The Fastest Game On Ice!

Ringette is a fast-paced ice sport introduced in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario by Sam Jacks. Originally developed for girls, Ringette is played with a straight, tapered stick used to pass, carry, and shoot a rubber ring with the object being to score goals.

Ringette is played throughout Canada at many different levels, from house league to all-stars and in national and international competition. In Canada, 50,000 athletes, coaches, and officials call Ringette their sport. BC has approximately 2,200 registered players most of which participate in the Lower Mainland Ringette League. Ringette is also played internationally in Finland, Sweden, United States, and has been introduced in many other countries.

The greatest difference between Ringette and hockey is that the obstruction and interference that routinely occurs in hockey is prohibited in Ringette, instead requiring the player to use skill and speed in checking the opponent, resulting in a fast-skating, highly-skilled passing game.

Age Divisions

• U9 (Bunnies) - 8 years & under
• U10 (Novice) - 9 years & under
• U12 (Petite) - 11 years & under
• U14 (Tween) - 13 years & under
• U16 (Junior) - 15 years & under
• U19 (Belle) - 18 years & under
• 18+ (Open) - 18 years & over
• 30+ (Masters) - 30 years & over

About the Game

The Game

Ringette is now being played by 60,000 girls and boys across Canada, and in over 30 countries around the world. It is also played in several states in the USA. Our sport is growing overseas too. In such countries as Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, and Russia. The first World Championships were held in Canada in 1990, followed by Finland (1992), and St, Paul , Minnesota (1994). Ringette has been included in the Canada Winter Games since 1991 and the BC Winter Games since 1990.

Ringette can be played on any outdoor or indoor surface, suitable for ice hockey. Teams can consist of 7 to 18 players, with six on the ice at one time. This includes a goaltender (who uses a hockey goalie stick), two defence, two forwards and a centre. Players wear a full hockey uniform and a special ringette cage. The uniform can consist of long tapered pants or hockey pants and stockings, and a team jersey. A straight tapered stick is used to pass, carry and shoot a round rubber ring, with the object of the game being to pass to other team players and to score goals. There can be no intentional body contact. The game is kept fast-moving and wide-open because a maximum of 3 skaters from each team are permitted in the restricted area bound by the free play line and end boards in each end zone. The rink markings are essentially the same as ice hockey, with the addition of the free play line at the top of the end free pass circles. These take the place of face-off circles. For protection, the goalie is the only player allowed in the 8-ft. semi-circle goal crease.

Ringette Philosophy

Ringette is a mass participation sport, which encourages the physical, mental, social, and moral developments of individual participants within the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship personal excellence, and enjoyment.

Equipment

• BNQ approved neck guards
• CSA approved helmet and face mask
• CSA approved ringette stick
• Padded gloves
• Elbow and knee pads
• Protective girdles and pelvic protection
• Hockey skates
• Hockey stick, chest and knee pads for goalies

Basic Rules

• No intentional body contact
• The ring must be passed over the blue lines
• A goaltender may be pulled in last 2 minutes of play
• Only the goaltender is allowed in the goal crease
• Two referees are on the ice during the game
• The coaching staff must include a female member of 19 years or older on the players bench