What happens if a player cannot deliver their stones or has to leave the game?

Under rule R3(c), where a player cannot deliver one or both of their stones in an end, the team may either:

1. Bring in an alternate immediately in the departing player's position. The replaced player may not re-enter the game. The team may change its line-up at the start of the next end, and the revised rotation and functions apply for the rest of the game; or
2. Play on with three players for the rest of that end and the following full end. A player who leaves and does not deliver all their stones in an end may re-enter only at the start of an end. A maximum of 4 stones allocated to the missing player may be delivered as set out in R3(f) and (g). After those two consecutive ends the team must continue with four players delivering stones, either by the departing player returning or by bringing in an alternate. Failure to do so means forfeiting the game.

Each team is permitted only one instance per game of a player being absent. A team may not play with fewer than three players (R3(d)).

Who delivers the missing stones if the player is not replaced (R3(f), (g)):

• Only the second stone missed: the first player's second stone is thrown by the second player; the second player's by the first; the third player's by the second; the fourth player's by the third.
• Both stones missed: for the first or second player, the other of the two delivers three stones, the third player delivers three, and the fourth delivers the last two. For the third player, the first player delivers the first stone, the second player delivers the second, and the fourth delivers the last two. For the fourth player, the second player delivers the first stone and the third delivers the second.

Source: World Curling Rules of Curling, 1 September 2026, rule R3.