The controversial no-tick zone rule is to be trialled at the World Championships ©Getty Images

The World Curling Federation (WCF) is set to trial its "no-tick zone" rule at the World Women's and Men's Curling Championships, after its initial try-out tournament was cancelled.

This was to be experimented at the end of 2021 at the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade, but the event was cancelled due to newly-implemented COVID-19 restrictions, which were then lifted prior to the competition's start date.

However by that point, the Winter Universiade was already called off.

WCF's Board met on Sunday (February 13) to discuss the proposals made by the Maximising the Value workgroup, deciding to roll out the trial in March and April.

The first of these is set to be at the World Women's Curling Championship in Prince George in Canada from March 19 to 27; and is scheduled to be followed by the World Men's Curling Championship in Las Vegas from April 2 to 10.

The governing body confirmed it would be the only rule trialled at the Championships.

"After listening to the concerns and feedback from our key stakeholders - which included engaging in consultation with the athletes and a number of World Curling commissions - it has been determined that the no-tick zone rule will be the only proposed rule trialled at these Championships," read a WCF statement.

The "no-tick zone" applies to any stone in the free guard zone touching the centre line while the free guard zone rule is in effect.

If an opponent's stone is moved from the no-tick zone, while the free guard zone rule is in action, it is treated similarly to a violation of the free guard zone.

Scrapping extra ends in round-robin matches could be trialled soon, as proposed by the World Curling Federation ©Getty Images
Scrapping extra ends in round-robin matches could be trialled soon, as proposed by the World Curling Federation ©Getty Images

A stone in the no-tick zone while the free guard rule can be touched by an opponent's stone as long as it remains touching the centre line in the free guard zone when it stops.

If both skips cannot agree whether the stone is in the no-tick zone, the umpire will make a judgement using the same tool that determines whether a stone has went over the hog line.

The WCF is also looking to trial two rules - thinking time per end and scrapping the extra end in round-robin matches - in competitions that have ten ends.

A report from December from the WCF showed there was "a lot of negative feedback" from athletes regarding the fact the alterations were proposed to be trialled at the World Championships.

Despite this, the WCF Board approved the trial.

"It was suggested that using untested concepts would result in negative athlete reaction and negative media attention," the report stated.