Rouge Valley Curling Club Playbook

• Governing Rules: Curling activities shall be governed by the regulations set forth by the Ontario Curling Council, OCA, NOCA, and Curling Canada Rules of General/Officiated Play. Executive interpretation is final. In the event of a conflict between RVCC Rules/Policies and OCA regulations, RVCC Rules take precedence.

• Executive Structure & Roles: The Executive Committee consists of the President, Vice-President (optional), Past President, and Treasurer.

  • Executive positions (excluding Past President) carry a two-year term, filled by member nominations and confirmed by majority vote at the AGM on an alternating annual basis.

  • Upon concluding their term, the President retains the "Past President" advisory position for one year.

• Annual Terms & Policy Alignment: Annually, prior to opening Full-Time Membership registration, the Executive Committee shall review the Playbook and Terms & Conditions to ensure full compliance with Tam Heather Curling & Tennis Club policies and applicable municipal/provincial guidelines.

• Registration Form & Database Recording: Responses from membership registration forms are recorded directly into the Google Sheet titled RVCC Membership Database (Season Roster tab). System date and time stamps establish priority on a first-come, first-served basis if capacity is limited.

• Full-Time Dues & Deadlines: Full-Time membership dues must be remitted to the Treasurer via cheque, e-transfer, or cash no later than one week prior to the Skip Draft (or as published by the Executive).

• Failure to Pay: A Full-Time member failing to pay dues for three consecutive weeks may be suspended from play at the Executive's discretion.

• Payment Status Integration: Membership status is verified via column R (Payment Status = "PAID") and column C (Membership Type = "Full-Time") in the RVCC Membership Database.

• Refund Policy: Refunds are prorated based on the number of draw dates remaining in the season from the date an official email request is received by the Treasurer, minus non-reimbursable club expenses already incurred.

• Spare Dues & Year-End Banquet: Spare fees are set by the Treasurer prior to Game 1 and remitted per game played. Spares who play 7+ games or pay permanent spare fees receive fully covered admission to the Year-End Banquet.

• Team Forecasting Deadline: Team counts and ice sheet rental requirements must be finalized by the Executive Committee no later than September to ensure the Tam Heather ice contract is accurately executed.

• Ice Sheet & Spare Pool Allocations:

  • Ice Sheets: 8 Teams = 4 Sheets; 10 Teams = 5 Sheets; 12 Teams = 6 Sheets (up to 16 teams / 8 sheets max).

  • Spare Pool Target: The Executive shall maintain a spare pool equal to approximately 10% of total Full-Time members. 

• Increasing or Decreasing League Capacity:

  • If Teams Increase: Additional Skip openings will be filled following the Skip Position Priority Order in Section D.

  • If Teams Decrease: Returning Skips are assigned based on seniority (years of service) and medical ability, or offered Vice roles. If excess returning Skips remain, those with the lowest previous season Aggregate Points must yield their Skip role.

D.1 Team Lineup & Position Assignments  🆕

• Obligation to Notify: Whenever one or more Skip openings exist (due to league expansion, non-returning Skips, or step-down vacancies), the Executive Committee shall actively issue an official communication to all registered members in advance of the Skip Draft.

• Call for Candidates: The notice will inform the membership of the open position(s) and invite any interested registered member to submit a formal request to the Executive Committee for consideration as a Skip for the upcoming season.

• Scope of Consideration: Consideration for Skip positions is not limited to choices indicated on initial spring registration forms. All members submitting a request following the Executive notice will be evaluated according to the qualifications in D2 and D3.

D.2 Skip Position Qualification & Priority Order  🆕

When Skip openings exist (due to league expansion, non-returning Skips, or step-down vacancies), candidates who indicated "Request Position of Skip" during registration are evaluated in the following priority:

• Returning RVCC Skips: Full-Time Skips from the immediate preceding season.

• Former RVCC Skips: Full-Time members who skipped in past RVCC seasons (excluding last season).

• Qualified RVCC Vices: Full-Time Vices meeting Section D2 criteria.

• Experienced External Skips: New Full-Time members with documented skipping experience at another recognized club.

D.3 Vice Promotion Criteria & Evaluation 🆕

Promotion from Vice to Skip is an objective, skill-based assessment. Candidates must meet:

• • Game & Position Experience: Minimum 1 full season as Vice (10–12 games) and served as acting Skip for at least 2–3 regular season games.

  • Team Aggregate Standings: Previous team aggregate scores and overall standings will be evaluated as part of the readiness assessment.

  • Tactical & Rule Knowledge: Demonstrated proficiency in ice reading, shot selection, Free Guard Zone strategy, and Curling Canada/RVCC local rules.

  • Leadership & Etiquette: Demonstrated sportsmanship, communication skills, and willingness to lead the team draft.

  • Tie-Breaker: If multiple Vices compete for a single open Skip position, selection is decided by a combination of team aggregate standings, membership seniority, and joint Executive evaluation.

D.4 The Mandatory "Honey Pot" Skip Step-Down Requirement 🆕

• Step-Down Trigger: If all required Skip positions for the season are filled by returning Skips, and a qualified Full-Time member (e.g., Qualified Vice or External Skip) requests to try a Skip role, the returning Skip from the previous season with the lowest Aggregate Points (the "Honey Pot" Winner) must step down for the current season to make room for the new Skip. 

• Member Status: The stepping-down Skip retains Full-Time membership priority and enters the draft as a Vice or front-end player. 

D.5 Skip Team Draft Process 

Teams are formed via a 3-round draft. Draft picking order proceeds as follows: 

• Round 1:

  • New Skips: Qualified RVCC Vices and Experienced External Skips.

  • Former RVCC Skips. Full-Time members who skipped in past RVCC seasons (excluding last season).

  • Returning RVCC Skips: Draft order is lowest previous season aggregate points to highest (Reverse Standings order).

• Round 2: Reverse Order of Round 1.

• Round 3: Same Order as Round 1.

• Spare Master Guidelines: 

  • Absence notifications must be emailed by Friday evening prior to Monday games. 

  • Spares are assigned in order: (1) Teams missing 2 members, (2) Known 3-week absences (equal calibre replacement), (3) First-come first-served requests.

  • Assigned spares play Lead unless replacing 2 members (where 1 spare may play up to Vice).

• Drawmaster Guidelines:

  • Manages 20-draw round-robin schedule, scorecards, and standings in the RVCC Draw Database.

  • Administers the Christmas Funspiel and Page Playoff formats.

• Webmaster Guidelines:

  • Maintains schedule, standings, mobile/desktop accessibility, and member communications via Google Sites and Gmail.

• Trophies:

  • Founders Trophy: Page Playoff Champion

  • Len Wills Trophy: Season High Aggregate Champion

  • Pete Clark Trophy: Christmas Funspiel Champion

  • Gord Lougheed Trophy: Closing Bonspiel Champion

  • Honey Pot Trophy: Season Low Aggregate (determines step-down priority if needed)

  • Bobby Stiles "Sure Shot" Trophy: Any player with the Highest curling rock shot points awarded by the four-judge panel during the Final Page Playoff Game

  • Ivan McDonald Trophy: Open Bonspiel hosted by RVCC in March 

• Prizes:

  • The Executive Committee will determine what prizes will be awarded to each of the above trophy team winners. 

Team Lineup & Position Assignments

• • Position Assignment: The Skip must assign all Full-Time team members to their positions prior to the start of the first end.

  • Spare Substitutions: The Skip must adhere to Spare Master regulations when appointing substitutes. Spares must play in the Lead position unless replacing two absent players, in which case one spare may play up to the Vice position.

Game Start & Delays

• • Start Time: Games commence no later than 5:00 p.m. (or when ice becomes available around 4:45 p.m.).

  • Rocks & Hammer: The Home team plays Yellow Rocks and starts the 1st end with the hammer. The Visitor team plays Blue Rocks and must have their Lead ready to deliver the first rock at the start time.

  • Penalty Delays:

    • 1-Rock Delay (5:05 p.m.): 1 end is completed; opposing team awarded 1 point and hammer.

    • 2-Rock Delay (5:10 p.m.): 2 ends completed; opposing team awarded 2 points and hammer.

    • Default (5:30 p.m.): Game is forfeited. The non-defaulting team receives 10 points, 5 ends, and 8 rocks.

Absentee & Late Player Rules

• • 3-Player Team Delivery: If a team is short one player and no spare is available, the delivery order is:

    • Lead: Delivers 3 rocks (rocks 1, 2, and 3).

    • Vice: Delivers 3 rocks (rocks 4, 5, and 6).

    • Skip: Delivers 2 rocks (rocks 7 and 8).

  • Late Arrivals:

    • A late player arriving after the first end has started may only sweep until the end currently in play is completed.

    • The late player may return to their designated position at the beginning of the next end at the Skip’s discretion.

    • 2-Player Absence: If a team is short 2 players, the Skip may assign available spares to any position equivalent to the missing players.

Free Guard Zone (FGZ)

• • • 4-Rock Rule: RVCC enforces the 4-Rock Free Guard Zone rule for all regular season and playoff games in accordance with Curling Canada guidelines.

Game Timing & Rink Bell Guidelines

• • 6:30 p.m. Bell: Teams complete the end currently in play plus one additional end (8th end).

  • 6:40 p.m. Cutoff: If the 8th end has not started by 6:40 p.m., teams must play a 4-Rock Half-End (1 rock per player).

    • Half-End Start Time: Must start by 6:45 p.m.. If not started by 6:45 p.m., play stops, no points are awarded for the 8th end, and the 7-end score stands.

    • 3-Player Half-End Delivery: Lead throws rocks 1 & 2; Vice throws rock 3; Skip throws rock 4.

    • Half-End Scoring: The winning team receives 1/2 point for the end plus total rock score.

  • 6:55 p.m. Hard Conclusion: All curling must conclude by 6:55 p.m..

  • 7:00 p.m. Ice Clearance: All players and equipment must vacate the ice surface by 7:00 p.m. sharp.

Tam Heather Pace of Play Directives

• • To ensure all matches complete 8 full ends within the allotted ice rental window, players and Skips must strictly observe the following etiquette:

    • Player Readiness: Always be ready in your delivery box or sweeping position before the opposing team’s rock comes to a complete rest.

    • In-House Duties: Skips and Vices exclusively call shots and handle strategy. Skips should let Vices call Skip shots rather than traveling back and forth down the ice.

    • Positioning: Leads and Seconds must remain between the hog lines when not delivering or sweeping.

    • Equipment Management: Skips must take their delivery stick to the far end when it is their turn to throw (or have a teammate carry it down) to avoid delays holding the broom.

    • Rock Organization: Non-throwing players or Skips should arrange rocks in numerical order as they come out of play.

    • Measuring & Scoring: Only the Vice-Skips enter the house to determine scoring, conduct measurements, and record scorecards. All other players must stand outside the house.

Round Robin or Win vs Win Draw Scoring

• • 10 points for Win, 5 for Tie, 1 point per End won, 1/2 point for Blank/Half-End. Slow Play Penalty: 5-point deduction for teams completing less than 7 ends in over 50% of the season. 

  • Team missing three full-time players, the game will be forfeited. The non-defaulting team will receive 10 points, 5 ends, and 8 rocks. The defaulting team will receive 0 points, 0 ends, and 0 rocks.

RVCC Bonspiel / Playoff Game Scoring

• • 10 points for a win, 5 points for a tie, 1 point per End won, 1/2 point for blank/Half-Ends, and 1/4 point for each rock thrown (maximum of 12 rocks or 3 points).

  • If a Bonspiel game ends in a tie, the winner will be determined by a skip draw to the button, and sweeping is allowed. 

  • The playoffs will be in the page playoffs format. The team with the highest aggregate score will get the hammer for the first end. In case of a tie, the tiebreaker will be decided by the team with the most rocks for, then rocks against, then differential, then head-to-head record, and finally a coin toss.

  • Playoff teams must have 4 players. If a player is absent, a spare from the spares list or non-playoff members will be assigned. The Skip with the missing player may request the Executive Committee to assign a player of equal ranking to the missing player, and play this spare at the level of the missing player. 

  • ​In the event of a tie during the playoff matches, and if time permits, a half-end will be played; otherwise, a draw to the button will occur without the use of sweeping. Each player is permitted to throw one rock. Should the tie continue, the winner will be determined by another draw to the button without sweeping. Any player from each team may execute this throw.

Christmas "FUN" Bonspiel Regulations (Peter S. Clark Memorial Trophy)

• • Purpose & Instructional Intent

    • Event Purpose: The Christmas "FUN" Bonspiel is an instructional event designed to give all members hands-on experience playing every position on the ice without impacting regular season team standings.

    • On-Ice Mentorship: Regular Skips are encouraged to take extra time during play to instruct teammates on shot theory, line calling, sweeping mechanics, and ice reading.

  • Position Rotation Rules

    • Draw 1 Mandatory Rotation: All teams must utilize full positional rotation across ends during Draw 1.

    • Draws 2+ Optional Rotation: Positional rotation becomes optional after Draw 1.

    • Pre-Game Notification: If a team decides not to rotate positions after Draw 1, the Skip must notify the opposing Skip prior to the start of the first end.

    • In-House Authority: The player assigned to skip a specific end holds primary authority over shot selection and broom placement. Regular Skips may provide strategic guidance and discuss shot theory but may not override or dictate broom calls.

  • 3-Player Team Rotation Matrix If a team plays with three members, rotation follows a structured 3-stage delivery and skip schedule:

    • Ends 1–3: Player 1 (Lead/Second) acts as Skip. Player 1 & Player 2 deliver 3 rocks each; Player 3 (Skip) delivers 2 rocks.

    • Ends 4–6: Player 2 (Second/Vice) acts as Skip. Player 1 & Player 2 deliver 3 rocks each; Player 3 (Skip) delivers 2 rocks.

    • Ends 7–8: Player 3 (Regular Skip) acts as Skip. Player 1 & Player 2 deliver 3 rocks each; Player 3 delivers 2 rocks.

  • Pace of Play & Spares

    • Pace of Play Flexibility: While players are encouraged to maintain standard readiness, extra time is permitted per end to facilitate on-ice instruction and role learning.

    • Spare Rules: Standard club Spare Master regulations apply. Assigned spares participate in the position rotation along with full-time members.

  • Playoff Pairing & Ice Assignments

    • Playoff Matchups: The Drawmaster pairs teams for the Bonspiel playoffs based directly on Round Robin win-loss results through Draw 8 (Win vs. Win format).

    • Sheet Allocations: Game ice sheets for playoff matches are assigned by random draw.

Page Playoff Regulations (Founders Trophy)

• • Qualification & Standings Tie-Breakers

    • Qualifying Teams: The top four (4) teams from the final Aggregate season standings qualify for the Page Playoff. Standings are calculated strictly using regular-season series points (excluding Christmas Bonspiel and Closing Bonspiel results).

    • Standings Tie-Breakers: In the event of a tie in final Aggregate season points, playoff qualification and seeding will be determined in the following priority order:

      • Most Total Rocks For

      • Least Total Rocks Against

      • Most Total Wins

      • Head-to-Head Record

      • Coin Toss (as a last resort)

      • Ice Sheet & Rock Allocation

  • Sheet Assignment: The Drawmaster will schedule Quarter-Final and Semi-Final playoff games on the inner sheets, avoiding outside sheets to ensure uniform ice conditions.

  • Final Sheet Selection: The final championship match sheet will be selected by mutual agreement between both advancing Skips and Tam Heather ice staff prior to game time.

  • Home Team & Hammer Advantage: The higher-seeded team in each playoff matchup is designated as the HOME team, delivers Yellow Rocks, and retains Hammer for the 1st end.

  • Tournament Bracket & Match Progressions

    • Quarter-Finals (Page 1v2 & Page 3v4):

      • 1 vs. 2 Game: Seed #1 vs. Seed #2 (Seed #1 has Hammer & Yellow Rocks).

      • Winner: Advances directly to the Final.

      • Loser: Advances to the Semi-Final.

      • 3 vs. 4 Game: Seed #3 vs. Seed #4 (Seed #3 has Hammer & Yellow Rocks).

      • Winner: Advances to the Semi-Final.

      • Loser: Eliminated from further play.

  • Semi-Final:

    • Matchup: Loser of (1 vs. 2) vs. Winner of (3 vs. 4)(Loser of Qtr (1 vs 2) has Hammer & Yellow Rocks).

      • Winner: Advances to the Final.

      • Loser: Eliminated from further play.

  • Final (Championship Match):

    • Matchup: Winner of (1 vs. 2) vs. Winner of Semi-Final (Winner of Qtr (1 vs 2) has Hammer & Yellow Rocks).

    • Winner: Declared Playoff Champion and awarded the Founders Trophy.

RVCC Rules Book - Click Here

Curling Canada Rules - Click Here