Registered: Jan 2014
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At the Annual General Assembly the WCF voted to approve a number of rule changes including "Prevent the Use of Electronic Devices on the Field of Play. Effective Immediately". What the heck does that mean? Does a stop watch qualify as an "electronic device"?

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Registered: Sep 2011
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dont know. but i do know that the formation of a mixed world championship excites me.

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Registered: Jan 2014
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quote:

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Originally posted by misty1
dont know. but i do know that the formation of a mixed world championship excites me.

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Registered: Dec 2005
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Stopwatches aren't included. In the survey the WCF published regarding the rules it said stopwatches would still be allowed. The rule has been introduced to not allow technology and applications that can monitor a stone and tell you specifically when and when not to sweep. I don't think the technology is actually available at the moment, but it is more of a preventative measure to prevent a problem in the future.

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Registered: Jan 2014
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Thanks DF.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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The rules specifically allow *some* stopwatches.

Stopwatches that provide advice on sweeping or not (apparently, this exists) are banned.

Other highlights of the changes:

1. A World Mixed Championships starts in the next few years. Mixed doubles still lives, this is an added event for mixed 4's.

2. Thinking time will be the official rule, starting with the European Championships this year. 38M of thinking time per team for a 10 end game.

3. Timeouts have changed, again (this is not a recording...), starting this season, the clock will *REMAIN OFF* during the timeout, as opposed to the previous confusing practice of stopping the clock during coach travel and then turning it back on even though the timeout is still occurring. Length of time out is 1:00 from coach contact (or expiration of allowed travel time).

4. Some clarity was given in terms of wheelchair curling

5. Language cleanup in the rulebook in various places.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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i just wonder when the mixed world championship will run. if its replacing the euro mixed will it just run then?

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Registered: Sep 2011
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It is replacing the Euro mixed, so odds are good it will fit into that slot on the calendar, yes.

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Registered: Jan 2012
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Since Mixed will become a world event, when will the USCA decide if it is going to by liked Seniors and Mixed (anyone can play but winners are on your own dime) or like regular Worlds (paid for by the USCA but heavily stacked in favor of the USCA chosen teams)?

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Registered: Sep 2011
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Safe bet that since olympic medals aren't on the line (yet...), it'll be the Seniors/Mixed Doubles method.

Now...if and when (I give it a decade, maybe less) curling decides to become IMPORTANT as the only sport where Men and Women compete in the same event on the same sheet at the same time, and propose making Mixed Quads an Olympic event...then it will magically become HPP and Stacked towards The Chosen Ones and such.

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Registered: Mar 2009
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Competition & Rules changes approved by the AGA:
- Replace the European Mixed Curling Championship with a World Mixed Curling Championship. Effective from the 2015/16 season.
- Introduce Thinking Time instead of Running Time for controlling the length of a curling game. This change will be effective from the 2014 European Championships.
- Replacement of the current Zonal Junior qualification system with a World group system. Effective from the 2015/16 season.
- To adjust the rule for the Last Stone Draw (LSD) and Draw Shot Challenge (DSC) to incorporate two individual LSD’s per game. Effective immediately.
- To introduce a new system for measuring the LSD. Tested 2014/15 season.
- To only have one round of tie-breaks in WCF Events. Effective immediately.
- Prevent the Use of Electronic Devices on the Field of Play. Effective immediately.
- Approve the WCF Wheelchair Classification Rules
Competition & Rules changes which did not reach the required two-thirds majority:
- To use the traditional 1v4 / 2v3 semi-final system rather than the Page Play Off system.
- To prevent a change in the position of the chair in Wheelchair Curling
Competition & Rules changes withdrawn for further discussion:
- Replacement of current U21 age group with U18 and U23 age groups
- To fix the light colours for team uniforms


I think the draw shot rule changes are also very interesting. 2 draw shots per game, and each thrown by different players. The different measuring system will give you negative centimeters when you cover the pin as to prevent a coin toss for hammer

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Registered: Oct 2013
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quote:

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Originally posted by AlanMacNeill
The rules specifically allow *some* stopwatches.

Stopwatches that provide advice on sweeping or not (apparently, this exists) are banned.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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Apparently, there are some stopwatches that you actually enter your target draw time, and they tell you "Sweep, Up, Hard", etc.

That's been ruled a step too far (wisely, IMO)

Stopwatches that just tell you "that was 3.5 seconds" are still fair game.

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Registered: Oct 2013
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But isn't knowing your time is 3.5 when you needed it to be 3.4 or 3.6 basically the same thing. The only difference is remembering the chart in your mind versus seeing it on the screen. And the limited memory part of that is pretty simple. You are not asking them to recall the proof of relativity of some complex calculus formula.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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It's a matter of degrees...

you're right that it's not a complicated transition to make, but it is still a step "Hey, that came in as a 4.5, we wanted a 4.2, guess I need to get the broom going" vs a mechanical device saying "SWEEP!"

At least with the watches alone, the front end needs to think a little. It's something

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Registered: Oct 2013
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I wont get into too much debate here (as I think that I might start its own thread) but when you say degrees, I hope you acknowledge that the 2 situations are not drastically different, and in fact are closer to the same then they are different.

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Registered: Sep 2002
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Here is the language of the electronic rule.

Prevent the Use of Electronic Devices on the Field of Play
Rationale
The possibilities with what can be done with small wearable computers are increasing fast. There exist stopwatches that give advice whether or not a player shall sweep the stone. With a cellular phone with a movement sensor and GPS, it’s possible to build apps that easily can decide when to sweep, if the player is sweeping hard enough and how far each stone has been swept. This can be fastened to a sweeper without any problems. It’s possible to use eyewear that can either give a visible or audible aid to determine whether or not a player is sliding towards the aiming point.
The Commission feel the game of curling should be about athletic ability and skill and players should not be allowed to use these kinds of devices in order to gain an advantage.
Equipment that gathers biometric data which can be used to analyse a player after the game is allowed as long as the data is not used during the game. A device that collects sweeping data to be used for analysis after the game is allowed. These devices are considered passive.
Stopwatches will be allowed as long as they don’t give active advice when to sweep. They have been a part of the game for such a long time that the Competitions and Rules Commission does not see it feasible as to ban them.

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Registered: Sep 2011
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quote:

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Originally posted by AlanMacNeill
It is replacing the Euro mixed, so odds are good it will fit into that slot on the calendar, yes.

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