What happens if the wrong curler delivers a stone?
A · Advanced · Stones in play · 3 of 5If a player delivers out of turn, play carries on and the player who missed a turn delivers the team's last stone. If a team delivers two stones in a row, the second is removed and redelivered as the team's last. A player who throws an opponent's stone lets it stop, then it is swapped for their own.
How it works
- Out of turn: the end goes on; the player who missed delivers last.
- Cannot tell who: the player who threw the team's first stone throws its last.
- Too many stones: the team's last player throws fewer.
- Two in a row: the second stone is removed and thrown again as the team's last.
- Found later: if two in a row is found after another stone, the end is replayed.
- Opponent's stone: it comes to rest, then is replaced with one of the right colour.
- Wrong team first: found after one stone, the end is replayed; after two, play goes on.
- Ready to play: players must not take too long.
The glossary has the delivery out of turn, the delivery, the stone, the team, the end and the hammer.
Tricky cases
The lead throws three stones by mistake. What happens?
Play goes on and the skip throws one fewer.
A player throws an opponent's stone. Does the shot count?
The stone is left where it stopped and swapped for one of the thrower's colour.
The wrong team starts an end and two stones are thrown. Replay?
No. Play continues as if the error had not happened.
What if the skip throws one too many as the team's last player?
The last stone is removed and any moved stones are put back.
Why the rule exists
Mix-ups in turn order are honest mistakes, so the rules correct them while keeping each team at eight stones. Replaying the end is kept for errors that cannot be undone.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Order corrected at the end | WC R5 (j) to (l) |
| Wrong team first | Replay only if found after the first stone | WC R5 (m) |
| Mixed doubles | Wrong positioned stones follow the same rule | WC R17 (h) |
From the rule book
World Curling, The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition (1 September 2026), rule R5 (h) to (m). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Curling's rules, reviewed every year.