Preparation
If you can’t curl, please find your own sub. That’s your job, not the skip’s. Remember to tell your skip that you will not be there and who will be playing in your place.
Arrive in plenty of time to change and be on the ice at the scheduled time. Other players are relying on you. If you are going to be late, please call ahead and let them know.
Ensure your shoes are clean. Wearing outdoor shoes on the ice tends to upset the icemen.
The Game
Before the game, shake hands with everyone and wish them a good game.
Keep the game moving. The ice time is fixed and slow play means that all the ends cannot be played. Be ready at the hack when it is your turn to deliver a stone.
After sweeping, take care to walk back down the side of the sheet so that you do not obstruct the opposition’s view of their skip. Stand to the side of the sheet, between the hog lines.
Never disturb a curler in the hack or during delivery. Until their stone comes to rest, the sheet is theirs and you should not interrupt their view. Crossing behind them and preparing to throw your own stone is perfectly acceptable and expected.
Never cross the ice in front of a running stone.
Keep the ice clean! If you notice anything on the ice that shouldn’t be there, please remove it and put it in a bin.
Don’t leave hand and knee prints on the ice; keep body contact with the ice to a minimum.
If someone is in danger of being hit by a stone, shout the warning “ICE”.
Fill in the score card and keep it up to date during the game. This is usually the job of the seconds.
Leads and seconds should stay out of the house unless they are sweeping a stone. This includes waiting at the end of the end until the thirds have agreed the score before entering the house to clear away the stones.
Skips have the responsibility of determining strategy, calling shots and directing sweeping. So while discussion, communication and clarification are encouraged, be willing to defer to your skip’s decisions even if you don’t understand or agree with them.
Switch off mobile phones or put them on silent during the game.
At the end of the game, shake hands firstly with the opposition and then your team. If you have lost, congratulate the winners. If you have won, it is traditional for the winners to buy their direct opponent a drink after the game.
More Information
Further information on etiquette can be found on the Try Curling website here.