Section 7: Violations & Penalties
7.1 Hog Line Violation
The delivering player must release the stone before it reaches the near (delivery-end) hog line. If the stone is not released in time, it is removed from play. At WCF events, the Eye on the Hog electronic handle system automatically detects the release point: a green light on the handle indicates a clean release, while a red light indicates a violation. In events without electronic handles, a hog-line judge makes the determination visually.
7.2 Touched Running Stone (Burned Stone)
If a moving stone is touched by a player, their equipment, or their clothing, it is considered a burned stone. The Spirit of Curling requires the offending team to immediately declare the infraction. The non-offending team's skip then has three options:
- Allow the stones to remain where they came to rest.
- Remove the touched stone from play and restore all displaced stones to their original positions.
- Place all affected stones where the skip reasonably estimates they would have come to rest had the infraction not occurred.
7.3 Free Guard Zone Violation
If a team removes an opponent's stone from the Free Guard Zone during the protected period (first 5 delivered stones per end, or first 3 in Mixed Doubles), the delivered stone is removed and the displaced FGZ stone is restored to its original position. All other affected stones are also restored.
7.4 Delivery Out of Order
If a player delivers a stone out of the designated rotation order and the error is noticed before the next stone is delivered, the stone is removed and redelivered by the correct player. If the error is not noticed until after the next delivery, play continues with the corrected rotation for the remainder of the end.
7.5 Stone Crossing the Back Line or Side Line
A stone that completely crosses the back line or touches the side line (or boards) is immediately removed from play. A stone that comes to rest between the hog lines without reaching the far hog line is also removed (unless it has contacted a stone already in play).
7.6 Time Violation
If a team's thinking time expires on the game clock, the team forfeits the game. This is strictly enforced at WCF international events. Teams are responsible for monitoring their remaining time.
7.7 Equipment and Conduct Violations
- Illegal broom heads: Use of non-approved broom head material results in disqualification from the event.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: Deliberate interference, abusive language, or repeated refusal to comply with officials' instructions may result in forfeiture of the game or expulsion from the competition at the Chief Umpire's discretion.
- Electronic devices: Players may not use electronic communication devices or receive coaching signals during play (except during designated timeouts).