Rules of Play

Five-Rock Free Guard Zone & No Tick Rule

The Five-Rock Free Guard Zone rule and the No Tick rule will be in effect.

• Triangles are on the ice to determine whether a stone is on the centre-line. If both teams cannot agree, signal for an official — the official's decision is final.
• If a violation occurs, the non-offending team may: (a) remove the delivered stone and replace all displaced stones to their prior positions, or (b) leave all stones where they came to rest.

Pace of Play

• All games are 8 ends.
• Games will not be timed, but teams are expected to play at a prompt pace. Teams falling behind will be warned. The event chairs reserve the right to use a buzzer or formal timing for teams playing slowly.

In-Game Measurements

All rock measurements — whether for scoring or free guard zone purposes — are completed by the players. If the players cannot agree, an official will be called to measure and the official's ruling is final.

Extra End

Extra ends are played towards the home end. To maintain the playing area, please bring stones to the away end along the sides of the sheet.

Timeouts

Each team is allotted one timeout per game, with one additional timeout in an extra end. Timeouts are one minute long, starting when the coach reaches the team. Coaches must be wearing curling shoes. The coach of the non-calling team may also come out.

Pre-Game Warm-Up & Draw Shot Challenge (DSC)

• Practice starts 15 minutes before the scheduled draw time.
• Flip a coin — the winner chooses turn and order of practice OR colour of stones. Teams throw on opposite sides.
• Each team throws one stone per player: 4 practice stones from the home end to the away end, then 4 back. The last 2 stones may be thrown by the same player, but no player may throw more than 2 of the 4.
• Teams alternate throws to speed up the process. For the first 7 rocks (4 down, 3 back), play fast — you do not need to wait for the other team's rock to stop before throwing.
• One player throws 1 additional stone (not counted in the 8 practice stones) for the DSC, which may be swept. Any player may throw the DSC. For three-handed teams, one player must hold the broom but may leave the house to sweep.
• Coaches and fifth players may be on the ice until the last practice rock is thrown, then must leave.
• One player from each team should measure the opponent's DSC and agree on the value before moving the stone.
• Distances are recorded in inches, rounded to the nearest quarter inch.
• Failure to stop a stone in the rings is recorded as 73 inches. If the thrower moves the stone before it is measured, it is recorded as 73 inches. A stone covering the pin is 0 inches.
• Hammer is awarded to the team winning the DSC.
• In the case of a tied DSC (both teams pin, both miss the house, or an exact tie), the same player rethrows without sweepers — though sweepers may walk alongside.

Three-Handed Play

World Curling's 2026–27 rule requires four players at the start of a game and caps three-handed play at two consecutive ends. St. Paul Cash Spiel does not apply that restriction: a team may start and complete any game with three players.

• No approval is required, and no game is forfeited for playing short.
• The first two players deliver three stones each; the third delivers two.
• A team may not play with fewer than three players.

World Curling Tour regulation 2.01 still governs registered players and spares — that is the tour's rule, and the committee cannot waive it.

WCF Rules

For anything not covered above, the World Curling Federation Rules of Curling will apply.