| Rules |
Comments |
| 1. Each stone must
be delivered with a curling delivery stick, from a standing or sitting
(in a wheelchair) position. |
This provides equity for those physically unable to
attain the sliding position. Skill is still required to attain both
alignment (the stone is further in front, but also much below the line
of sight) and weight. It’s also advantageous for newcomers to curling
since the complex technique of the slide delivery doesn’t have to be
mastered, yet the substantial mental aspects of the game are retained. |
| 2. Sweeping/brushing is allowed
only from the hog line to the
back of the house at the playing end. |
This provides fairness to those with physical
limitations, unable to sweep/brush. It also increases the challenge, not
having the extra advantage of sweeping/brushing to affect the line or
weight in the initial travel of the stone. |
| 3. Each team is comprised of
two curlers. |
From rule 2 (above) there is no requirement for
additional sweepers. Both team members are always occupied either
skipping or delivering. Teams are easier to form and coordinate. |
| 4. One member of each team stays at each end of the
rink, and must not cross centre
ice. |
This reduces movement up and down the ice and
increases the pace of the game. It also means responsibilities are
equally shared by the two team members and provides variety for each
player. |
| 5. A team may call a maximum of
two one minute time outs (meet
at centre ice) during a game. During an extra end, one additional time
out is allowed. |
This allows for team member consultation during the
game. |
| 6. The two delivering curlers alternately deliver
six stones each per end, while
their team mates skip that end. Then roles are reversed. |
This implies that each player is always occupied,
doing something interesting. 18 stones are delivered per person compared
to 16(8 ends) or 20(10 ends) in regular curling. |
| 7. All games are six
ends. In the case of a tie, an extra end is played, with each
player delivering three stones
(skips and deliverers exchange roles at the midpoint of the extra end). |
Each member delivers 18 stones(3 ends with 6 stones
per end). Games progress quickly and interest remains high, both for
players and spectators. Lop-sided games are not frequent so a team
usually does not resign before the end of the game. |
| 8. No stone
may be removed from play prior
to the delivery of the fourth
stone of each end. If that happens, the delivered stone is removed from
play and all other stones are returned to their original positions. |
With fewer stones and ends, the stick game tends to
be more defensive than a regular game. This rule makes the game more
offensive, thus more interesting for competitors and spectators. In
effect, this rule extends the free guard zone to include the area from
the hog line to the back line. |
| 9. Except for wheelchair curlers, each delivery must
begin with the right foot in the left hack for right-handed curlers or
with the left foot in the right hack for left-handed curlers. All stones
must be released before reaching the hog line and with some part of the
stone within two feet of the
centre line. |
This rule keeps the delivery path of the stone
similar to a slide delivery. Without this rule it would be possible to
deliver the rock from near the sides of the sheet. |
| 10. Other rules and etiquette of regular curling
apply. |
The good parts of the regular game are retained! |