Curling is a team sport. As such the team suffers when a member of the team has another commitment that interferes with a player’s ability to play. Spares are used to ensure teams have a full complement of players and everyone enjoys the sport on a level playing ground.
This policy sets out guidelines for the use of spares. The existence of a Spares Policy recognizes that the appropriate use of spares is critical to the smooth functioning of all leagues; if not handled in a fair and consistent manner, it will quickly become an irritant to all club members. King Curling Club members can be a spare in any league at no charge.
The guidelines have been written by the Board of Directors in the belief that guidelines may be more effective than detailed rules. 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 King Curling Club (KCC) members.
Please recognize that timing of need does not always allow for this exact process.
Guidelines
When arranging for spares, the following is strongly recommended:
- For leagues that have teams with a bye week, approach the members of the bye team first to see if someone is available to play.
- Alternatively, ask a spare from the league spare list which is available on the KCC website or ask your league convener.
- If a spare from the league spare list is not available, a club member outside of the league spare list can be used.
- Non-club members can be used when it is not possible to arrange a spare from within the club or when special circumstances exist. This can be an effective way to introduce new members to the KCC. However, non-club members are limited to 3 appearances in any given league. Non-club members must pay a $10.00 fee per game and must sign the King Curling Club Waiver Form each time they spare. Skips are responsible for ensuring the completion of the Waiver Form and for collecting spare fees on behalf of their league convener. Waiver forms are available in the KCC lounge. Completed waiver forms and fees can be put in an envelope clearly marked with the spare’s name, date played, and the league spared in and placed in the mailbox located outside the Club Office.
MEN’S / WOMEN’S TEAM ENTRY LEAGUES
A maximum of 2 spares is allowed on any team for a scheduled game; there must be at least 2 original team members on the team or that team will forfeit the game. An original team member must throw rocks in the positions of vice and skip for all games.
A spare must play lead or second and can call the game, however, an original team member must throw skip rocks.
MIXED TEAM ENTRY LEAGUES
Mixed teams have 2 female and 2 male members. Positions for throwing must alternate gender, for example male (lead), female (second), male (vice), female (skip).
If 2 members are absent from a team - 1 of each gender - the male and female spares are required to throw lead and second (in no particular order), as long as the alternating positions rule above is adhered to. Either spare can call the game.
In a situation where a mixed team has 2 members of one gender absent, the team is permitted to have a spare play the position of vice. An original team member must throw skip rocks.
DAYTIME AND SOCIAL LEAGUES
It is recommended that the Men’s / Women’s Team Entry League rules be adhered to whenever possible, however, deviation from these rules is at the discretion of the league convener. Playoffs in all leagues must abide by the Men’s / Women’s Team Entry League rules.
TAG AND JITNEY RECREATIONAL LEAGUES
Teams in these leagues are assigned on a weekly basis; therefore, spares are not required. Members of other leagues are allowed to participate a maximum of 3 times at no charge during the season in a tag or jitney league. After 3 games, a KCC member must pay the league registration fee to continue to play in a tag or jitney league IF the league is not full. If the league is full, then members are allowed to play only if there are not enough regular league players present.
Non-club members must pay a $10.00 fee per game and must sign the King Curling Club Waiver Form each time they spare. Skips are responsible for ensuring the completion of the Waiver Form and for collecting spare fees on behalf of their league convener. Waiver forms are available in the KCC lounge. Completed waiver forms and fees can be put in an envelope clearly marked with the spare’s name, date played, and the league spared in and placed in the mailbox located outside the Club Office.
5TH PLAYER POLICY FOR COMPETITIVE LEAGUES
A 5TH team member is a player selected by a team to be a reserve player. A team may only have one additional team member in a curling season. To qualify as a 5TH team member, the player must be a current registered and paid member in any KCC league, including the league in which they will be a 5TH player.
A 5TH player is not considered a spare, and is allowed to play any position on the team. This enables a team to play with 1 regular player, their 5TH player and 2 spares so that they will not default their game.
The team skip must provide the name of the 5th player to the League Convener during the registration period. The 5TH team member must be confirmed and registered before the team’s first game of the season.
If the 5TH player is part of a mixed team, the league rules below regarding gender will apply.
If the 5TH player is not available to play in a game, then that team can use up to 2 regular spares as per the rules above.
5TH PLAYER POLICY FOR MIXED TEAM ENTRY LEAGUES
To maintain male/female alternating play, a mixed team can have 1 additional male and 1 additional female player as their 5TH team members. These team members can play any position in the absence of their regular team members. The rules of the 5TH Player Policy for Competitive Leagues apply in identifying the additional team members.
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 the caliber of the player being replaced and may assume a position equal to or lower than the player being replaced (eg. a skip may be replaced by a skip). The replacement player must be approved by the League Convener and the respective League Director. This player is not considered a spare.
REPLACEMENT FOR PLAYERS WITH EXTENDED INJURY OR ILLNESS
In the unfortunate circumstance that a team member is unable to play for an extended period (4 weeks or more) due to an illness or an injury, a “Medical Spare” can be used as a replacement on approval of the League Convener. As to not penalize the rest of the team in respect to player minimums, the following guidelines will be followed:
- The medical spare must be requested and approved by the League Convener and respective League Director; once assigned, the replacement player will be considered a temporary team member.
- As a temporary team member, the medical spare is expected to play all games. However, if they will be absent, the team can select a spare according to the guidelines set out in this policy.
- The medical spare should be equal to, or as close to, the skill level of the player being replaced. They can play as a vice; however, the medical spare cannot throw skip rocks. Alternatively, they can throw lead or second rocks.
- If the medical spare is a member of the KCC, no additional fees apply. If the medical spare is not a member of the KCC, then a prorated fee will 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 to absence due to vacations.
