How much thinking time does each team get, and how do time-outs work?

Thinking time per team (rule C6): 38 minutes in a 10-end game, 30 minutes in an 8-end game, 38 minutes in wheelchair curling, 26 minutes in wheelchair mixed doubles and 22 minutes in mixed doubles. A team that runs out of time forfeits the game. A stone that reaches the tee line (hog line in wheelchair curling) at the delivery end before time expires counts as delivered in time.

Extra ends: the clocks are reset and each team gets 4 minutes 30 seconds in 10-end and 8-end games (6 minutes in wheelchair curling, 4 minutes in wheelchair mixed doubles, 3 minutes in mixed doubles).

Breaks: normally 1 minute after each end, and 5 minutes at the halfway point of the game (7 minutes in wheelchair mixed doubles).

Team time-out (rule C7): each team may call one 60 second time-out per game and one in each extra end. Only players on the ice may call it, using a "T" hand signal, and only while their own game clock is running. The time-out also includes travel time set by the Chief Umpire. Only one team member from the team official field of play (and a translator if required) of the delivering team may meet with the team.

Technical time-out: a team may call one to request a ruling, for an injury or in other extenuating circumstances. Game clocks stop during it.

Delays: if an umpire decides a team is unnecessarily delaying and notifies the skip, the next stone is removed from play if it has not reached the tee line at the delivery end within 45 seconds.

Source: World Curling Rules of Competition, 1 September 2026, rules C6 and C7.