Do wheelchair curling teams have to be mixed?
I · Intermediate · The game · 1 of 3Each team has four players delivering stones, and both genders must be on the ice throughout, or the game is forfeited. During a delivery, team-mates keep still behind the back line at the delivery end; any two may wait behind the far back line. A player who leaves ill may be replaced by an alternate, keeping both genders.
How it works
- Team: four players delivering.
- Genders: both on the ice.
- Breach: forfeit.
- Team-mates: still behind the back line.
- Two players: may wait at the playing end.
- Skip: place not interfered with.
- Player leaving: alternate comes in.
- Next end: line-up may change.
The glossary has the wheelchair team, the positions of the other players, the player leaving the game, the wheelchair curling events, the wheelchair delivery and the last stone draw in wheelchair curling.
Tricky cases
A team has four men on the ice. Result?
The game is forfeited.
Can a replaced player come back?
No.
Must all four players deliver stones?
Yes.
Can a player who left return in the same end?
Yes, if they deliver all their stones.
Why the rule exists
The gender rule keeps teams mixed. Fixed positions keep team-mates out of the stone's path.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Genders | Both required | R R14(f) |
| Positions | Behind back line | R R14(c) |
| Player leaving | Alternate | R R14(f) |
From the rule book
World Curling, The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition (1 September 2026), rule R14(c) and (f). Checked 15 October 2026. Official documents: World Curling Rules, Wheelchair Curling Policy and Classification Rules.