Contents
Profile
House in curling
- Sport
- Curling
- Also called
- House
- Diameter
- 3.66 m (12 ft)
- Rings
- 12, 8 and 4 ft plus button
- Centre
- Tee
The target
Every stone in curling is played towards the house, the large target circle at the end of the sheet. Each sheet has two houses, one at each end. Play alternates in one direction and then the other, end by end.
Layout
The house consists of concentric rings. The outer ring has a diameter of 12 feet, i.e. 3.66 metres. Inside it are rings of 8 and 4 feet in diameter, and at the centre the small button. The centre point is called the tee. The colours of the rings are not prescribed. Often the outer ring is blue and the 4-foot ring red, separated by white areas. Two lines run through the house:
- the tee line across the sheet through the centre,
- the centre line along the sheet.
Behind the house is the back line. Stones that cross it completely are out of play.
How scoring works
At the end of an end, only the team whose stone lies closest to the tee scores. It gets a point for each of its stones that lies closer than the opponent's best stone. A stone counts if it merely touches the house, i.e. if part of its bottom edge is over the outer ring. Whether a stone is in the house can sometimes be hard to see from above. If in doubt, it is measured.
Measuring
For close cases there is a measuring device that is placed in the tee and compares the distance to the stones. Whether a stone touches the outer ring is checked with a separate instrument. No stone may be moved until the measurement is done. At major tournaments, officials do the measuring.
Tactics around the house
The house is not just the target but also the battlefield. Teams place stones at the edge of the house to build on later, or play them into the centre to secure a point straight away. Stones in front of the house serve as guards. Precise draws into the house are among the most important skills.
The button
Hitting the button exactly is the aim of the last stone draw, which decides the hammer before many games. A stone lying exactly on the tee is considered a perfect draw. Curlers then talk of having put the stone "on the button".
Terminology
The rings are named after their diameter in feet: the twelve-foot, eight-foot and four-foot rings. You will also hear these terms in TV coverage.
Frequently asked questions
+How big is the house in curling?
The outer ring has a diameter of 12 feet, i.e. 3.66 metres.
+When does a stone in the house count?
When it touches the house and lies closer to the tee than the opponent's best stone.
Sources & further links
Editorially researched and checked against association and rulebook information. Found a mistake? Write to us via the Contact page.
Read more in the encyclopedia
Sport
Curling
Curling is a precision sport on ice in which two teams take turns sliding granite stones towards a target called the "house". By sweeping in front of the stone, players influence its distance and curl. A team scores a point for every stone closer to the centre than the opponent's best stone.
Term
Curling sheet
The sheet is the playing lane in curling. Under World Curling rules it is around 45 metres long and just under five metres wide. Houses, lines and the hacks for pushing off are marked on it.
Term
End in curling
An end is a section of play in curling, comparable to an inning. Both teams play all their stones in turn, then the score is counted. A game usually has ten ends, eight in mixed doubles.
Term
Draw in curling
A draw is a curling shot in which a stone is placed at a specific spot, usually in the house or as a guard in front of it, without knocking other stones out. Exact pace, line and sweeping are what matter.
Term
Guard in curling
A guard is a curling stone that comes to rest in front of the house and protects other stones. Teams can hide their own stones behind it, where they are hard to hit. The free guard zone protects such stones at the start of an end.