Curling is played on a level sheet of ice with two teams of four people. Each player slides two stones toward the house (target), a 12 foot circle at the far end of the ice. The players deliver one stone at a time alternating with the other team. Stones can be placed anywhere beyond the further hog line and stones can be removed by another stone (a takeout.) An end (inning) is complete when all 16 stones are played. A game usually consists of 8 or 10 ends. Only the team whose stone is closest to the center of the house scores for that end. The scoring team receives one point for each stone that is closer to house's center than the closest opposing stone.
Players deliver the stone from the hack, a foothold, and turns the handle of the stone just before releasing it. Turning the handle causes the stone to curl or curve as it slides along. The stone must be released before it reaches the closer hog line.
Each team consists of four players: a lead, second, vice skip, and skip or captain. They deliver stones in that order. Before the lead delivers the stone, the skip who is at the far end of the ice, indicates where the stones should be aimed. After the stone is released the other two players may sweep in front of the stone if it looks like it may fall short of the target. After delivering two stones the lead sweeps while the second delivers. When it is the skip's turn to deliver the last two stones, the vice goes to the far end of the ice and is an acting skip for the last two stones.