What is Ringette

Ringette Ontario pledges its efforts to promote fun, fitness and friendship in a safe play environment and is dedicated to quality performance and fair play opportunity for all ages.

Ringette is a sport invented in Canada by Sam Jacks in Ontario. It has been played since 1963. The emphasis is on team play and skill development. It is generally acknowledged that ringette is the fastest game on ice, and ringette players are known for their skating and ring handling skills.

No experience is necessary to play ringette. Part of the aim of the sport is helping players to learn and develop a life-long love of this exciting sport.

There are 50,000 participants in Canada in all 10 provinces as well as the Northwest Territories. Ringette is also played in the USA, Finland, France, Sweden, Japan and Russia.

 

Ringette promotes social and emotional maturity by encouraging teamwork through competition and co-operation.

• Ringette is played on any standard rink.
• 5 skaters and a goalie - Fun 3 and above.
• Children's ringette (Fun 1/2) is played on half of the ice surface in a 3v3 or 4v4 format.
• The object is to score goals in the net of your opponent.
• A straight stick of wood, fibreglas or aluminum is used to pass, control and shoot an 8” hollow ring between teammates.
• Play is started by a free pass similar to the start of a soccer game.
• The player “taking the free pass” has five seconds to pass the ring to a teammate…and the game is on!
• Any stoppage in play will result in a free pass to re-start the game, usually in the nearest free pass circle.
• Some defensive free passes are replaced by a “goaltender ring”.
• Rules restrict any one player from carrying the ring the full length of the ice (no ring hogs).
• The ring must be passed over each blue line to another player, which means more players can be involved in setting up the goals.
• Free play lines define restricted areas in the deep offensive and defensive zones.
• Teams are allowed no more than 3 skaters at a time in these areas, so over-crowding is minimal.

• There is no intentional contact allowed in Ringette, with all rules geared towards safety.
• The most common are body contact, tripping and interference.
• Most penalties are 2 minutes but a 4 minute major is assessed for actions that are deemed intentional or particularly rough.

• CSA approved helmet with a regulation Ringette facemask, which has a smaller gauge than a hockey mask.
• BNQ approved neck guard
• Elbow Pads
• Shoulder Pads
• Knee Pads
• Girdle/Hockey Pants with Pelvic Protection
• Padded Gloves
• Skates (no picks)
• Ringette Stick (Ringette Sticks Have Special Tips)

• Fun 1/2 -  7 yrs. & under
• Fun 3 -  9 yrs. & under
• U12 - 11 yrs. & under
• U14 - 13 yrs. & under
• U16 - 15 yrs. & under
• U19 - 18 yrs. & under
• 18+ - 19 yrs. & over