Rouge Valley Curling Club Playbook

Welcome Members

Welcome to the Rouge Valley Curling Club! This playbook equips members with essential information on guidelines and rules, ensuring a fulfilling curling season in a competitive league. It outlines the latest regulations for fair play. Sections cover rules for regular play and bonspiels, and members can review additional rules from Curling Ontario and Curling Canada online. Please read and consent to the season's rules. For assistance, contact an Executive Committee member. All activities follow the regulations of the Ontario Curling Council, Ontario Curling Association, and Northern Ontario Curling Association. The Rules of General and Officiated Play from Curling Canada will be enforced, with the Executive Committee interpreting these rules. In conflicts, the Rouge Valley Curling Club Rules prevail. To propose amendments to the Rules, email the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee meets in the fall to discuss proposals and update the Rules, which will be published by the first week of October each year on this page.

2024-2025 Executive Committee 

• President - Barry Tripp   

• Vice-President - Scott Duncan

• Treasurer - Les Cabell

2024-2025 Support Team

• Spare Master - Piet Hoste

• Drawmaster - Paul Hutton

• Webmaster - Paul Hutton

​If you'd like to reach out to any member, simply click on their name!

Thank you and enjoy your curling season,

Webmaster

A - Governance

Executive Committee

1. The Executive Committee shall be accountable for the daily operations and governance of the Rouge Valley Curling Club on behalf of the Full-Time membership. The subsequent roles are essential throughout the curling season to ensure that club operations are maintained and sustainable throughout the year.

2. Every year, it is the responsibility of the Executive Committee to draft a list of Club rules. It is important that all Full-Time members have access to these rules, and if there are any questions or concerns, a general meeting can be arranged for clarification.

3. ​Upon the conclusion of their term, the President shall retain a position on the Executive Committee as the "Past President" for a duration of one year or as long as the individual is capable of fulfilling the responsibilities associated with this role. This arrangement is intended to ensure a smooth transition and to provide valuable advice as deemed appropriate by the current President.

4. The Executive Committee consists of the President, the Past President, and the Treasurer. The positions, excluding the Past President, will be filled by nominees selected by the Full-Time members and subsequently confirmed through a majority vote at the conclusion of the annual general meeting. The term of office is established for a duration of two years, with open positions alternating on an annual basis. Members of the Executive Committee are permitted to serve consecutive terms.

5. ​​The role of the President within the Executive Committee will entail several key responsibilities. Leadership and Engagement: The President will direct volunteer efforts, encourage participation among members, and uphold a positive atmosphere within the club. Rule Enforcement: The President will ensure compliance with curling regulations and club-specific rules. Budget Oversight: The President will monitor the club's finances, approve expenditures, and address discrepancies. Support Role Management: The President will assign and provide support for volunteer positions that are critical to the club's operations.

6. The Treasurer in the Executive Committee handles Financial Management and Budgeting by overseeing membership fees, budgets, and expenses. They project costs for essentials like ice rental and prizes to ensure financial sustainability, collect and allocate funds from special games or draws. For Reporting and Transparency, the Treasurer submits an annual General Ledger report to the club president, keeping members informed about the use of their fees and contributions. Additionally, they manage the collection of membership and social funds from events, tracking revenue, ensuring timely payments, and maintaining accurate financial records.

7. Term Commitment: Serve a minimum of two years to provide stability and continuity.

8. In the previously mentioned meeting, as well as at suitable intervals throughout the season, volunteers will be recruited for the roles of Spares Master, Drawmaster, and Webmaster, along with a deputy for each position to provide additional experience and support for these critical roles. Furthermore, volunteers will be solicited for the position of Fundraising Coordinator, who will be responsible for generating financial resources through Club activities, and Promotions Coordinator, tasked with securing sponsorships and/or prizes from external sources. Additionally, any other Rouge Valley Curling Club members wishing to engage in these capacities will also be welcomed.

9. In the event of any discrepancy between the information provided on the website or through email and the copy of the rules held by the President, the President's copy shall be regarded as the authoritative version.

Finance

1. The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring that all registered Full-Time members pay their dues promptly.

2. If a Full-Time member fails to pay curling dues for three consecutive weeks, they may be suspended from play unless the Executive Committee approves their continued participation for good and sufficient reasons.

3. The Treasurer will project Rouge Valley Curling Club expenses based on ice and banquet costs at the beginning of the season and notify Full-Time members of their annual dues.

4. Full-Time Membership dues must be paid to the Treasurer by either cheque, e-transfer or cash and are due one week before the Skip draft as determined by the Executive Committee. 

5. The Full-Time member refund policy shall be determined based on the number of draw dates remaining in the season at the time the Treasurer receives an email request from the Full-Time member for the reimbursement of the membership fee and any outstanding expenses already incurred by the Rouge Valley Curling Club. This information will be utilized to ascertain the amount of refund to be disbursed to the Full-Time member.

6. The Treasurer will announce the fees for spares before the first game of the season. Spare members will make payment after each game played to the Treasurer.

7. All spare members are invited to the year-end Banquet. However, spare members who have not paid spare fees for 7 games or paid fees to become permanent spare members may be required to pay a portion of the cost of the year-end banquet.

Ethics

1. As the Skip, it is your responsibility to guide, instruct, and assist all curlers while maintaining high standards of sportsmanship associated with curling.

2. All Full-Time and Spare Members are required to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Any failure to adhere to this standard may result in expulsion from the Rouge Valley Curling Club at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

3. We acknowledge that the Rouge Valley Curling Club operates as a non-competitive organization, wherein all players are entitled to respect. It is imperative to uphold these values and to engage with others through kindness and understanding. Let us collectively endeavor to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for the enjoyment of all individuals involved.

Awards

Trophy & Prizes

The trophy distribution is as follows:

• Page Playoff Champion - Founders Trophy Playoff

• Season High Aggregate Champion - Len Wills Trophy

• Season Closing Spiel Champion - Gord Lougheed Trophy

• Christmas Spiel Champion -  Pete Clark Trophy

• Season Low Aggregate - Honey Pot Low Aggregate

• Best Curler in the Final Page Playoff Game - Bobby Stiles "Sure Shot" Trophy

• Open Bonspiel - Ivan McDonald Trophy

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

Support Team

Spare Master

1. The draw schedule will be published on the official website and made available for download in Google Calendar for integration into personal calendars. It is the responsibility of Full-Time Members to promptly inform their team skip if they are unable to attend the upcoming game. In the event that a Full-Time Member is absent, they or an alternate team member should reach out to the Spares Master to arrange for a replacement. Furthermore, any request for absence from a curling game must be communicated via email to the Spare Master no later than Friday evening prior to the game scheduled for Monday. 

2. ​The Spares Master arranges a spare when notified of a missing Full-Time member. The Spare Master will email the spare list members on Saturday. Spares will be assigned based on the first team to request one and the first spare to reply. Priority for assigning spares to teams will be based on a team missing two members, followed by rule SM9, then SM7, and finally on the Full-Time member notifying the Spare Master of their absence. The lowest priority will be given to teams looking for a spare before the game starts on Mondays.

3. In cases where rule SM7 or SM9 does not apply, an assigned spare is to play in the Lead position for that team. If a team requires 2 spares, at the Skips discretion, one spare may play up to the Vice Skip position.

4. Once the Spare Master assigns a spare(s) to a team they are not allowed to play for another team without prior approval from the Spare Master and/or Executive Committee.

5. In case there are not enough spares, a team with 2 members can request the Spares Master to assign a player from a regular team with 4 players. The executive will keep track of which team contributes a spare to ensure fairness.

6. It is recommended to use the official spares list for any spares or replacement members as needed.

7. In case of a known absence of three weeks (or three consecutive scheduled games) for any Full-Time member, the Executive Committee will appoint substitutes of equal calibre who can play up to the position of the absent Full-Time Member. If a Full-Time Member is absent for a longer period, the Executive Committee will decide on the necessary action. If the Executive Committee cannot find a qualified permanent replacement, they will decide on the appropriate action. Those who are called upon to substitute and play for that year will then be considered Full-Time Members.

8. If a non-member curler requests to become a Full-Time member mid-season, a meeting with the skips will determine their status or if they will be the first spare contacted each week.

9. In case of a 3-person team during Skip team draft processes due to lack of Full-Time members, they will receive the first spare member until a Full-Time member has been secured.

Drawmaster

1. ​The Drawmaster shall develop a seasonal schedule comprising twenty draws, ensuring that each skip team is allocated a balanced number of games across the designated ice sheets. The draws will be organized in a round-robin format, succeeded by a winner-versus-winner system to promote equitable competition among all teams. Additionally, special events will be coordinated, including a Christmas Funspiel for club members and a concluding bonspiel featuring a Page Playoff system for the top four aggregate teams, determined by their performance in regular draws. The schedule will be adjusted to accommodate non-curling days, particularly the Christmas holidays and Family Day, which occurs on the third Monday in February.

2. The Drawmaster shall communicate the schedule to club members and ensure that updates or revisions are provided in a timely manner. Furthermore, the curling scorecards will be distributed to teams​ by the Drawmaster prior to each game and subsequently collected thereafter. The outcomes from the scorecards will be meticulously documented to monitor overall team standings and performance throughout the season.

3. The Drawmaster shall collaborate with the ​​Executive Committee to address team feedback or scheduling conflicts while maintaining accurate records of draw assignments, team standings, and playoff qualifications.

Webmaster

1. ​The Webmaster is responsible for managing and maintaining the curling club’s website and facilitating general communications on behalf of the Executive Committee. This role ensures that club members and the public have access to up-to-date information about schedules, events, standings, and announcements throughout the year, with a focus on the curling season from October to March.

2. The webmaster shall be responsible for the maintenance and regular updates of the club’s website to ensure the provision of current information, which includes the following:- The curling season schedule, encompassing twenty draws, special events, and playoffs.- Team standings and results, in collaboration with the Drawmaster.- Details regarding events, such as the Christmas Funspiel and the closing bonspiel.- News, announcements, and registration information pertaining to the club. Additionally, it is imperative to ensure that the website is user-friendly, visually appealing, and accessible across both desktop and mobile devices. Timely updates regarding cancellations, rescheduling, or weather-related changes during the curling season must be posted. The webmaster will also draft and disseminate general communications, including newsletters, emails, or announcements, as directed by the Executive Committee. Management of online registration forms or inquiries, if applicable, should be undertaken, with coordination with the Executive Committee to adequately address member feedback. Relevant photos, documents, or other media related to club activities and events will be uploaded. Furthermore, monitoring of website performance, troubleshooting of technical issues, and communication with hosting providers or IT support as required will be performed. Promotion of club activities and events via the website and, when applicable, through social media channels will also be prioritized.

Membership Registration

1. The Executive Committee shall establish definitive membership registration targets for Full-time members for the forthcoming season, considering the membership figures from the preceding season and the anticipated demand for new members. In the event that interest from potential new members exceeds previous membership levels, the Executive Committee will evaluate the quantity of sheets to be rented along with the related costs to ascertain the membership fee for the season.

2. In the circumstance where the number of Full-Time Members surpasses the available positions, the Executive Committee shall prioritize the preferences of previous Full-Time Members, Spare Members, former members, as well as friends and relatives of current members.

3. Rouge Valley Curling Club Membership Criteria:

   1. The Executive Committee will establish the dates for the commencement and conclusion of registration for Full-time members. Eligibility for Full-time memberships will be determined based on the status of returning, previous, and new members, as well as unlimited spare members. The Rouge Valley Curling Club Executive Committee will assess membership eligibility by considering the member's status, registration timestamp, receipt of full payment, and acceptance of the waiver provided within the registration form.

   2. Returning members who finalize their entry by the specified deadline shall be given priority for Full-time membership. Subsequently, Full-time membership will be accessible to all individuals who fulfill the specified membership requirements. To qualify for a Full-time membership, it is imperative that full payment is remitted to the Treasurer prior to the registration closing deadline.

4. Annually, prior to the commencement of Full Time Membership registration, the Executive Committee will conduct a review of the existing Terms and Conditions. This review aims to ensure that all terms and conditions are consistent with the policies of the Tam Heather Curling & Tennis Club, as well as with any applicable government policies that may directly affect the terms of play, such as the COVID-19 policy.

5. Two distinct sets of membership registration forms have been designated for the management of both Full-Time and Spare memberships. The Full-Time Membership will be accessible during the registration period established by the Executive Committee, whereas the Spare Membership form will remain available throughout the current curling season. Google Forms are administered through the Rouge Valley Curling Club's Gmail account and can be shared with the Executive Committee for any necessary adjustments to the settings. Responses from members are recorded in the Google Sheet titled' Rouge Valley Curling Club Membership, ' which includes a system date and time stamp to ensure fairness on a first-come, first-served basis, should there be a limitation on membership for a curling season.

Skip Position and Assignment

1. Following the completion of membership registration and the confirmation of returning Skips members, the Executive Committee will ascertain the number of Skips required to lead the appropriate number of teams for the upcoming season.

2. The Executive Committee will determine if any opening Skip positions are available based on dropped and non-returning skips, the Executive Committee will survey the membership and invite the highest-ranking candidates to skip in the new season.

3. In the event that any member submits a request to skip to the Executive Committee and meets the prerequisites for skipping, the individual with the lowest cumulative point total at the conclusion of the season shall be excluded from participation in the subsequent season. When multiple requests are received,​ the Executive Committee will prioritize the member with the highest team standing. Eligibility for skipping requires that individuals are Full-Time members of a regular team or have participated in at least five games during the preceding year.

Skip team draft

1. Teams are formed through a draft process with rounds based on experience.  Picking will proceed as follows.

2. Round 1

   1. New skips -  Individuals who have never skipped before but meet the eligibility criteria can now skip.

   2. Based on the previous year's standings, Skips from the lowest aggregate position to the highest.

   3. Skips with skipping experience in any club, but who did not skip in the Rouge Valley Curling Club in the previous year.

3. Round 2 - Reverse the order of Round 1

4. Round 3 - Same order as Round 1

G- Game Regulations

Draw Rules

1. Skip is tasked with assigning full-time members to any position prior to the commencement of the first end. Additionally, Skip must adhere to Spare Master regulations when appointing Spares to substitute for absent Full-Time Members within their team.

2. Games start no later than 5:00 p.m. or when the ICE is available at around 4:45 p.m. Visitor Skip (Blue Rocks) must have Lead ready to deliver 1st rock. Delays are penalized: 1 rock delay = end at 5:05 p.m., 2 rocks = end at 5:10 p.m., and default at 5:30 p.m. Home Skip starts 1st end with hammer and Yellow Rocks.

3. If a full-time member is absent, the spare will replace them in the lead position for the first rock. The Skip must secure a spare and have them ready to play the first end within the specified time as per Rule G2. If a spare is unavailable, then the first available member will play as a three-member team for the first end, and the spare may join the team in the second end as per the spare rule. Rule G16 takes precedence for playoff games, even for those played simultaneously with bonspiel games.

4. ​In the event that a team is short of one player and no substitute is available, referred to as a three-member team, the Lead shall deliver three rocks, the Vice shall deliver three rocks, and the Skip shall deliver two rocks.

5. Should players arrive subsequent to the commencement of the first end, they may only engage in sweeping activities until their team has completed the end for which they are present. Additionally, if the Skip's team possesses a spare prior to the arrival of the late member, the late member may be permitted to return to their designated position at the discretion of the Skip for the duration of the game.

6. The Rouge Valley Curling Club has adopted the 4 rock free guard zone for all games.

7. In case a team is short 2 players and given a substitute, the Skip can use the substitute in any position equivalent to the missing players.

8. The Rink Bell will be at 6:35 p.m. Teams are to complete the end currently in play with one more end (8th) if required. At 6:40 p.m., if the 8th end has not started, the teams play a 4-rock per team (one rock per player) 8th end (half-end). This half-end must start by 6:45 p.m.; otherwise, the play stops, no points are awarded to both teams for the 8th end, and the game ends after seven ends. The winning end will be counted as a ½ point to score the half-end, with the total points for rocks.  All curling should conclude by 6:55 p.m., and all players must vacate the ice by 7:00 p.m.  At 7:00 p.m., all play stops, and scoring is as per rule G11.  Note: The lead must throw the first two rocks at the end for teams with only three players playing the half-end with vice and skip to throw one rock each.

Draw Scoring

9. Teams receive 10 points for a win, 5 points for a tie, 1 point for each end, 1/2 point for blank ends or completed half-end, and 0 points for a loss or rocks. 

10. If the team is 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.

11. In case of a game ending due to a time limit, unfinished ends will not be scored and no points will be awarded. The team leading at game termination will be awarded 10 points as the winner. If a skip concedes before the time limit, the opposing skip scores remaining ends. The Drawmaster will inform scheduled teams that recorded short games.

12. Teams that complete 7 or fewer ends for 50% or more of their game will incur a 5-point penalty. Incomplete games due to uncontrollable factors, such as unplayable ice or an injury timeout, may be waived by the Executive Committee.

13. The HOME Vice-Skip is responsible for the game's scorecard. They agree on the score for each end, and if a measurement is needed, the HOME Vice-Skip performs it. All other team members must leave the house during measurements. The HOME Vice-Skip completes the scorecard and gives it to the "Drawmaster" at the end of the game.

14. The schedule of play and series format will be established by the Drawmaster and Executive Committee at the beginning of the curling season and distributed to all members. Each HOME Skip, known as YELLOW Rocks, will be preassigned and evenly distributed throughout the season.

15. If there is a discrepancy between the website or email and Drawmaster's records, the latter will be considered official.

Club Bonspiel / Playoff Game scoring

16. Teams earn 10 points for a win, 5 points for a tie, 1 point for each end won, 1/2 point for blank ends or half ends, and 1/4 point for each rock thrown (maximum of 12 rocks).

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

18. 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.

19. 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. 

20. ​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.

21. Christmas Funspiel Standings: Peter S. Clark Memorial Trophy

    1. The Christmas "FUN" Bonspiel is a unique opportunity for all players to experience each position in the game of curling. It is designed to help players learn and improve without negatively affecting the team's overall performance. The skips will also have the chance to teach their team members and provide guidance on different aspects of the game such as proper sliding technique, shot theory, and more. Below are the rules that apply to this event:

    2. Rotation play will be optional after Draw 1; The skip must inform the other team if they will not be playing Rotation before starting the first end of the play.

    3. The regular spare rules will be in effect.

    4. Slow play is ​​normal during this bonspiel as players are encouraged to learn about each position and spend the necessary time instructing their teammates throughout the game.

    5. The person responsible for skipping the end will make the decisions on the shot. This means that the regular skip cannot tell the person skipping the end where to put the broom. However, conversations around theory and regular conversations that would occur between vices and skips are allowed.

    6. In the event of a team with three players, the same rotation will apply. The only exception is that the first two players will throw three rocks each, while the skip position will throw two rocks. The ends for the first player will be 1 through 3, with the regular position (lead/second) as skip. The ends for the second player will be 4 through 6, with the normal position (second/vice) as skip. The ends for the third player (skip) will be 7 through 8, with the regular position (skip) as skip.

    7. The Drawmaster will pair teams in the Bonspiel playoffs based on the win-vs-win results from Round Robin in DRAW 8, and game ice sheets will be randomly assigned.

22. Page Playoff Champion: Founders Trophy Playoff.

    1. The qualifying teams are determined by the final Aggregate season standings, which rank the top four teams based solely on season series points, excluding those from the Christmas Bonspiel and Closing Bonspiel.

    2. In case of a tie in final Aggregate points at the end of the season standings, the winner will be decided by the following criteria: most total rocks for, least total rocks against, most wins, head to head play, and finally a coin toss as a last resort.

    3. Drawmaster will schedule Page playoff teams to play on the inner sheets, avoiding the outside sheets for fair play.

    4. Teams with the highest aggregate points will be a HOME team YELLOW Rocks and have the hammer for the first end in every game of the Page Playoff series.

    5. Team #1 will play against Team #2 and Team #3 will play against Team #4 in the Quarter-Final games. Teams #1 and #3 will have the hammer for the first end and YELLOW Rocks. The winner of teams #1 and #2 will advance to the final game, while the loser will advance to the Semi-Final game. The winner of teams #3 and #4 will advance to the Semi-Final game, while the loser will be eliminated from further play.

    6. The loser of the Quarter Final between teams #1 and #2 will face the winner of the Quarter Final between teams #3 and #4 in the Semi-Final. The winner of the Semi-Final will advance to the Final game, while the loser will be eliminated from further play.

    7. The final teams will play on a single sheet agreed upon by both skips and Tam Heather rink staff before the game. The winner of this match will be the Playoff Champion and receive the Founders Trophy.