What is the free guard zone rule?
Rule- Canada
- Curling Canada
- World Curling
- Rules of Curling
- All ages
- 2026-27
- Players
What the zone is (R6(a)): a stone that comes to rest between the tee line and the hog line at the playing end, excluding the house, is in the Free Guard Zone (FGZ). Stones still in play, on or before the hog line, after striking stones in the FGZ are also deemed to be in the FGZ.
The rule (R6(b)): if, before the delivery of the sixth stone of an end, a delivered stone directly or indirectly moves an opposition stone from the FGZ to an out-of-play position, the delivered stone is removed from play and any displaced stones are replaced by the non-offending team to their earlier positions.
The related no-tick rule (R7) covers stones in the FGZ touching the centre line.
Source: World Curling Rules of Curling, 1 September 2026, rule R6.
Added 25 Oct 2026