In the event of a dead end, who decides the direction of replay?

In the situation of a dead end, the decision regarding the direction of the replay is made by agreement between both skips. This procedure ensures that both teams have a mutual understanding and consensus on how to proceed, fostering fairness and cooperation in the game. The skips are the team leaders and are responsible for making strategic decisions, including how to handle instances like a dead end. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration and agreement in the sport, as both skips are typically in a position to analyze the game situation and agree on what direction would be appropriate for the replay.

Other options, such as relying solely on lead players, leaving the decision to any team member, or solely relying on the umpire, would not uphold the collaborative spirit of the game or ensure that both teams are equally represented in the decision-making process. This ensures that the integrity of the sport is maintained and that teams have an equitable say in how the game continues after an interruption.