What are the sweeping rules in curling?
B · Beginner · Stones in play · 5 of 5Any player of the delivering team may sweep their own moving stone anywhere in front of the tee line at the playing end. Behind the tee line, each team may have one sweeper, and only there may a team sweep an opponent's stone. Sweeping may go in any direction but must finish to the side, without dropping debris.
How it works
- Own stone: any players, anywhere in front of the tee line at the playing end.
- Behind the tee line: one sweeper per team at a time.
- Opponent's stone: only behind the tee line, and only by the skip or vice-skip.
- First right: a team sweeps its own stone first behind the tee line, without blocking the other.
- Technique: any direction; finish to the side; do not raise the brush or leave debris in front.
- Stationary stones: must be set moving before they can be swept.
- Own brush: each player declares one sweeping device and uses only that.
- Brush heads: no change during a game without the Chief Umpire's permission, or the team forfeits.
The glossary has the sweeping, the broom, the brush, the weight, the curl and the umpire (curling).
Tricky cases
A team breaks a sweeping rule for the first time. What happens?
In officiated play, the whole team gets a warning; the penalty applies to later breaches.
Can a player sweep with a teammate's brush?
No. If they sweep their own stone with it, the stone is removed.
Can a team sweep an opponent's stone to push it through the house?
Yes, but only behind the tee line and only the skip or vice-skip.
Can wheelchair curlers sweep?
No. Sweeping is not permitted in wheelchair curling.
Why the rule exists
Sweeping polishes the ice, so it can carry a stone further and straighter. The rules keep it a skill of reading the shot, not a way to dump debris or fake the brush.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Own stone in front of the tee line | WC R8 (d) |
| Mixed doubles | Either or both players may sweep | WC R17 (l) |
| Wheelchair | No sweeping | WC R14 (d) |
From the rule book
World Curling, The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition (1 September 2026), rules R8, R14 (d) and C3 (e) to (g). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Curling's rules, reviewed every year.