Every curling club has its own rules unique to the club and its particular setting. Since we play on arena ice shared with figure skaters and hockey players we have our own special circumstances. Because we do not have a dedicated ice maker all members of the club are required to help with preparation and tear down of the sheets.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to change shoes and/or clothes and to stretch and limber up. If you are assisting with set up it is your responsibility to be there to help out. Be ready to start at the scheduled time. Seven other people are depending on you.

Equipment:

Our equipment has been hard-earned by past and present SFBACC members. It is expensive to maintain and repair. As a member of the SFBACC it is your responsibility to treat the equipment with respect. The ice is rented, and we play at the arena management’s discretion. Conduct yourself accordingly.

• All curling shoes must be clean before walking on the ice. Curling shoes, or soft soled shoes dedicated to curling are preferred since they will limit the amount of dirt and debris tracked onto the ice.
• Watch for rocks going through the house. Rocks must stopped before hitting the hack of the hack can be dislodged which will delay the game while it is being refrozen into the ice. Worse yet they can be damaged.
• Food, drinks, and alcohol are prohibited anywhere on the ice.
• Do not rest your hand, or any other body parts, on the ice after making your shot. This can melt the ice causing ruts and depressions.
• Return all borrowed sliders and brushes to the equipment bins when you are finished using them.

Ice preparation and clean up:

Seconds and skips are responsible for preparing the ice. It is the responsibility of the seconds and skips to organize themselves to complete this work as quickly as possible. This includes

• Shoveling snow off the rocks and carrying them out to the ice.
• Drying the rocks.
• Setting the hacks.
• Pebbling (preferably twice) and breaking the pebble
• Bringing out the spare brooms & sliders and scoreboards.

Leads and vice-skips are responsible for clean up at the end of the game. This includes:

• Removing the hacks from the ice.
• Carrying the rocks back to the zamboni room and stacking them on the green turf.
• Returning the spare brooms, sliders and scoreboards.
• Putting away the hacks.
• Putting away the running rock frame (used for breaking down the pebble)

Pre-Game:

• The game begins with a handshake. Shake hands with your opponents first, tell them your name, and wish them “Good curling.” Then shake hands with your teammates.
• You may take one or two practice slides without a rock if you are not holding up start of the game It is not acceptable to throw any practice rocks prior to the start of play. (Note in bonspiels and playdowns, it is just one slide.)
• Last rock advantage is determined by a coin toss between the vice skips. The winner of the toss decides whether they want last rock advantage in the first end or if they want to choose a particular color of stones.

On-ice conduct:

The following guidelines will help keep the game moving quickly, which should make full 8 end games possible in the time we have to play.

• If you accidentally burn a stone, it is expected that you will be the first to announce it.
• If you violate the hogline at release, it is expected that you will be the first to announce it.
• If you accidentally displace a stationary stone, please announce it immediately. It’s the privilege of the opposing skip to replace the stone to their satisfaction.
• The player throwing is to be in position and ready to throw their rock as soon as their skip calls the shot. The opposing thrower is to be waiting behind the rocks for their turn.
• Sweepers are to be in front of the hack ready to go. If you can’t be in position, tell your teammates to play the shot without you.
• Opposing sweepers stand on the sides of the sheet, between the hog lines to allow the curler delivering the stone an unobstructed view of their skip and the house and for easier and quicker communications.
• The next thrower should prepare him/herself and their stone should be cleaned and brought in front of the hack while the opponent’s shot is in motion. It’s OK to watch your opponent’s shot, but not so long that you can’t be ready for your own. Be prepared to throw your rock when the oppositions stone stops.
• Never disturb a curler in the hack or during their delivery.
• Keep the ice clean! If you discover anything foreign on the ice, such as mud, sand, sweater fuzz, pocket lint, broom bristles, etc., please remove it from the ice and deposit it in a trash can or along the side boards.
• Do not to walk down the middle of the sheet after your team’s shot. Walk on the sides to minimize wearing down the pebble, as well as to provide a clear view for the next curler.
• We do not have sideboards so take care to stay on your sheet and not walk on the adjacent sheets, thereby interrupting their game.
• Thirds decide and keep track of the game score. When the final stone of an end comes to rest in the house, leads and seconds are to remain outside the house until the thirds have measured (if necessary), determined the score, and agreed to move stones. Stones not within the rings can be removed and set up for the next end while the thirds determine the score.
• Skips have the responsibility of determining strategy, calling shots and working with sweepers to make the most out of every shot of the game. While discussion, communication and clarification are encouraged, be willing and able to defer to your skip’s decisions even if you don’t understand or agree with them.
• Skips are to stand behind the hack, quiet and motionless, brooms horizontal or off the ground until their opponent has delivered the stone.
• If a rock appears to be heavy, do not shake your broom over it, even in jest. You never know what might fall off the broom and deflect your perfectly aimed stone.
• Sweepers are to follow the stone down to the house, ready to sweep or be called off a stone at a moment’s notice.
• Do not drag your broom on the ice when not sweeping a stone, you may leave debris on the ice.
• As a courtesy to keep the game moving, the lead may place the skip’s rock in front of the hack when it is time for the skip to shoot.
• Skips are to keep the game moving by minimizing the delay while deciding upon a shot. Certainly take the time you need, but lengthy conferences should be avoided.
• Only the skip and vice-skip are allowed to stand in and behind the house.
• The game end with hearty handshakes all around and sincere congratulations to the winners
• It is expected that the winners will buy (or offer to buy) their counterparts the beverage of their choice after the game. Both rinks enjoy each others’ company and some lively conversation about your favorite topic(s) around the tables. The losing curlers invariably offer to buy the second round.

Keep the game moving. A standard eight end game takes 2 full hours to play, so it’s a courtesy to your team, your opponents, and anybody playing after you to be on time, prompt and mindful of the clock. If you start late or play slowly, do not assume that you will be able to play a complete, 8-end game. If you notice that you are a full end or two behind all the other sheets, pick up the pace

Absences:

If you cannot curl you must arrange a spare for yourself. Please give your skip as much notice as possible of your absence. No shows are a no-no!

• Absent players are to notify their skip but are responsible for arranging their own spare and informing their skip who the spare is. A list of spares is available at www.bayareacurling.com or from the sparemaster.
• A four player team must have at least 2 regular members playing or they forfeit the game to the opposing team, regardless of score. A three person team needs one regular member.
• Curling etiquette says that the spare should be at the same level/position as the absent player. The playing level of spares is indicated on the spares list. Please take this into consideration when arranging your spare.
• A spare can skip at the discretion of the regular team members. Vice skips may choose to skip to gain experience.
• Spares dues are $20. This is paid to the sparemaster or their substitute prior to play on a per game basis.
• All spares must have submitted a signed waiver before they will be allowed on the ice.

If you are going to be late for the start of curling please call your skip so that the game can start without you. If you are responsible for setting up the ice please make sure that someone on your team takes over for you and that you assist with clean up after the game.

SFBACC management:

The SFBACC is managed by a team of dedicated volunteers. These people work hard to ensure the presence of curling in the Bay Area and are always looking for your assistance and support. As a member of the SFBACC if you ever have any questions, concerns, or suggestions please contact one of the management team members who will bring your input to the attention of the team.

Website:

The official SFBACC website is www.BayAreaCurling.com. Additional etiquette and safety information is posted at this site.