Game Information and Timing

• Welcome and team meeting will be held at 12.30 pm for the teams before the first draw.
• All games will be played under WCF rules.
• First practice will commence at the scheduled start time stated on the draw.
• The teams listed first, have first practice and play with dark handle (red).
• For the first round, there will be a coin toss for the first practice.
• Over the tournament, each team will have three first practices and three, second practices.
• Each team will have a six-minute pregame practice, followed by Last Stone Draws (LSDs)
• Time clocks will be used to keep the flow of the games with the timer counting down.
• Teams are unable to commence another end once the time clock has reached zero.
• All games have eight ends, with a minimum of six ends to be played.
• Extra ends will be played if scores are tied after the eighth end.
• A four-minute break will be held after the 4th end.
• Electronic devices such as phones, and AirPods/headphones are not permitted in the field of play. Smart Watches are to be on Flight mode.

Last Stone Draws (LSD) and Draw Shot Challenge (DSC)

• Each team is to deliver draw shots, the first clockwise and the second counter-clockwise.
• The LSD’s will determine which team has hammer and will assist with team rankings.
• Teams who deliver the draw shots incorrectly e.g., the wrong handle or wrong gender delivering, then they will receive 199.6 for that particular draw.

Pre-Tournament Practice Ice

• In the week of an NZCA Tournament, no NZ Representative will have sponsored ice hire from Maniototo Adventure Park (MAP) during business hours.
• Pre-tournament practice is to be booked and paid for directly with MAP. The entry fee does not cover practice ice.
• No ice bookings can be made after 10am on Thursday 18^th June to allow for ice preparation. With the exception of the ice-maker requesting a player to throw stones to assist with ice preparation.
• No team is allowed to practice with the NZCA Competition Stones prior to a tournament as per NZCA Competition Stone Guidelines.

Team Ranking Procedure

• After the round-robin(s) teams will be ranked for the semi-finals with the WCF ranking procedure (C9) used to separate teams on the same win-loss record.

1.  The following criteria (in order) will be used to rank the teams at the completion of the round-robin (one group):

1.  Teams will be ranked according to their win/loss record.
2.  If two teams are tied, the team that won their round-robin game will be ranked higher.
3.  Where three or more teams are tied, the record of the games between the tied teams shall provide the ranking (should this procedure provide a ranking for some teams but not all, then the record of the games between the remaining teams that are still tied shall determine the ranking).

2.  When teams compete in separate groups and the merged group ranking is used to determine the ranking for post-round-robin games, the ranking will be determined by comparing the DSCs from the teams in all groups with the same rankings with the best DSC being ranked highest.

Semi-Finals:

• Teams ranked 2nd and 3rd will play off in the semi-finals.
• The semi-final is a one off game.

Finals

• The team ranked first will go through to the finals.
• The game played in the Round Robin counts as the 1st game of the final.
• The final is the best of the three games (as above)

Marker Stones

• The marker stones will be rotated after every second draw,
• 1 & 2 on first and second draws
• 3 & 4 on third and fourth draws
• 5 & 6 on fifth and sixth draws
• 7 & 8 on seventh and eighth draws
• 1 & 2 on ninth draw
• Finals: Players can pick what stones they want as their spare and their placed stones.
• The teams can practise with the remaining six stones and, after their practice, notify the umpires of the stone they wish to not use. During the game, teams can change the spare stone for one of their allotted stones after notifying an umpire.

Excerpt Selection Policy Document

2. Mixed Doubles: The team to represent New Zealand at the World Mixed Doubles Championships and/or other associated qualification events.

1.  The NZ Mixed Doubles Curling Championship winners are given the first right of refusal to represent NZ at the World Mixed Doubles or the World Mixed Doubles pre-qualifier. If they cannot accept this right, it will be passed on to the runners-up.
2.  The Mixed Doubles team must consist of both original team members.
3.  If the original team members are unable to form a team, the Selection Committee may form a team.
4.  Team confirmation will be completed and communicated by the second Friday after the NZ Mixed Doubles Championship. This date may need to be extended if the situation demands it.
5.  If a team qualifies New Zealand for a spot at the World Curling Championships, that team gets the first right of refusal to represent New Zealand.
6.  For Olympic Games and qualifying events, please refer to 5c.