The Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre will be swinging their doors open to curlers in the coming weeks but doing so cautiously in the era of COVID-19.

Curling programming director Rhonda Wenarchuk said they'll be working from Curl Canada and Curl Sask guidelines.

With curling leagues starting October 19th, Registration will be online this year for all of their leagues.

“It’s called ‘Curling IO’,” Wenarchuk said of the new program that all curlers will need to use to register. “The competitive curlers will know what it’s like because they have to register themselves when they’re playing competitive, so they’ll understand it. And it’s supported by Curl Canada, and it’s Canadian-based, which is great, and we have a lot of support through there.”

People visiting will need to sign in, in order to keep track of contact tracing.

“We have to keep that for a month at a time,” Wenarchuk said. “And then, sanitizing and designated areas for curlers for the different sheets. So it’s just a little bit different.”

For the curlers themselves, designated entry points onto the ice will be changed, such that sheets one and two will only enter and exit near the curling office, sheets 3 through 6 will be the centre ice doors, and 7-8 will be the entry from the far end of the lobby. Depending on how busy the league afternoon or night is, there may need to be staggered times for starting matches.

But all the leagues will still be the same.

“If we happen to have a full slate... we’re going to have to do staggered starts just because we can’t have a huge amount in the curling lobby,” she said. “We’ve still got to keep those numbers low. When they’re finished, they can leave and then the other group can still be out there. It’s like maybe an hour difference between the start times. Once we get it figured out, it’ll be good.”

Wenarchuk sent out a release earlier this week to members and the public that adjustments were made to entrances, lobby layout and gameplay that would assist in the protection against the COVID-19 virus.

Masks may be required during the season if the Saskatchewan Health Authority dictates, and they are encouraged when social distancing of six feet is a challenge. The permitting of spectators will be determined by the venue.

The club’s cash league will be a cheque league this year, as no payouts will be made in cash form. Payouts will be made at the end of December, at the end of the round-robin and at the point of team elimination.

On the ice, two sweepers will be able to sweep during a game, but only one at a time. Skips will not be able to sweep other team’s stones behind the T-line. There will also be no handshaking at the end of matches and no scoreboards will be available.

Learn to Curl and youth leagues will be available later this season, and most bonspiels will be able to run as normal.

Check the Curl Moose Jaw link for a full explanation on the new curling rules.