Curling is a winter sport that is played on narrow sheets of ice using 42-lb. stones, also called "rocks," that are slid down the surface of the ice to rest within a large circle at the other end. One player slides the stone, and two teammates sweep the ice in front of the stone as it travels down the ice to help keep it on track. Rules are in place to govern the sweeping part of the game.
What It Is
In curling, "sweeping" is when players sweep the ice with brooms, as the rock travels down the ice. The sweepers often take instruction, from the player who curled the stone, about when to sweep and how much pressure to apply. Sweeping helps the stones to go straighter and move farther than they may have done otherwise. The speed of the broom movement and the pressure used help determine the effect that sweeping has on the rock.
Sweeping Penalty
If a sweeping violation is determined to have occurred, the nonoffending team has its choice of what to do once the stones come to rest. It may allow the play to stand, move the unfairly swept stone away and replace the other stones as close to their original positions as possible, or position the unfairly swept stone where it likely would have ended up had the penalty not occurred.
General
In some instances, specific sweeping rules apply to match the situation, but general rules govern all situations. The final sweeping motion from the brush must finish outside of the stone's path, and the sweeping must not leave any debris in the path of a moving stone. Sweeping is not permitted to take place until a stone has been set into motion. Only one player may sweep a stone at any one time once it has passed the far tee line.
Own Team
Between the two tee lines on the playing ice, any player on the delivering team may sweep that team's own stone when it is in motion. Your team has the option to sweep your own stone first when it is behind the tee line, but you cannot prevent the opposition from sweeping.
Opposing Team
When the opposition team's stone has been set in motion, only your skip, or team captain, or the vice-skip may sweep it, and only after it has passed the far tee line. You cannot begin sweeping your opposition's moving stone until the front end reaches that line.
Member Comments