Everyone (club members, subs, and other vistor) must have a signed a waiver on file with the club before stepping on the ice. Minors must have prior approval from the club.
Download, sign and email the USCA Adult Waiver to Herb Kistler at rushmorecurlingclub@gmail.com ahead of time or bring a paper copy with you to the arena.
I will play the game with a spirit of good sportsmanship.
I will conduct myself in an honourable manner both on and off the ice.
I will never knowingly break a rule, but if I do, I will divulge the breach.
I will take no action that could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate or demean my opponents, teammates or officials.
I will interpret the rules in an impartial manner, always keeping in mind that the purpose of the rules is to ensure that the game is played in an orderly and fair manner.
I will humbly accept any penalty that the governing body at any level of curling deems appropriate, if I am found in violation of the Code of Ethics or rules of the game.
At the start of a competition every team shall be composed of three or four players. With four players: each player delivers two stones, each stone alternating with their opponent. With three players: the first and second players deliver 3 stones each.
No player shall use footwear or equipment that may damage the surface of the ice. All participants must wear “dedicated” curling footwear. Before entering the ice, players must change from the footwear worn into the facility to clean footwear not worn in.
Prior to the beginning of the competition: each team's skip shall notify the opposing team's skip of their teams' throwing rotation, skip, vice-skip, and any substitutes. If a team changes any of these during the game, changes may be made only between ends, except for a player's inability to continue play. The skip of the team making changes must notify the opposing skip of all changes.
If a player is unable to continue play, and no substitute is available, the team must play under the three-person team rules.
Non-team substitutes must throw first or second, they may not act as skip or vice-skip.
The skip has the exclusive direction of the game for their team.
The skip may deliver in any position on the team that they choose.
When it is the skip's turn to play the acting skip designated in the lineup shall take charge of the house.
With double hacks, right-handed players shall play from the hack on the left of the center line and left-handed players from the hack on the right of the center line.
In the delivery of the stone, the stone shall be clearly released from the hand before the stone reaches the nearer hog line. If the player fails to so release the stone, it shall be removed from play.
Players using the stick shall start from the hack with one continuous forward motion to the skip's broom, clearly releasing the stone from the stick before the stone reaches the nearer hog line.
A stone that has not been released from the player's hand and that has not reached the near tee line may be returned to the hack and re-delivered.
Each player shall be ready to deliver their stone when their turn comes, and shall not take an unreasonable time to play.
Where a player delivers a stone belonging to the opposing team, a stone belonging to their own team shall be put in its place upon coming to rest.
Only each team's skip (or vice-skip, during skip's delivery) is allowed in the house area. The other delivering team members are allowed on the ice to sweep. The non-delivering team's other members must be off to the side or out of the playing area.
The non-delivering team members shall not take a position or cause such motion that would obstruct, interfere with, distract, or intimidate the delivering team. The penalty is potential re-delivery of stone. Casual, non-distracting movement of players down the sidelines is acceptable.
Between the tee lines, a running stone, or stone(s) set in motion by a running stone, may be swept by any one or more of the team to which it belongs. Any stone in motion is a running stone. A stationary stone must be set in motion before it can be swept.
Sweepers are required to sweep in a side-to-side direction (need not cover the entire width of stone), deposit no debris, and finish to either side of the stone.
Between the tee lines, no player shall sweep an opponent's stone.
Behind the far tee line, only one player from each team may sweep at any one time. It may be any one player from the playing team, but only the player in charge of the house from the non-playing team, who shall not start to sweep an opponent's stone until it reaches the tee line. If the delivering team's choice is not to sweep, they shall not obstruct or prevent the opponent from sweeping the stone.
If a running stone is touched by any of the playing team or by their equipment prior to reaching the far hog line, the touched stone shall be removed from play immediately by that team. Beyond the far hog line, all stones are allowed to come to a rest; the non-offending team has the following options:
remove touched stone, replace all displaced stones to original positions.
leave all stones where they came to rest.
place all stones where it reasonably considers they would have come to rest had the moving stone not been touched.
Any outside physical interference with the delivery or the course of a running stone shall result in the stone being replayed by the delivering team if so desired.
A stone that does not come to rest inside the inner edge (house side) of the farther hog line shall be removed from play immediately except where it has struck another stone lying in play.
A stone coming to rest beyond the outer edge of the back line shall be immediately removed from play.
A stone that touches a sideline, hits a divider, or comes to rest biting a sideline shall be removed immediately from play.
No stone(s) shall be measured by instrument until the last stone of the end has come to rest, except by the umpire, when requested by a skip, to decide whether or not a stone is in play. If the position of the stones in the house makes it impossible to use the 6-foot measuring device to decide whether a stone is in play at the 6 o'clock position, the umpire will do this visually and the umpire's decision will be final.
The object of the game is to get a team's stones closest to the button. A game shall be decided by a majority of points.
A team scores one point for each eligible stone that is closer to the button than any stone of the opposing team. The scoring team for the end gets 1(one) point for each house stone closer to the center than the opposing team.
Each stone, any part of which is within 6 feet (1.83 meters) of the tee, is eligible to be counted.
The 6-foot measuring device shall be the sole instrument used to determine whether a stone is in the house, at the conclusion of the end. Measurements shall be taken from the tee to the nearest part of the stone. If two or more stones are so close to the tee that use of the measuring device is impossible, an umpire may visually make the determination. If no decision can be made, the end shall be scored as a blank end.
An end shall be decided when the skips or vice-skips in charge of the house at the time agree upon the score for the end.
A forfeited game will be scored 2-0 in favor of the non-forfeiting team.
If a game is tied at the end of regulation, teams may:
accept a tied score
play additional end(s) [time permitting]
play a shootout
The area between the hog line and the tee line, excluding the House, shall be a Free Guard Zone.
No stone lying within this zone may be removed from play by the opposition until the first four stones played in any end have come to rest. Any shot played in those circumstances which results in an opposition stone being moved from the free guard zone, either directly or indirectly, to an out-of-play position is an infraction which shall result in the played stone being removed from play and any other stone if moved being replaced where it previously lay. All stones shall be replaced to the satisfaction of the skip of the non-offending team.
Stones must be individually identified by visible markings.
Teams may not make alterations to stones, nor place any object on or over stones.
Any player who knowingly violates any rule must, as soon as possible, notify the opposing team of the violation. The non-offending team's skip has the option to accept or decline penalty for the violation.
Failure to report a violation may result in expulsion from the club, subject to the review of the RCC Board-of-Directors or the club's membership.
Foul or abusive language, smoking, and alcohol are all prohibited.
End: that part of a game in which the two opposing teams each alternately deliver eight stones and then determine the score.
Game: play between two teams to determine a winner.
House: the area within the outside circle at each end of the rink.
Umpire: a disinterested party, not affiliated with either team, and agreed to by both teams' skips.
Shootout: each skip throws one stone; the team which scored last throws first. After the first stone comes to rest, its distance from the pin is measured, then removed from play. The other skip then throws a stone, which is measured upon coming to rest. The team whose rock comes closest to the pin wins. A rock which is outside the house is recorded at 73 inches. No sweeping is allowed.
Pin: center of the button.
1-10-2022 HK
Memberships are non-transferrable, and dues are non-refundable.
Anyone entering the ice must sign a Participant Release (valid for 1 year) prior to entering the ice. If you enter the ice without a signed release, you will be required to leave the ice and face possible permanent revocation of club privileges. Without a signed release you are not covered under the Rushmore Curling Club's insurance. Neither the Rushmore Curling Club nor the City of Rapid City assume responsibility for any injuries.
All participants are expected to arrive early to perform set-up duties. If you do not know how to perform certain tasks (transport equipment to the ice, set hacks, pebble the ice, place rocks on hacks and ice, run the mop, etc.), contact a board member for instruction. At the end of games, make sure nothing is left on the ice.
We must take care of the granite curling stones; they can be damaged by mishandling. Curling rocks are extremely expensive and difficult to obtain. The carts have carpet overlays which are wider than the shelves. Please be sure the carpet overlap is on the loading/unloading side of the cart; hang scoreboards on the opposite side where the upper metal lip is exposed. To preserve the stones' integrity, carefully be sure they never come in contact with any metal. Remember to unload top shelf first and load the bottom shelf first. Stones of any handle color may occupy either level. This rule is to prevent injury caused by top shelf rocks falling onto your hands while reaching into the lower level.
Wear gripper-soled shoes, do not run, never stand with a stone behind you, and always be aware of your surroundings. Watch for other curlers, stop rocks as soon as they touch the out-of-bounds lines and prior to reaching the hacks. Use brooms to stop stones (never hands or feet); never push or throw a stone toward someone whose back is turned.
We have only 2 hours to play an 8-end game; this should not be a problem. Please remember that curling is played at a brisk pace. After the delivering team plays their stone, and all rocks come to rest, the opposing team's next thrower should be in the hack ready to deliver. Under curling rules, a rock should be delivered within 30 seconds of the other team's rock coming to rest. To keep the game moving, please try to minimize the time between throws.
The club president meets regularly with arena management and employees. If you have a problem or concern about ice conditions, or anything curling related, advise the president; who will address any & all concerns you have. Do not contact any arena employee with curling issues. RCC has an agreement with the arena for one club liaison.
No equipment or property is to be left on the stairs at any time. You may sit there to change shoes; but do not leave items there before, during, or after games.
SafeSport rules are applicable in the following areas: on-ice, locker rooms, restrooms, arena offices.
No person under 18 years of age shall be permitted to participate at any Rushmore Curling Club event unless a parent or legal guardian:
1. Signs an RCC Minor Participant Release.
2. Receives prior authorization from the SafeSport administrator or designee.
3. Constantly accompanies the juvenile during the event.
Any team having a juvenile member or substitute must have a parent or SafeSport certified person present at all times.
In order to be SafeSport compliant with the Rushmore Curling Club, members must provide copies of their SafeSport certificate to the club's Secretary & President.
Any person violating any RCC Rule (playing or non-playing) is subject to permanent revocation of RCC membership and privileges, subject to the review of the Board-of-Directors or the club's membership.
1-10-22 HK
