COMPETITION MANUAL

LABATT TANKARD

ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN'S INFORMATION

This is a list of what to expect:
• Schedule of events for the playdowns. (if available)
• Draw schedule
• Travel Allotment and or Airline tickets (if applicable)
• Hotel information
• CCA Biographical forms

CURLING UNIFORMS AND BADGES

Your team should have matching sweaters or jackets.
Team sponsor's advertising on curling uniforms will be allowed, but it is imperative that team sponsor's advertising does not conflict with event sponsors.
Teams may be asked to remove or cover over any advertising which may be deemed to be in conflict by the Provincial Chairman.
For team photographs, curling uniforms must be free of sponsors advertising.
Association crests are to be worn on the left sleeve of your sweater or jacket.
Club crests may be worn on the right chest.

DRAW FORMAT / REGULATIONS

The draw format(s) and regulations as printed in this manual will be followed for all Provincial Championships.

TRANSPORTATION

It is the responsibility of the teams to arrange for transportation to and from the nearest airport to the host hotel / motel.(if applicable)

GENERAL

This playdown is designed as a single round-robin draw.
The top four (4) teams will go into a Page System play-off.

PRACTICE TIME AND ROCK COLOUR:

The first numbered team has last rock, first practice and will deliver top of scoreboard colours
The second numbered team will practice second and have bottom of scoreboard colours.

FORMAT:

Teams No. 1-2-3 are teams representing the Host Association.
Teams No. 4-5-6 are teams representing the next year's Association.
Teams No. 7-8-9 are teams representing the following year's Association.

Note:
The 2004 Labatt Tankard will be held in Sault St.Marie.

TIMES

PLAY-OFF STRUCTURE

Situation no. 1
The team with the best win / loss record during the round-robin will go to positon
No.1 in the playoff draw and will be given the option of last rock in the first end of all championship games and choice of rock colour.

Situation no. 2
If two teams are tied for first place at the completion of the round-robin, the teams will be slotted Team No.1 and Team No.2 in the Playoff draw. The team that defeated the oponent during the round robin will be given the choice of last rock in the first end or rock color, but not both.

Situation no. 3
If two teams are tied for second or third place at the completion of the round-robin, the round-robin win/loss record of those teams against each other shall be used to determine their ranking and therefor how the teams are positioned in the playoff draw.

Situation no. 4
If three teams are tied for first place at the completion of the round-robin, the round- robin win/loss record of those teams against each other shall be used to determine their ranking and therefor how the teams are positioned in the playoff draw.
When the ranking of the teams cannot be determined by comparing win/loss records against the teams involved in the tie, a "shoot-out" competition will determine the location of the teams in the draw.
This will be held immediately following the last game of the round robin competition.

Situation no. 5
If three teams are tied for third or fourth place at the completion of the round-robin, all three teams will go into a tie-breaker scenario prior to the play-offs.

Situation no. 6
If four teams are tied for second place at the completion of the round-robin, all four teams will go into a tie-breaker scenario prior to the play-offs.

Tie-Breakers, Team Ranking System, Rock Selection and Practice Time.


Ranking: Ranking of teams for tie breakers games will be determined by the win / loss record among the teams which are tied. If ranking cannot be determined after round robin play, the results of the pre-competition skill based team ranking process shall be used.This process will be held during the pre-competition practice.

Ranking System: During the pre-competition practice,each of the four team members shall deliver one draw shot to the tee with sweeping allowed. Each individual's rock that can be measured shall be measured to determine the distance from the tee up to a distance of 6 feet (1.829 m) then shall be removed from play. Stones that cannot be measured due to their close proximity to the tee shall be assigned a distance of 0. Stones that are located outside the six foot perimeter shall be assigned a distance of 6 feet 1 inch (1.854 m). The team's accumulated total distance from the tee shall determine their ranking. The least accumulated distance shall receive the highest ranking and so on until ranking is completed. In the case of a three player team, the first player to deliver a stone for his/her team shall also deliver the final stone for his/her team.

Rock Selection: In the TIE BREAKER GAMES there shall be no exchange of rocks. The rocks assigned to a sheet of ice during the round robin are to be utilized.
For all PLAYOFF GAMES, a full set of rocks (8 rocks) may be exchanged from one of the sheets used during the round-robin, but rock handles will be not be allowed to be changed. The order of selection will be first, second, third then fourth ranked team. Each team will be allowed a maximum of 15 minutes to make its selection and must be done within 15 minutes of the team being asked to make the selection by the Head Official. Only the Ice Maker will be allowed to move rocks from sheet to sheet as instructed by the Head Official or his designee.
Should it be necessary to re-select rocks because of a conflict of colours, this will be done using the same criteria as with the original selecting process.

Practice Time: In the event that a team advancing to the championship game is forced to await the outcome of tie breaker game(s), that team is afforded a reasonable practice time on a sheet of ice NOT used for the final game and using rocks NOT being used in the championship game. Such practice shall not interfere with ice cleaning schedule or games.

THREE-WAY TIE FOR THIRD PLACE

Two tie-breakers will be required as follows:

Play-off format:

The round-robin win/loss record of the teamsagainst each other shall be used to determine ranking in the tie-breaker games.
When ranking cannot be determined by comparing the win/loss record, the results of the skill based teamranking process will determine the location of the teams in the draw. The least accumulated distance shall receive the highest ranking and so on until ranking is completed.

THREE-WAY TIE FOR FOURTH PLACE

Three tie-breakers will be required as follows:

Play-off format:

The round-robin win/loss record of the teams against each other shall be used to determine ranking in the tie-breaker games.
When ranking cannot be determined by comparing the win/loss record, the results of the skill based teamranking process will determine the location of the teams in the draw. The least accumulated distance shall receive the highest ranking and so on until ranking is completed.


FOUR-WAY TIE FOR SECOND PLACE

Two tie-breakers will be required as follows:

Play-off format:

The round-robin win/loss record of the teams against each other shall be used to determine ranking in the tie-breaker games.
When ranking cannot be determined by comparing the win/loss record, the results of the skill based teamranking process will determine the location of the teams in the draw. The least accumulated distance shall receive the highest ranking and so on until ranking is completed.
For all tie-breaker games, a coin toss will determine last rock advantage or choice of rock color, but not both.


FIVE-WAY TIE FOR THIRD PLACE

Two tie-breakers will be required as follows:

Play-off format:

The round-robin win/loss record of the teams against each other shall be used to determine ranking in the tie-breaker games.
When ranking cannot be determined by comparing the win/loss record, the results of the skill based teamranking process will determine the location of the teams in the draw. The least accumulated distance shall receive the highest ranking and so on until ranking is completed.

For all tie-breaker games, a coin toss will determine last rock advantage or choice of rock color, but not both.


EXAMPLE:

During the 1999 Nokia Cup, there were five (5) teams tied for third place after the round-robin.
The win / loss record among the five teams determined that there was one team who had a 3-1 record against their opponents and one team had a 1-3 record.
The remaining three teams were tied with a 2-2 record.
The team with the 3-1 record was given the choice of position in the draw and chose position No. 1.
AWhen ranking cannot be determined by comparing the win/loss record, the results of the skill based teamranking process will determine the location of the teams in the draw. The least accumulated distance shall receive the highest ranking and so on until ranking is completed.
For all tie-breaker games, a coin toss was held to determine last rock advantage.

PAGE SYSTEM PLAYOFF

In all playoff games, last rock advantage and choice of rock color will be awarded to the team with the best win / loss record during the round robin.
If teams are tied with identical record, the team that defeated the oponent during the round robin will be given the choice of last rock in the firstend or rock color but not both.
At the conclussion of each playoff game, the above process shall be implemented again.
The only playoff position that shall involve tie-breaker games is the fourth and final playoff position.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Photo Session

All teams participating in the Provincial Playdowns are required to have a team photograph taken prior to the start of the competition. This is required for the team that will be representing Northern Ontario at the National Playdowns.
The photo session will be at the host club and will require the team to be in full curling uniform.
Any sponsor's advertising is not to appear in the photographs.
The time and location of this session will be announced when you arrive at the site of the

Opening Ceremonies
All teams are piped onto the ice for the opening ceremonies. Various speeches and the throwing of the "opening rock" is the usual format. Teams should be in full dress uniform with curling shoes. Each year, this ceremony will vary in length and procedure. Teams are usually piped onto the ice with a "sign carrier", which is usually your host driver.

Team Meeting
Prior to the start of the competition, a meeting will be held with all teams in order to explain the format, rules and other important issues.
This meeting will be conducted by the Provincial Chairman (or his designee) and the Head Official.
The Head Official will inform you of any special rules and will explain the Draw and Play-Off structure.

Banquet
All teams are required to attend the Banquet and any Luncheons which are scheduled by the Host Committee. The usual dress for Luncheons is casual, however for the Banquet, teams are expected to be dressed semi-formal. The teams are usually recognized at the banquet and any awards and presentations will be done at that time.

Closing Ceremonies
The closing ceremony is normally conducted immediately upon the completion of the Championship game. The various trophies and awards are presented to the winners and runner-up teams. The non-competing teams are not required to participate in this event unless specifically requested by the host committee. (Teams must be informed of this decision at the team meeting)
The Provincial Chairman of the event will inform the winning team regarding arrangements and requirements for attending the National Playdowns.

Officiating
At your Association Playdowns, you may have been subjected to some form of On-Ice Officiating,however, at the Provincial Playdowns, the rules dictate that a Level II System of officiating be used.Teams will operate under the Rules of Curling for Officiated Play as outlined in the Rules of Curling issued by the Canadian Curling Association (latest edition)
The following diagram will explain the basic system:

In the event that a Level II officiating system is not possible due to physical restraints within the Club, teams will be so notified of any changes at the team meeting. This will only be done with the approval of the Provincial Chaiman.

Head Official:
He or she is responsible for enforcement of all the Rules of the Championship - on and off the ice.

Supervisors:
He or she is responsible for all enforcements of rule violations on the ice, such as; hogline violations, replacement of rocks, measuring rocks and will be the first person called upon to make a decision in the event a problem arises. The Supervisor and Head Official will both be involved in decision making, with the Head Official making any final decision. Any decision made by the Head Official is final.

Hogline Officials:
There are usually four officials placed two on either side of the rink, directly in line with the hogline. For an official call on a hogged rock, it must be confirmed by two people.

Timers:
Each team is allowed 73 minutes of playing time. Clocks are stopped for both teams at the completion of each end. The team whose turn it is to throw first has 30 seconds to put their rock into motion. Two 1 minute time-outs are allowed per team, in addition to the 5 minute fifth end break. Clocks will also be stopped during the following "official time-outs"; any measurements, officiating decisions or if an injury occurs to a player.

All the Officials are there to ensure fair play for both teams. Each position is a hard one and is only volunteer. Teams should not have any problems if they respect the rules of curling.


Host Committee and Host Club

Many people have volunteered many hours of their time to try to give you not only a fair championship, but a fun and worry free time. If you have any problem that needs solving, they will be more than ready to help you or your team.

Your Driver: Your biggest help and your best fan will be your driver. Drivers know the Committee, the Club, the town, places to eat and much more. They will pick you up from the hotel prior to games or events and return you there when you are finished. Drivers usually provide their own cars and pay for their own gas. They become part of your team. At the end of the week, it is customary to give your driver a gift.

Hospitality Room: There is a hospitality room provided for the teams and coaches (where applicable) The room is usually open after games. Enjoy this provision for your comfort.

The Club: The Club Manager and Ice Makers have usually worked overtime to have the club and ice ready for you. Lockers may be provided to store your brooms and equipment during the competition. You make wish to take a lock with you, since they may not be provided.

The Hotel: The hotel has usually been chosen as carefully as possible for your comfort.