DTCA Playdown Rules

• U-14 Open: Players must be under the age of 14 as of June 30 of the previous year. Teams may be comprised of any combination of gender. These events are intended to promote youth curling and competitive play. It is encouraged that as many team members as possible be from the same member club. All players must be a member of a club in good standing within the DTCA.
• ND High School State: Players must be in grade school, middle school, junior high, high school, or home school and are age 19 or younger at the time of the tournament. Teams must be comprised of all of a single gender. These events are intended to promote youth curling and competitive play. It is encouraged that as many team members as possible be from the same member club. All players must be a member of a club in good standing within the DTCA.
• Arena Playdowns: U.S. citizenship or residency is required. All team members must be dues-paying, league-playing members of a USA Curling Member Club. Team members can be from different member clubs, as long as all belong to member clubs from within the same Recognized Regional Association (RRA). To be eligible, competitors cannot curl in more than ten league games at any dedicated ice clubs in the calendar year of the championship. Curling in bonspiels or practicing at dedicated ice clubs does not affect event eligibility. Delivery of the stone with a stick device will be allowed. Wheelchair curlers are allowed to compete but must adhere to the USA Curling Wheelchair Curling rules. Individuals are not permitted to register for or play in more than one regional playdown leading to the same championship in the same season.
• Club Playdowns: U.S. citizenship or residency is required. All team members must be dues-paying, league-playing members of the same USA Curling member club. Individuals are not permitted to register for or play in more than one regional playdown leading to the same championship in the same season. League playing as defined by the DTCA as any member who has played 5 games or 50% of all league games available. Dues paying is defined as any member who has paid league fees by the playdowns registration date.
• 5U Qualifier: U.S. citizenship or residency is required. All team members must be dues-paying members of USA Curling. Competitors must be 21 years of age prior to competing in any Five-and-Under Nationals Qualifier. Delivery of the stone with a stick device is permitted, but players cannot switch to a stick device during a game. Competitors cannot have more than a total of five seasons of curling experience. A season of curling experience is defined as 10 or more games played between July 1 – June 30. Seasons where a player curled fewer than 10 games do not count against the total. The 2020-2021 (COVID) season does not count as a season of curling experience for any participant. Teams may be comprised of players of any gender. Teams that compete at Nationals must have Three of Four or Three of Five of the team members that played in the Qualifier Bonspiel.
• Mixed Playdown: Teams are made up of 4 players: 2 men and 2 women. No alternates are permitted. U.S. citizenship or residency is required. Players must have a valid USA Curling Competitor Membership. Teams must have at least two players who reside in the region where the team will compete in playdowns. Individuals are not permitted to register for or play in more than one regional playdown leading to the same championship in the same season.
• U18 Playdown: To be eligible to play in the U18 National Championships and qualifying events, athletes must be less than 18 years of age by the end of the 30th day of June of the year immediately preceding the year in which the national championship is to take place. U.S. citizenship or residency is required. Players must have a USA Curling Competitor Membership. Individuals are not permitted to register for or play in more than one regional playdown leading to the same championship in the same season.