SCG Peak League Rules

Entries for the following season’s leagues must be made on via the official on-line entry form. The completed Entry Form, along with full payment of the Entry Fee, must be received by SCG by the relevant deadlines given on the Peak League Notice. Failure to pay the Entry Fee shall result in teams being removed from the draw. SCG, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to accept late entries and late entry fees.

Teams will consist of four players drawn from a Squad of a minimum of four and a maximum of six nominated players, regardless of gender or age – a further maximum of 2 per game of non-nominated players (Substitutes) may be used with no other limit on the number per season. If a Team does not meet these requirement, then their Sole Nominated Players will be taken as the 4 Players playing in the first game, whether marked as Subs or not. A skip can play nominated players in any order, but all Mixed League Division teams must play opposite genders in alternate positions unless previously approved by SCG.

SCG may give Skips the option of confirming their Nominated Squads by updating their Entry Form such confirmation must be received by SCG no later than 31st August each year. A team consisting totally of Junior curlers can enter BUT the name, e-mail address, and telephone number, of a Nominated Adult, who has agreed to be responsible for the team, must be declared on the Entry Form. The nominated adult must also confirm to SCG, by e:mail that they are the Team’s Nominated Responsible Adult. A discounted ice fee may be available for a team consisting totally (including Substitutes) of Junior Curlers. In the event of any queries or disputes, SCG will contact the responsible adult A team that played the previous season will be placed in the division they finished in, or were promoted or relegated to, provided that at least 2 of last year’s Peak League nominated players are nominated again for the new season AND these players MUST have played in at least 3 games last season AND must play in at least 3 games in the new season. If teams do not comply with this over the season then they will automatically be relegated to the bottom division the following season. If a squad of players split up for the following season, only one entry from those players will be accepted to remain in the current division, and priority will be given to the previous season’s Nominated Skip, Third and Second and in that order. Other entries will be treated as new entries and go into the lowest division. A new team registering to play in the Peak Leagues will play in the lowest division, however Stirling Curling Group, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to place a new entry in a higher division, if a vacancy exists, and in their opinion the team is of a standard suitable to play in the higher division.

Games will be eight ends (maximum) or the bell. A minimum of six ends must be completed for the match result to be counted.

Two Points for a win, one for a draw. League position decided, once any penalties have been applied, is by Points, then total ends won, then shots up, then total shots scored. In the unlikely event of the league still being tied after taking account of all of the foregoing, the result of the game(s)played against each other will be used to establish final league positions. If there is still a tie the league will be declared a draw.

In all Divisions the winning team will automatically be promoted and in all but the lowest Division the bottom team will automatically be relegated. If Divisions exceed 8 teams then the top 2 teams will qualify for promotion and bottom 2 teams for relegation. SCG reserve the right to promote/demote more or less than 2 teams per division, where necessary to balance the Divisions). A Nominated Player can only play for one team in a Division in a season. If a player breaches this rule then the defaulting Team(s) (in this case the second and any subsequent teams he/she plays for) will forfeit that game, with their opponents being awarded 2 Points, 5 Ends, and 5 Shots – the defaulting team will be deducted 5 shots.

A nominated player can only play above 2nd position for one team in any of the main divisions (mixed and main leagues treated separately). If this rule is breached then the defaulting team(s) (in this the second and subsequent teams he/she plays above 2nd for) will forfeit that game, with their opponents being awarded 2 Points, 5 Ends, and 5 Shots – the defaulting team will be deducted 5 shots. N.B. The skips have sole responsibility to ensure their nominated players do not breach this rule and must ascertain if any of their players are playing in another division and at what position. In the event of a team failing to appear for a scheduled game, that team shall be responsible for all the ice fees for that game. The non-offending team will be awarded the game and receive 2 points, 5 ends and 5 shots. The offending team will forfeit the game and a score of minus 5 shots shall be recorded for them. The offending team will also be deducted 1 point from their overall points total for the division. In the event of both teams failing to appear for a scheduled game, they will each be responsible for paying their respective ice fees. In such circumstances the game will be declared null and void and no points, ends or shots will be awarded to either team. Both teams will be deducted 1 point from their overall points total for non appearance.

Games must be played on the date and at the time notified by SCG in the draw. SCG may, but only in exceptional circumstances, allow a game to be re-scheduled, BUT will only consider this if at least 21 days notice is given along with an explanation of the circumstances. If SCG decide to allow a cancellation, then the game must be re-arranged with a selection of dates being provided by SCG with the opposing Skip being given priority over the dates. If the Skip requesting the re-arrangement cannot accept dates approved by SCG, then that Skip is responsible for the ice costs of the cancelled ice and also forfeits the game. The non-defaulting team will be awarded the game and receive 2 points, 5 ends and 5 shots. The requesting team will forfeit the game and a score of minus 5 shots shall be recorded for them. The requesting team will also be deducted 1 point from their overall points total for the division.

Under no event can a Skip cancel or re-arrange a game. If this rule is breached then that Skip will forfeit the game and pay for the full cost of that Ice sheet. The offending team will have a score of minus 5 shots recorded against them. The offending team will also be deducted 1 point from their overall points total for the division.

Rules not covered by this document will be as per the Scottish Curling (RCCC) Rule Book, including free guard zone.

To assist Skips to be able to field full teams there will be no overall limit to the number of substitutes that a Team can use throughout the season. This is generous , however it is subject to the following restrictions:

• a) In each game there must be at least two of the nominated players playing for the team.
• b) A substitute may only play for 1 team in a Division in a season
• c) A Substitute may play only at Lead or Second (exception for Evening Mixed League – see below).
• d) In the Evening Mixed league, if two subs of the same gender are playing in a team, then they must play lead and third

Penalty: If this rule is breached, then the offending team will forfeit the game with their opponents being awarded 2 Points, 5 Ends and 5 Shots. The offending Team will lose 5 Shots for each and every breach.

Substitutes MUST be marked on the scorecard by placing an ‘S’ next to their name.

A nominated player in one Division can also play as a substitute in another Division.

In circumstances where a team, at the start of the game, has less than four players, then they can start with 3 players, or if less than 3 players, can wait up to 30 minutes to see if more players arrive, and if so they will commence the game when the 3rd player arrives provided that there are 2 nominated players playing. Once a game has commenced, if the 4th player arrives prior to 30 minutes having elapsed from the starting bell time, then he/she can join the game at the completion of the current end. The non-offending team will receive 1 shot after every complete 5 minutes the 3rd player was late, up to a maximum of 5 shots. If the 4th player does not arrive within 30 minutes of the normal bell start time, then the game will continue with 3 players, and the non-offending team will receive 5 shots. If the 3rd player does not arrive within 30 minutes of the normal bell start time, their Skip will forfeit the game and lose 5 Shots, and will have 1 penalty point deducted from their league total for non-appearance, and MUST pay for the total ice sheet cost. Their opponents will be awarded 2 Points, 5 Ends and 5 Shots.

Scorecards must be legible, properly filled and fully completed:

• a) Enter the date and the Competition (Division 1 etc).
• b) The team name will be the name of the person who entered / registered the team.
• c) All players’ names must be printed in full and must be legible. First initial is not acceptable as teams may contain players with the same surname and first initial.
• d) Cards must have each end properly marked up, and total of game score entered. (In the event of an incomplete score, or a wrong score, organisers make such adjustments as they deem fit.)
• e) Fully Completed Cards must be verified by, and signed by, both skips (no signature – no points).
• f) Cards to be posted, immediately after the end of each game, in the box marked ‘scorecards only’.

It is the winning skips responsibility to ensure the scorecard is posted in the box.

Scorecards will be checked by SCG to ensure teams comply with the rules regarding team selection. If any breaches are found, the penalties detailed will be applied. If any team thinks its opposition team may have breached the rules then they should not sign the score-card but instead should lodge a query with SCG to investigate, and to apply, where necessary, any penalties for breach of the rules.