Rules for League Play
2008-2009 Season

All games during league play abide by the Canadian Curling Association rule book. Click here for a pdf version of the official rules. Click here to see the changes in the CCA rules from the 2006-2007 season.

Season Play

The league is structured on the basis of 40 teams divided into five divisions of 8 teams each. The teams will play three rounds during the regular season followed by a three week playoff round.

In round 1, each team will play a partial round robin of 5 games. In rounds 2 and 3, each team will play a 7-game divisional round robin. In round 1, the five divisions will be made as equal as possible by seeding teams from last year's results and placing new, unseeded teams in available spots. This first round will help sort out teams into their respective divisions: A, B, C, D and E for the next two rounds. Teams in A division for rounds 2 and 3 will be those having the most points, while teams in E division will be those having the fewest points. Ideally the second and third rounds will be more competitive with teams playing one another at their relative skill levels.

At the end of the regular season (after the three rounds) each team will play 3 games in the playoff round.

The Bell and Etiquette

Games should begin promptly at scheduled start time. Rule 16(3) of the Canadian Curling Association Rule Book explains the procedure to be followed in the case that one team is not ready to start on time. The rule states:

16. Game Duration and Postponement

(3) If a team does not commence play at the designated time, unless otherwise stated by the rules governing the competition:

i) For each full five minutes that the offending team does not commence play, the non-offending team shall be granted one point and one end shall be considered to have been played; and

ii) If the non–offending team has been granted a point(s), the non-offending team shall be given the choice of last rock in the first end or color of handle. Play shall commence from the end of play that reflects the number of ends that are considered to have been played; and

iii) After 30 minutes has elapsed the non-offending team shall be declared the winner.

Please play quickly. It is each skip's responsibility to ensure all team members are fully aware of the principles of etiquette in curling. Players should be in the hack quickly, cleaning their rock as soon as the opponent's rock is released, and ready to shoot as soon as the opponent's stone has come to rest. If this is done, 8 ends can be completed in the time allowed.

In acccordance with Vancouver Curling Club procedures, the bell will be rung 1 hour and 40 minutes after the start time. This is a warning that the teams have at most 20 minutes to vacate the ice. Once the bell has rung, teams may finish the end they are playing and if and only if there is time remaining (15 minutes), may play one more end (to a maximum of 8 ends). There is no automatic right to play one more end.

Cleaning the Ice

In accordance with Vancovuer Curling Club procedures, the winning team is asked to clean the ice at the end of each game. To clean the ice, the wide sheepskin brush should be run up and down the sheet, then brushed off, and the debris dumped in the garbage can. In addition, the area around the hacks should be swept with a broom.

Points

In the regular season, each game will be recorded on the draw sheet as a Win, Tie, Loss or Default using the letters W, T, L, or D. The score for the game is not used to determine standings. The winning third should record the result for both teams.

A default occurs when one team either does not show, or does not have enough players to play the game. (3 players required to play, of which two must be members of the team.) The non-defaulting team will record a W and the defaulting team will record a D and receive a score of 0.  Please be kind and phone your opposing skip to let him/her know that your team is defaulting well in advance of the game time. Also please advise the drawmaster so that any free ice may be offered by other teams needing to make up games.

Points System

ROUND ONE	ROUNDS TWO AND THREE
ALL Divisions	A Division	B Division	C Division	D Division	E Division
W 13	W 15	W 14	W 13	W 12	W 11
T 8	T 10	T 9	T 8	T 7	T 7
L 4	L 5	L 5	L 4	L 4	L 3
D 0	D 0	D 0	D 0	D 0	D 0

Points will be used to place teams into the 2nd, 3rd and playoff rounds. In the event of a tie, if the teams in question have played each other during the current curling season, the winner of their most recent match-up will be given the higher standing. If a tie still exists and the teams have never played, or tied one another, the drawmaster (in presence of a witness) will flip a coin or use another random format to determine which team will be given the higher placement.

League Winner

The team with the most points after the regular season (the three rounds) will be the winner. If there is a tie, the results of all head-to-head games will be used to break the tie. If there is still a tie, then the most recent head-to-head game will determine the winner. If there is still a tie, then the 2nd most recent head-to-head game will be used.

Playoff Winner

Winners in each division of the 3 game playoff round will be recognized as A, B, C, D and E Division Champions. In each 8-team division the first week is 1 vs 8, 4 vs 5, 2 vs 7 and 3 vs 6.  In the second week the winners play each other, the non winners move to the consolation round. In the final week the two double winners play each other for the title of division champion. Others play for third, fifth and seventh placements. This system has been used in the several seasons.

In Playoffs there are NO TIES. One player from each team will throw one rock. the closer to the button will win. Sweeping is permitted. Sweeping the opponent's rock behind the T-line is NOT PERMITTED.

Spares

If a team requires one or two spares, it should contact the people listed on the Spares List.

If no spares from the Spares List are available, the team may use members of other teams within the PRCL.

If still no players are available, the team may use a player of its choice.

Spares may play any position including skip but must throw lead or second rocks.

Any spare who is not on the spare list, a regular member of another team, or a fifth member of another team, must pay a $10.00 drop-in fee for each game played and shall give the money directly to the PRCL Treasurer (if available), to a member of the Board, or to his or her Skip. Skips, please collect money from your spares and forward the money to the Treasurer.

Clarifications

If there are any questions regarding the rules, contact a member of the board at the time of the question so that it can be resolved at that time.

Possible Future Rule

The WCF has recently passed a new stick curling rock release rule, requiring release before the deliverer's feet reach the near T-line. We assume that the Canadian and Provincial Curling Associations will pass a similar rule in the future.