How Many Players Are on a Curling Team?

A standard curling team has four players on the ice. They are the lead, second, vice-skip and skip. Each player delivers stones and sweeps, although their responsibilities change depending on the shot and the end.

The four positions in a curling team

Traditional four-player curling teams use fixed positions:

• Lead: Throws the first two stones for the team and usually sweeps throughout the end.
• Second: Throws the next two stones and is also a regular sweeper.
• Vice-skip: Throws the fifth and sixth stones, helps direct play and takes over the skip’s duties while the skip throws.
• Skip: Calls the strategy, holds the broom for teammates’ shots and throws the final two stones.

Each team normally throws eight stones per end, with every player delivering two. The skip does not simply stand at the house: they sweep for teammates and make tactical decisions throughout the end.

Does a curling team include a substitute?

Some competitions allow a team to register an alternate or substitute. That player is part of the wider roster but does not make the team a five-player side during normal play. Only four curlers compete for a traditional team at one time.

A substitute may enter if a player cannot continue, subject to the rules of the competition. Roster limits and replacement procedures can vary between events.

How many players are in mixed doubles curling?

Mixed doubles curling has two players per team: one man and one woman under standard international rules. Each player throws five stones, and one additional stone from each team begins the end in a set position. The format is shorter and uses different tactics from four-player curling.

Mixed doubles is sometimes confused with mixed team curling. In mixed team events, a team generally has four players—two men and two women—with the skip and vice-skip roles assigned across the lineup.

What about wheelchair curling and other formats?

Wheelchair curling commonly uses four-player teams, although mixed-gender requirements and event rules depend on the competition. Some wheelchair events also use a mixed doubles format with two players.

Junior, club and recreational curling can use modified team sizes. A local league may play with three players if someone is absent, but that is a format adjustment rather than the standard number for a curling team.

Frequently asked questions

How many people play on a curling team?

Four people play on a standard curling team during an end: the lead, second, vice-skip and skip.

How many players are on the ice in curling?

Eight players are on the ice in a traditional game—four from each team. In mixed doubles, four players are on the ice in total, with two on each team.

Can a curling team have five players?

A team may have an alternate on its registered roster, but only four players compete at once in standard four-player curling.