What happens if a curler moves a stone that is not in motion?
A · Advanced · Stones in play · 2 of 5If a player moves a stationary stone that would not have affected a moving stone, the other team puts it back. If it would have changed a moving stone's path, all stones come to rest and the other team chooses. It can leave them, remove the stone whose path would have changed, or place all stones where they would have stopped.
How it works
- No effect on play: the other team puts the stone back.
- External force, no effect: put back by agreement.
- Would have changed play: stones come to rest, then the other team chooses.
- Choices: leave all; remove the affected stone; or place all where they would have stopped.
- External force, would have changed play: placed as they would have been, or redelivered.
- No agreement: the end is replayed.
- Dividers: stones deflected off them are put back by the non-delivering team.
- Last stone draw: a delivering team displacement is the maximum distance.
The glossary has the displaced stationary stone, the stone, the house, the measurement, the Spirit of Curling and the shot stone.
Tricky cases
A player kicks a stone far from the play. What happens?
The other team puts it back where it was.
A displaced stone would have blocked a moving stone. Who decides?
The non-offending team picks one of three options.
An external force moves stones and the teams cannot agree. What then?
The stone is redelivered; if they cannot agree on positions, the end is replayed.
A stone is knocked before the score is agreed. Who gains?
The non-offending team gets the benefit a measurement might have given it.
Why the rule exists
Most displacements are accidents, so the rules aim to restore the end, not punish. Letting the other side choose stops the offending team from gaining by its own mistake.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| By a player | Non-offending team decides | WC R10 (a), (c) |
| By an external force | Teams agree, or redeliver | WC R10 (b), (d) |
| During scoring | Benefit to the non-offending team | WC R12 (c) |
From the rule book
World Curling, The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition (1 September 2026), rules R10 and R12 (c). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Curling's rules, reviewed every year.