Following the challenges throughout the 2024–2025 season of the reported over effectiveness of several brush head constructions, World Curling are updating the sweeping equipment compliance regulations for the Olympic Season effective immediately.
The regulation changes will apply only to component style brushes (covers/sleeves over moulded foam) with the following brushes being approved for play in World Curling competitions:
- BalancePlus with Original RS Foam
- BalancePlus RS with 3.0 foam
- SmartBroom by Curling Tools with less-firm foam (subject to lab approval)
- Goldline Impact with Pulsar foam
- Hardline Ice Pad with Recreational foam
- End Game Icon
All existing traditional brushes (fabric stapled to the brush head) will remain approved.
With the new regulations coming into effect, the following brushes are no longer approved for play in World Curling competitions:
- BalancePlus RS with Firm 2.0 foam
- Goldline Impact with Evader foam
- Goldline Impact with Pursuer foam (already withdrawn)
- Hardline Ice Pad with Competitive foam
- SmartBroom by Curling Tools with current foam
This decision was reached following extensive consultation with various stakeholders including players, manufacturers and ice experts, culminating in a Sweep Testing exercise at the Morris Curling Club facility in Manitoba, Canada.
The testing took place in a highly co-operative atmosphere involving several top athletes and manufacturers of the component style brushes. The time in Morris allowed in depth discussions to take place on how the effectiveness of sweeping could be maintained at a level the athlete community agreed was in line with the established principles of sweeping.
The updated regulations ensure that the foams used in the component style brushes have their minimum compression specification increased to a higher percentage allowing only the less-firm category of foams to be used. It was agreed that manufacturers of component style brushes would be given the opportunity to create foam matching those specifications or continue to use the existing foam they produce in that range.
World Curling would like to sincerely thank all our brush manufacturers for their patience and cooperation, but particularly those on-site in Morris for their collaboration in this challenging process. We would also like to thank the athletes who attended the sessions for their contributions to the productive discussions and assistance in the logistics of the testing.
This is not the end of the process with all involved recognising this is an interim step designed to move the sport through the Olympic season.
As our sport continues to modernise and professionalise at the elite level, our athletes and manufacturers continue to look for competitive and innovative approaches to improve performance on the ice. World Curling supports and encourages this advancement and accepts responsibility for ensuring these developments provide a positive impact on the sport.
Specifications and the approval and conformance processes established in 2016 following the Sweeping Summit are no longer sufficient as the sport has evolved. These specifications and process require continual re-evaluation to ensure the competitive integrity of the sport going forward.
New longer term testing processes that assess the impact of the complete brush head constructions is already underway with academics and materials experts to determine how this can be achieved.
World Curling regrets the issues in the previous testing processes that contributed to the situation reaching a critical point last season. We recognise the importance of reliable, ongoing testing and are committed to the creation of an effective pre-competition testing protocol to bring confidence to this aspect of our sport.
Work and close consultation with our stakeholders will continue as we strengthen equipment policies and testing protocols for the long-term future and stability of our sport.
