What do the skip, lead, second and third do in curling?
I · Intermediate · The game · 2 of 5Players deliver in a declared order, lead first and skip usually last, and keep it all game. The skip, or the vice-skip when the skip delivers, is in charge of the house. A team may bring in an alternate or play on with three for a short time, but may never have fewer than three players.
How it works
- Order: declared before the game and kept throughout.
- Deliberate change: forfeits the game, unless bringing in an alternate.
- In charge of the house: the skip, or the vice-skip when the skip delivers.
- Where they stand: inside the hog line, a foot on the ice at the playing end.
- Opponents: still, along the sides between the courtesy lines, or two behind the back line.
- Wrong position: the delivered stone is removed.
- Alternate: comes in for a player, who may not return.
- Three players: allowed for the rest of the end and the next full end, once per game.
The glossary has the skip, the lead, the second, the third, the alternate and the position of players.
Tricky cases
An opponent moves while a player delivers. What happens?
The player may let the shot stand or redeliver after the stones are reset.
A player falls ill mid-end. Can the team carry on?
Yes. The others cover the missing stones in a set order, or an alternate comes in.
Can the skip deliver first?
Yes, if declared. The order is the team's choice, but it must be kept.
Can a team use two alternates in one event?
No. Only one alternate may be registered and used.
Why the rule exists
A fixed order stops teams moving their best player to the key stone. Keeping opponents still and to the side protects the player delivering from distraction.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Four players, one alternate | WC R3 |
| Mixed | Two men and two women, alternating; no alternates | WC R16 |
| Wheelchair | Opponents wait behind the back line at the delivery end | WC R14 (c) |
From the rule book
World Curling, The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition (1 September 2026), rules R3 and R4. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Curling's rules, reviewed every year.