Ringette is a Canadian game first introduced in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario. Developed originally for girls, ringette is a fast-paced team sport on ice in which players use a straight stick to pass, carry, and shoot a rubber ring to score goals.
For ten years, play centered in Ontario and Quebec, however the sport quickly spread across Canada and is now played in all ten provinces and the Northwest Territories.
In fact, the sport has become one of Canada’s favorite activities for females, with over 50,000 participants, including players, coaches, officials and volunteers, across Canada – a remarkable growth rate for such a young sport.
More than 7,000 certified ringette coaches are registered in the National Coaching Certification Program, and 1,724 registered referees trained under Ringette Canada’s National Officiating Program. In addition, there are thousands of volunteers who administer clubs, leagues, and tournaments across Canada.
How it is played
- Played on an ice surface like hockey, rules make it more similar to basketball, soccer or lacrosse.
- Teams comprise 11 to 17 players, with six skaters on the ice at the same time (a goalie, two defense, a center and two forwards).
- The Game begins much like soccer with the Visiting team being awarded a Free Pass at Centre Ice.
- Free passes are awarded the appropriate team in the circle closest to where the action ceased, and follow a stoppage in play due to violations or penalties.
- A player cannot carry the ring over a blue line in either direction. The ring must be passed over the blue line to another teammate – think team play.
- If the ring lands in or on the goal crease, only the goalkeeper can touch it, who usually picks it up and throws it to a teammate. The goalie has five seconds to pass it out of her crease.
- Penalties are usually 2 minutes and address such things as tripping, hooking, slashing, body contact, unsportsmanlike behavior, or delay of game.
- The team with the most goals at the end of 2 15 or 20 minute periods is the winner.
Levels of Play
Local ringette clubs offer “learn to skate” ringette programs for 4 and 5 year olds. Both recreational and competitive streams exist for girls from 7 to 19. Ringette is showcased at the Ontario Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, showcases the “best of the best” at the Canadian Ringette Championships (“Nationals”), and takes on the world at the World Ringette Championships (Finland has won the last two Worlds). National team members come from players, over the age of 19, who compete in the National Ringette League.
