The 2006 Continental Cup of Curling

About the Mixed Doubles Competition

Each side was required to pick six mixed doubles teams. A mixed doubles team consists of two throwers (one man and one woman) and two sweepers (one man and one woman). Each player at the Keg Continental Cup participated in Mixed Doubles as a thrower or sweeper.

Points

A total of six points were awarded for each mixed doubles game won. In the case of a tie, each team received three points. Six games were played and a total of 36 points awarded.

Rules

1. Scoring is counted as in normal curling.
2. Each game consisted of six ends. Ties were not broken.
3. Each team was allocated 36 minutes per game.
4. Each team threw five stones per end. The player delivering the first stone of each end also delivered the last stone of the end for their team while the player throwing the second stone delivered the third and fourth stones for their team. This rotation could change from end-to-end and was simply determined by the player who delivered the first stone for his/her side at the start of each end.
5. No stone could be removed from play until after the third stone of each end and any stones it may have displaced came to rest.
6. Two stationary stones were positioned by the officials at the start of each end. (a) One stone bisectsed the centre-line, approximately eight feet in front of the house (the exact position of this stone was determined by the chief umpire prior to the start of the competition dependent on ice conditions) while the other (b) was positioned at the back of the button so that it bisected the centre-line and touched the tee-line.
7. Prior to the start of each end, one team had an 'option'. The team with the 'option' had its choice of having their team's stone placed as a guard or having the stone positioned in the house behind the button. If the guard was chosen, the opponent's stone was positioned in the house or vice-versa.
8. The team with the stone out front as a guard delivered first and the team with the stone in the house delivered second (had last rock in the end).
9. Following the first end, the team that lost the previous end had the 'option'.
10. If an end was blanked, the team which blanked forfeited the 'option' for the next end.

All rules courtesy of The CCA.

About the Singles Competition

Twelve players from each side participated as throwers in the 12 singles matches (six women and six men). The other team members from each side were required to act as sweepers or skips so that all 24 players from each side participated in some capacity at least once.

Points

1. The winner of each game earned two points. One point was awarded to each side in the event of a tie. A total of 12 singles games were played, meaning the total points awarded was 24.
2. Eight bonus points were awarded to the side with the highest aggregate score, meaning the greatest number of points from all the shots played by their side.
3. Total points available for singles was 32.

The Shots

1. Hit and Stay
   A stone is positioned at the back of the button so that it bisects the centre-line and touches the tee-line. Points are awarded as follows:
   
   1. 5 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from the house and the played stone stops in any portion of the button.
   2. 4 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from the house and the played stone stops in any portion of the four-foot circle.
   3. 3 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from the house and the played stone stops in any portion of the eight-foot circle.
   4. 2 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from the house and the played stone stops in any portion of the 12 foot circle.
   5. 1 Point
      The stationary stone is removed from the house and the played stone rolls out of the house.
      
      
2. Draw the Button
   The thrower will attempt to throw a stone to the button. Points are awarded as follows:
   
   1. 5 Points
      The played stone stops in any portion of the button.
   2. 4 Points
      The played stone stops in any portion of the four-foot circle.
   3. 3 Points
      The played stone stops in any portion of the eight-foot circle.
   4. 2 Points
      The played stone stops in any portion of the 12-foot circle.
   5. 1 Point
      The played stone stops in any portion of the free guard zone area.
      
      
3. Draw the Port
   The thrower will select a port that will depend on which turn is selected and plays a stone to the button through the port. Should the played stone touch either of the stationary stones, as it attempts to pass by, no points are awarded. Points are awarded as follows:
   
   1. 5 Points
      The played stone stops on any portion of the button.
   2. 4 Points
      The played stone stops on any portion of the four-foot circle.
   3. 3 Points
      The played stone stops on any portion of the eight-foot circle.
   4. 2 Points
      The played stone stops on any portion of the 12-foot circle.
   5. 1 Point
      The played stone remains in the free guard zone area and its leading edge is clearly past the two stationary stones.
      
      
4. The Raise
   The thrower attempts to raise a stationary stone, which is positioned on the centre line in front of the house, into the house. Points are awarded as follows:
   
   1. 5 Points
      The stationary stone is raised and stops on any portion of the button.
   2. 4 Points
      The stationary stone is raised and stops on any portion of the four-foot.
   3. 3 Points
      The stationary stone is raised and stops on any portion of the eight-foot.
   4. 2 Points
      The stationary stone is raised and stops on any portion of the 12-foot.
   5. 1 Point
      The stationary stone is raised forward so there is a space between the two stones and the raised stone is still in play.
      
      
5. Hit and Roll
   The thrower will attempt to hit a stationary stone on the outside of the 12-foot circle and roll towards the button. Points are awarded as follows:
   
   1. 5 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from play and the played stone stops on any portion of the button.
   2. 4 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from play and the played stone stops on any portion of the four-foot circle.
   3. 3 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from play and the played stone stops on any portion of the eight-foot circle.
   4. 2 Points
      The stationary stone is removed from play and the played stone stops on any portion of the 12-foot circle.
   5. 1 Point
      The stationary stone is removed from play and the played stone does not stop in any portion of the house.
      
      
6. Double Takeout
   The thrower will attempt a double takeout. The thrower must knock both of the stationary stones out of the house. Points are awarded as follows:
   
   1. 5 Points
      Both of the stationary stones are hit out of the house and the played stone stops on any portion of the button.
   2. 4 Points
      Both of the stationary stones are hit out of the house and the played stone stops on any portion of the four-foot circle.
   3. 3 Points
      Both of the stationary stones are hit out of the house and the played stone stops on any portion of the eight-foot circle.
   4. 2 Points
      Both of the stationary stones are hit out of the house and the played stones stops on any portion of the 12-foot circle.
   5. 1 Point
      Both of the stationary stones are hit out of the house and the played stone does not stop in any portion of the house.

Rules

1. Scoring is counted as in normal curling.
2. Each game consisted of six ends. Ties were not broken.
3. Each team was allocated 36 minutes per game.
4. Each team threw five stones per end. The player delivering the first stone of each end also delivered the last stone of the end for their team while the player throwing the second stone delivered the third and fourth stones for their team. This rotation could change from end-to-end and was simply determined by the player who delivered the first stone for his/her side at the start of each end.
5. No stone could be removed from play until after the third stone of each end and any stones it may have displaced came to rest.
6. Two stationary stones were positioned by the officials at the start of each end. (a) One stone bisectsed the centre-line, approximately eight feet in front of the house (the exact position of this stone was determined by the chief umpire prior to the start of the competition dependent on ice conditions) while the other (b) was positioned at the back of the button so that it bisected the centre-line and touched the tee-line.
7. Prior to the start of each end, one team had an 'option'. The team with the 'option' had its choice of having their team's stone placed as a guard or having the stone positioned in the house behind the button. If the guard was chosen, the opponent's stone was positioned in the house or vice-versa.
8. The team with the stone out front as a guard delivered first and the team with the stone in the house delivered second (had last rock in the end).
9. Following the first end, the team that lost the previous end had the 'option'.
10. If an end was blanked, the team which blanked forfeited the 'option' for the next end.

All rules courtesy of The CCA.

About the Team Competition

The Team competition is a game of regular curling. Each side plays a total of 12 games (six men's games and six women's games).

Points

A total of six points are awarded for each game won. In the case of a tie, each side receives three points. A total of 12 team games are played, meaning a total of 72 points are available.

All rules courtesy of The CCA.

About the Skins Competition

Aggressive strategy combined with exceptional shot-making should be the highlight of this final battle for points. Each gender will play three Skins games but the points value will vary from game to game.

Points

1. The total Skins points available were 260 (130 points for each gender).
2. The men's and women's game 3 was worth 30 points each.
3. The men's and women's game 2 was worth 40 points each.
4. The men's and women's game 1 was worth 60 points each.
5. The break down of points within each game was as follows:

Game 3

Game 2

Game 1

Rules

1. Each game will consisted of eight ends.
2. Each team was allocated 64 minutes per game. If a team exceeded the allotted time, the game was stopped. Each team retained the points already earned in the game and the remaining points were forfeited to the non-violating team.
3. Each end is referred to as a "skin". To count a skin when a team has last rock, it must count a minimum of two points. When a team does not have last rock, it must steal at least one point to count a skin.
4. If a team scored only one point when it had last stone, it not only lost the hammer but the end went into a "carry-over", which means the points at stake are carried over to the next end. Also, if an end was blanked, a carry-over took place and the team that blanked the end forfeited last stone to its opponent.
5. If the final end of a Skins game results in a "carry-over", the two teams determine who will claim the carry-over points by selecting a player from each team to deliver one stone to the button with sweeping. The team that had last rock in the last end shoots first.

All rules courtesy of The CCA.