Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Team Composition (Standard)
A standard curling team consists of four players, each with a designated role and throwing order:
- Lead: Throws the first two stones for the team. Typically responsible for placing guards and early draws. Sweeps for all other teammates.
- Second: Throws stones three and four. Often plays takeouts or draws to build on the lead's positioning. Sweeps for all other teammates.
- Third (Vice-Skip): Throws stones five and six. Acts as skip (strategist/caller) when the skip is delivering. Holds the broom as target for the skip's deliveries. Agrees on scoring with the opposing vice-skip at the end of each end.
- Skip: Throws the last two stones (seven and eight). Directs team strategy, calls the line and weight for each delivery, and positions the broom as the target for teammates. The skip is typically the team's most experienced player.
Teams may register a fifth player (alternate) who can substitute for any position. Once an alternate enters the game, the replaced player cannot return for that game.
4.2 Mixed Doubles Teams
In Mixed Doubles, each team consists of one male and one female player. Each player delivers 5 stones per end (10 total per team across an 8-end game). The first stone of each end must be delivered by the player whose stone is not pre-placed in the house. Players alternate deliveries: one player delivers stones 1 and 5, the other delivers stones 2, 3, and 4 (or vice versa, chosen per end).
4.3 Officials
- Chief Umpire: The senior official responsible for final rule interpretation and dispute resolution. Has authority to forfeit a game in cases of unsportsmanlike conduct or repeated time violations.
- Deputy Chief Umpire: Assists the Chief Umpire and oversees assigned sheets.
- Game Umpires: Assigned to individual games to monitor play, verify scoring, operate measuring devices, and enforce rules.
- Eye on the Hog Operators: Monitor the electronic hog-line release detection system. In events without electronic handles, a human hog-line judge makes the call visually.
- Ice Technicians: Responsible for ice preparation, pebbling, nipping, and temperature control. While not match officials, their work is essential to fair play.
4.4 Coaches
Each team may have a designated coach who can communicate with players only during timeouts and between ends. Coaches are not permitted on the ice surface or in the field of play during live play. At WCF events, each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per game.