what happens if a sweeper touches the stone in curling

If a sweeper touches a moving stone in curling, it’s called a “touched stone,” and there are clear rules for what happens next.

Quick answer

• If a team touches its own moving stone before it reaches the far hog line, that stone is usually removed from play immediately.

• If a moving stone (yours or an opponent’s) is touched after that point, the non‑offending team normally gets to decide how to fix it: let the shot stand as is, or place the stones where they think they would reasonably have ended up without the touch.

In all cases, players are not allowed to touch any stones while sweeping; only the ice in front of the rock can be swept.

What “touched stone” means

A stone is considered “touched” if it makes contact with:

• A sweeper’s broom or brush head
• A player’s body (leg, foot, hand, etc.)
• Any part of their equipment (gripper, stabilizer, glove, etc.)

It doesn’t matter whether the contact is gentle or hard; if it could affect the rock’s path, it’s treated as a violation.

Before vs. after the hog line

Most clubs and associations follow a version of these rules:

1. Touched before the far hog line (your own stone)
   • Your team has touched its own running stone before it reaches the hog line at the playing end.
   • Standard outcome: that stone is removed from play immediately.

 * Any stones it might have already hit are generally reset to where they were.

2. Touched after the far hog line or touching an opponent’s stone
   • If a moving stone (delivered stone or any stone set in motion) is touched later in its travel, the non‑offending team gets options.

 * They can usually choose to:
   * Let everything stand as it ended up, or
   * Re‑place the touched stone, and any stones it affected, where they reasonably believe they would have stopped without the interference.

This “non‑offending team chooses” principle is meant to be fair when it’s hard to know exactly what would have happened.

Spirit of the game

Curling leans heavily on the Spirit of Curling —sportsmanship and honesty.

• Sweepers are expected to call their own fouls if they touch a stone.
• In friendly or club play, skips will often confer and agree on a fair spot if they decide to replace stones.
• If the touch clearly didn’t change anything (for example, a tiny brush after the rock has completely left play), many casual games will just ignore it, but by rule it’s still not allowed.

Forum and “trending” chatter

Recent forum discussions and Q&A threads from late 2025 show beginners often asking if “barely clipping” a stone with a leg or broom matters.

Common themes from experienced curlers:

• If the stone is still in play, yes, it matters —you should call it, and then the skips decide how to apply the rules.

• In televised or high‑level events, officials may step in and enforce the formal placement options.

• In league play, people emphasize owning up quickly so the non‑offending team can decide calmly and fairly.

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Wondering what happens if a sweeper touches the stone in curling? Learn how “touched stone” rules work, what penalties apply, and how curlers handle these situations in real games.

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