MILANO CORTINA — In a major mid-competition shift, the World Curling Federation has issued an emergency clarification and amendment to delivery protocols following a high-stakes dispute involving Team Canada and Switzerland. The ruling, effective immediately as of February 15, 2026, aims to settle growing tensions over stone release techniques and equipment standards during the Winter Olympic Games.
New Delivery Protocol: The “Double-Touch” Ban
The controversy reached a boiling point this weekend after allegations of “double-touching” during the delivery phase. World Curling officials clarified that while players may retouch the handle as many times as they wish before the hog line, the stone must be clearly released before the front edge of the stone reaches the hog line. Crucially, the new directive explicitly forbids “double-tapping” or touching the stone’s body after the initial release, a move intended to prevent players from micro-adjusting the stone’s trajectory.
The ruling follows a tense match where Canadian skip Brad Jacobs secured a victory over China, but not before international attention turned to the “release point” of several top-tier teams. World Curling also issued verbal warnings to team officials regarding conduct and language used during these disputes, noting that future violations could result in immediate disqualifications.
“Broomgate 2.0” and Equipment Restrictions
Beyond delivery mechanics, the 2025–2026 season has seen a crackdown on sweeping technology. World Curling has officially banned firmer broom foams, such as the BalancePlus RS series, which players argued gave sweepers “too much control” over the rock’s path. This “Broomgate 2.0” resolution is designed to return the focus to the thrower’s skill rather than mechanical assistance from advanced brush heads.
Essential Rules for the 2026 Winter Games
For fans following the action in Milano Cortina, the fundamental rules of the “Chess on Ice” remain a blend of tradition and precision:
- The Game Structure: Olympic matches consist of 10 “ends” (similar to innings). Each team delivers eight stones per end.
- The Five-Rock Rule: To encourage offensive play, opposition stones located in the “Free Guard Zone” (the area between the hog line and the house, excluding the house itself) cannot be removed from play until the sixth stone of the end is delivered.
- The Hog Line: The stone must be released before it crosses the first hog line. If any part of the player’s body or equipment (other than the stone) crosses the line during delivery, or if the stone fails to cross the far hog line, it is removed from play.
- “Biting” the House: A stone is considered in play if any part of its vertical projection touches the outer edge of the 12-foot circle, a term known as “biting.”
- Mixed Doubles: Unlike the four-player team event, Mixed Doubles features two players and a modified stone placement at the start of each end to accelerate scoring.
The Spirit of Curling
Despite the recent technical disputes, the World Curling Federation continues to emphasize the “Spirit of Curling.” The official code of conduct dictates that curlers play to win but never to humble their opponents. As the Olympic tournament progresses, officials hope these clarified rules will preserve the integrity of the sport while maintaining the high-intensity tactical battles that have come to define the 2026 Games.