General Rules
Welcome to the 2025 Funspiel!
For those who are brand new or for those who are returning but need a refresher, below are the rules for the weekend. Similar to previous Funspiels, each end of each sheet will be assigned a specific rule for the entire tournament. Rules do not carry over to subsequent ends. This is by design so spectators will be aware of the rules as well players who may be confused by a rule, can watch it unfold before they play to get a better grasp of it. Rules will be posted at both ends of the ice for players to read and refresh if need be. If there is a dispute about the rule, as long as both skips agree to how the end is played, carry on, if not, please come find me so I can help settle things.
Other general rules are as follows:
1. Games are 4 ends.
2. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, hammer does not automatically switch ends. Hammer will change as normal.
3. 5 rock free guard zone rule is in effect for all rules unless specified otherwise in the rules.
4. All ties will be broken by skips draw to the button using the stick! Opponents cannot sweep behind T.
5. If you require a spare, please let me know if you need help finding one. There are no restrictions on who can spare for who.
Sheet 1
End 1: NO SKIP NO BROOM NO SERVICE
Skips must leave the ice and no one else can hold the broom (go have a beer as per the main motivation for this idea). The remaining three players must decide what the shot is, and where to aim from the hack without anyone or anything to aim at. When it comes to skip stones, the skip can then come back onto the ice and throw their rocks with their vice holding the broom. IF skips try to communicate any strategy from off the ice, they will forfeit one of their shots.
End 2: TOE THE LINE
Your new button is where the centre line meets the hog line. However, normal curling rules apply in the sense that the rock must be completely over the hog line to be in play unless a rock makes contact with a live rock. Laser pointer will be available for any measure disputes. 5 rock free guard zone rules still applies.
End 3: 2 BOCCE 2 FURIOUS
Similar to the throwing order in Bocce, the team without hammer throws until they are shot rock in the house, then the team with hammer will throw until they are shot rock. This continues until all 16 rocks have been thrown. Since the throwing order may be greatly skewed, leads cannot take out a guard no matter when they throw (in keeping with somewhat of a free guard zone rule)
End 4: MOST VALUABLE ROCK
Leads throw rocks 8 and 7, Seconds throw 6 and 5, Thirds throw 4 and 3, and Skips throw 2 and 1. The reason for this is because whatever individual rock is shot rock at the end of the end, the number of the rock is the points you score in the end! Multiple rocks cannot score, only the closest to the button. Therefore, if your team’s 3 rock is the shot rock, you score 3 points! 8 rock scores 8, 1 rock scores 1, etc.
Sheet 2
End 1: STICK CURLING
All players must use the stick to throw in the end. If a player already uses a stick, enjoy the advantage.
End 2: MINESWEEPER
Each team will place a rock (extra rocks to be provided) between the half way point of the sheet and the receiving hog line. Team without hammer places theirs first, followed by the team with hammer. If any rock, at any time touches these rocks, the rock is removed from play and the minesweeper rock is placed back where it was. Please be mindful of all rocks when sweeping.
End 3: THE CARDS GIVETH AND THE CARDS TAKETH
There are EIGHT cards. Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Have someone shuffle the cards and each player will pick two cards. These are the numbered rocks you’re throwing for the end. Example, if you draw the ace and 6, you’re throwing the first and sixth rock. Please be mindful of pace of play.
End 4: BOCCE
The bocce rock is placed as a tight guard on the centre line. This is now your “moveable” button- like Bocce! If you accidentally take out the bocce rock, the non-offending team can place it wherever they want! At the end of the end, closest to your new “button” scores the point or points! A measuring tape will be available since the normal standard measuring device will not work here.
Sheet 3
End 1: NO TAKE OUTS
You are not allowed to remove any rock from play including your own. If you remove a rock, yours or the opposition’s, your opposition can place the rock anywhere (in play) wherever they want, and the shooter is removed from play.
End 2: SNAKE ORDER
Throwing order for this end will be as follows: Lead, Second, Vice, Skip, Skip, Vice, Second, and the lead will throw the final rock!
End 3: BLACK HOLE
Anytime, any rock comes to rest after a shot, yours or your opponents, and it is in or touching the four foot (button included), the rock is removed from play. Closest to the pin scores the point(s). Rocks can slide through the four foot, just can’t come to rest in the four foot.
End 4: NO SWEEPING HOG LINE IN
No sweeping after the far hog line! Opponents cannot even sweep behind the T! So, sweep all you want down the sheet BUT once it hits the hog line, watch and pray it ends up where you want it to.
Sheet 4
End 1: INFINITY FREE GUARD ZONE
Throughout the entire end, the free guard zone rule applies. You cannot take out your opponent’s guards. You may remove your own. If you accidentally remove one, you lose your shooter, and the guard goes back to where it was previously.
End 2: BITERS MATTER
Score the same way as regular curling, except that rocks that are furthest away from the pin (but in the house) score the points! It’s all about those rocks that are just touching the 12 foot!
End 3: DOUBLE TROUBLE
Teams will throw two rocks in a row! Lead without hammer will throw both of their rocks back to back, then the other lead will throw their two, then so on and so forth!
End 4: PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Wizard of Oz meets curling. A curtain will be strung across the receiving hog line. There will be enough room for the rock to slide under. No peeking around. Communicate loudly. Thrower and sweepers are not permitted to go around the curtain to help the shot. It's up to the skip to sweep hog line in (or vices when the skip throws). For safety, please be careful. For pace of play, please use common sense.
An end is deemed to have started once the first rock of the end has crossed the near tee line during a slide.
The bell in the early draw will go off at 8:50pm. The bell in the late draw will go off at 11:05pm.
Along with other evening leagues, this league fundraises for a joint year-end banquet (dinner and prizes) and maintaining league awards. Additional prizes are occasionally purchased through the year.
