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Celebrating more than years in Canada. Thank you Mr. Jacks!

The Sport of Ringette was developed in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario, by the late Mr. Sam Jacks. Originally designed to be a unique winter team sport for girls and an alternative to hockey, Ringette has evolved into a fast paced, exciting sport that combines the speed of hockey with the strategy of basketball or lacrosse. The first game played in Espanola, Ontario, was nothing like the sport of today.

Ringette is played on any standard rink. Five skaters and a goalie are on the ice for each team, unless of course there are penalties being served. The object is to score goals on the net of your opponent. How you do that, however, is where Ringette becomes unique. A straight stick, similar to a hockey stick with no blade, is used to pass an 8" hollow rubber ring between teammates.

Play is started by a Free Pass, similar to the start of a soccer game. The ring is placed in the half of the center ice free pass circle closest to the visitors' goalie. On the referee's whistle, the player "taking the free pass" has five seconds to pass the ring to a teammate... and the game is on!

Any stoppages 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", again, like a soccer goalie throwing in the ball. 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 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.

A wall of 5 skaters surrounding their goalie would make for little offensive opportunity, don't you think? There are exceptions to this rule, but only when two or more penalties are being served by one team, or if the goalie has been pulled for an extra skater.

There is no intentional contact allowed in Ringette, with the rules geared towards safety. When contact does occur, however, penalties are assessed. The most common are Body Contact, Tripping, and Interference and are usually unintentional as players focus on checking the ring from an opponent's stick or skating to get a loose ring first.

Most penalties are 2 minutes, but a 4 minute Major is assessed for actions that are deemed intentional or particularly rough.

Thanks to Ontario Ringette for the above information.

Age Divisions

Equipment

Mandatory Equipment:
CSA approved Helmet & Face mask
BNQ Approved Neck Protector Elbow Pads
Protective Gloves Hip/Tailbone/Genital
Protection Shin Guards
Hockey/Ringette Skates (no picks)
Uniform Jersey
Track Pants or "Cooperalls"
Ringette Stick
Goalie Equipment (Extras or Different): Goal Pads Chest Protector Goal Stick

Optional Equipment:
Skaters: Shoulder Pads, Elbow Pads, Mouth Guard

Goalies: Goal Skates, Blocker Trapper, Arm Pads, Goalie Mask, Plastic Throat Protector (must still have a BNQ Throat Protector)