What are the rules on sweeping and brushes?

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Sweeping (R8): Sweeping can be in any direction and need not cover the entire width of a stone. The brush head must not be raised in front of a moving stone, debris must not be deposited in front of a moving stone, and sweeping must finish to either side of the stone (R8(a)). A stationary stone must be set in motion before it can be swept. A stone set in motion by a delivered stone may be swept by any one or more of its own team anywhere in front of the tee line at the playing end (R8(b)). A delivered stone may be swept by any one or more of the delivering team anywhere in front of the tee line at the playing end (R8(d)). An opponent's stone may only be swept behind the tee line at the playing end, and not until it has reached that tee line (R8(e)). Behind the tee line, only one player from each team may sweep at a time. For the delivering team it may be any player; for the non-delivering team only the skip or vice-skip (R8(f)). The team that owns the stone has first privilege of sweeping it but must not obstruct the opponent (R8(g)). All players may clean the playing surface before the next stone is delivered (R8(c)). Penalties: in officiated play umpires observe sweeping. The first violation by a team's own sweeping brings an official warning to the whole team. For later violations in the same event, the non-offending team may leave the stone in play or remove it and replace displaced stones. For violations of (b) to (g), the non-offending team may allow play to stand or place the stone, and all stones it would have affected, where they would have come to rest. Brushes at World Curling competitions (C3): each player declares an approved sweeping device at the start of a game and only that player may use it. Brush heads may not be changed during a game without the Chief Umpire's permission, or the team forfeits. When an alternate comes in, all players must use the brush heads previously used for the same position and function, or the team forfeits. Source: World Curling Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition, 1 September 2026, rules R8 and C3(e)-(g).