Registered: Mar 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 85

Key Competition and Rules changes approved by the AGA:

Introduction of the Olympic semi-final system at the Pacific-Asia and European A Division Curling Championships to replace the Page system.

Introduction of a new play-off and relegation system for the European B Division Championships

Qualification for the third place team from the Pacific-Asia Championships to the WCF’s Olympic Qualification Event, if they have not previously qualified

Two minutes more thinking time for wheelchair curling games: new total of 38 minutes
Changes to the rules and format of Mixed Doubles:

In order to vary the strategies of teams and shots, the in-house pre-placed stone will be moved from the back of the pin hole to the back of the four foot rings

Removal of the requirement for the non-throwing member of the team to be in the house

Introduction of a “PowerPlay” option into the game
In addition, the European Curling Championship C Division event has been moved from the beginning of the season to the end to allow for more preparation time for competing teams.


Also draw shots that cover the tee will now be measured from the outside of the house resulting in an LSD distance from the tee to the center of the rock. Increasing the maximum LSD distance by 14,2 cm (radius of a rock) to 199.6 cm.


http://www.worldcurling.org/wcf-aga-2015

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2013
Location:
Posts: 559

This may come off an a stupid comment, but with the rule

"Also draw shots that cover the tee will now be measured from the outside of the house resulting in an LSD distance from the tee to the center of the rock. Increasing the maximum LSD distance by 14,2 cm (radius of a rock) to 199.6 cm."

I find it interesting that they measure from the center, since there is no official diameter of a rock called out in the rule book, only a circumferential range. This means that not all rocks have to be the same size, so therefore the radius of a rock is a nonsensical reference

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 1064

My *understanding* is that the intent is that the diameters of the rocks in a given competition will be established pre-competition, so that it will be knowable what their diameters are for purposes of this...

I still think it's a little silly...but hey...I"m just a level 2...

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2013
Location:
Posts: 559

So are you telling me that all the rocks in the competition are exactly the same diameter, exactly?

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 1064

Nope, I'm telling you they are going to measure all of the rocks...

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 57

My read of the rule is they are going to assume all rocks have a 14.2cm radius. Perhaps that is a default if they don't have a chance to measure the rocks before the competition.

Anyway, seems like an odd addition, when in a previous rule they mention how time consuming it is to do a coin flip before games were there is an LSD tie. Instead, they add the overhead of 2 additional measurements for pinned rocks, which occur much more frequent than ties. Not to mention the inaccuracies - it's shockingly hard for humans to determine perpendicular on circles by eye. Add in the varying circumferences of rocks, corrections for ring placement, and just trying to get a measuring device accurately on the edge of the circle, and it is tough to see what value it adds.

As it is, we had a WCF official try to measure a stone using the outside of the rocks in Women's Worlds game. I believe it was Kaitlyn who had to help out in that incident. Adding complexity doesn't seem like the right direction.

I do happen to like the other LSD change regarding using the lowest single LSD when there is a tie in total distance.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 1064

*common sense* is to record a 0 when the pin is buried and be good with it, since the LSD is an artificial construct anyhow...and the answer to the question of "How close to the pin did you get?" is "0 cm"...

IN an actual game, there couldn't be more than one stone covering the pin.

Ties at 0 aren't all that hard to deal with...if all 4 rocks come up 0's (which didn't appear to happen but a small handful of times at the Worlds last year, then just flip a coin and be done with it.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2012
Location:
Posts: 136

How about in the event of a tie, the team that practiced first gets hammer? Coin flip not needed and no silly measurement of the outside of the stone.

I can't wait to see how they figure out the center of the stone unless pre competition someone marks it with a sticker or they just decide to use a given part of the handle.

Jason

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 85

quote:

---

Originally posted by VAcurler
How about in the event of a tie, the team that practiced first gets hammer? Coin flip not needed and no silly measurement of the outside of the stone.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by VAcurler
I can't wait to see how they figure out the center of the stone unless pre competition someone marks it with a sticker or they just decide to use a given part of the handle.
[/B]

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged