Ringette

The first time the name "ringette" is mentioned was at the NORDA meetings held on January 20 and 21, 1963 in Sudbury, Ontario. Sam Jacks advised the group that "he had been working on a new girls' court game". Jacks had first considered an inside floor game for females, presumably based on his previous success with floor hockey.

At their September 15 and 16, 1963 meeting at North Bay's RCAF base, Sam Jacks informed the group that he would "like to have NORDA receive credit as a body for the birth of this game." Each one of the sports directors left this meeting agreeing to develop the game in their own community and report their findings at the next NORDA meeting in early 1964.

Under the guidance of Mirl Arthur "Red" McCarthy, the first game of ringette was held between a group of Espanola high school female ice hockey players at the Espanola Arena in the fall of 1963. He wrote up a set of rules and created a ring for this occasion, still on display inside the Espanola arena.

In 1963–1964, McCarthy's original ringette rules became experimental in the following Northern Ontario and Quebec communities:

• Espanola, Ontario Arena
• Onaping, Ontario Playground
• Sudbury, Ontario Kingsway Playground
• Sudbury Grace Playground
• Sudbury Adamsdale Playground
• Sudbury Barrydowne Playground
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Témiscaming, Québec Arena

McCarthy presented a written list of rules which he had developed, combined with comments and observations to NORDA at their meeting at Moose Lake Lodge in Onaping, Ontario (Sudbury), on January 19 and 20, 1964.

In 1964–1965, Sudbury, Ontario formed the first ever ringette league, comprising four teams. Diana Heit, assistant program director of Sudbury Parks and Recreation department, helped the teams with schedules, rules, and coaching.

On March 5, 1966, the first invitational tournament, the Northern Ontario and Quebec championships, was held in Temiscaming, Quebec. The tournament took place with five teams participating: North Bay Police Playground, Sudbury Rose Marie Playground, Sudbury East End Playground, Temiscaming Reds, and Temiscaming Whites. The tournament was won by the Temiscaming Reds team. This historic tournament created many firsts for the game of ringette:

1. The first ringette tournament.
2. The first interprovincial tournament.
3. The first tournament in Quebec.
4. The first tournament for the Canadian and World Championship.
5. The first indoor tournament.
6. The first tournament on artificial ice.
7. The first crests ever created and awarded for the sport.[4]

Ringette was introduced in North Bay on January 21, 1965, at the Kiwanis Playground with teams from Kiwanis and Police zones participating. The game ended in a 5–5 overtime tie. Attempts were being made to form a four-team league.[5] Growth in ringette came slowly to North Bay as ice time was seldom available. It was not until 1971-72 that West Ferris, Ontario, today part of North Bay, had a four-team league operating.

Ringette was introduced to the province of Québec by Bob Reid, director of recreation for Témiscaming, secretary, and chairman of NORDA.

By 1965–66, NORDA decided that they had carried the game about as far as it could go. The Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario (SDMRO) was chosen to develop and organize it further on a larger scale.

By 1973, an agreement was worked out between SDMRO and the Ontario Ringette Association (ORA) where the copyright to the Official Ringette Rules would be held by the ORA. Finally, in 1983 in agreement with the ORA, these rights were acquired by Ringette Canada.

Only six players on each team are permitted on the ice at one time, one centre, two forwards, two defenders, and a goaltender.[6]

The red line at the top of the defensive circles is called the Ringette Line. It marks the restricted area of each team's attacking/defending zones. Only three players from each team, plus the defending goaltender, are permitted into the restricted areas.

A team may pull the goalie off the ice and one more player may go in the offensive or defensive end. If the goalie is pulled and the play returns to that team's defensive end, one skater may become an acting goaltender. Once they enter the crease, they are bound by the same rules as a regular goaltender. If a team pulls the goalie without adding an additional player to the ice, the goalie may return to the defensive end.

The game begins with the visiting team receiving control of the ring on the defending half of the center circle. This is formally called a 'Center Ice Free Pass' and more commonly known as a 'Center Free Ring'. One player from the visiting team must pass the ring to another player within five seconds, without leaving the half circle or crossing the centre line, or else possession is lost and granted to the home team. A Center Free Ring will also happen after half time to start the second period, as well as when the play is interrupted.

Players are not permitted to carry the ring over the two blue lines; they must advance the ring over the line only by passing it to another player. The ring must be touched by any other player first, but does not need to be under control before the passer take possession again (e.g., the passer bounces the ring off a player's skate and then picks it up). If a player touches the ring consecutively on both sides of the blue line their team loses possession and the opposing team is given a free pass. If the ring goes over both blue lines, the team that passed it may not touch it until the opposing team touches the ring.

If a goaltender throws the ring across the blue line, a delayed violation is signalled. The goaltender may use their stick to pass the ring over the blue line.

Exceptions include:

• The defending team must have one player out of the free play area. If a team has two penalized players, only two players in addition to the goaltender may be in the zone.
• If a team has pulled their goaltender, an additional player is allowed into the attacking or defending zone. The goaltender must be completely off the ice before the additional player is permitted to enter. Once the goalie is pulled, any of the players from that team may enter the goaltender's crease and play as goalie – but cannot carry the ring out of the crease.

If the violation is non-intentional, the team in violation will lose possession of the ring and have it granted to the non-offending team. If the violation is deemed intentional, a delay of game penalty is assessed (rare). If an intentional violation occurs in the last two minutes of the game, a penalty shot is awarded instead. The Extended Zone Line is also known as the "ringette line".

The crease is the area in front of the net defined by a red semi circle on the ice. Goaltenders are the only players permitted in the crease. If a member of the team with ring possession violates the crease with a stick, skate, etc., the play is stopped and the goalie receives the ring. If any member of the non-possession team violates the crease, their team cannot touch the ring for five seconds (counted by the referee), or possession of the ring is given to the other team.

When the ring enters the crease, the goaltender then has five seconds to throw, pass with stick, deflect, or push the ring out to another player. If the goalie does not pass it within five seconds, the ring is awarded to the other team for a free pass from one of the defensive free play circles. The goalie may use the stick to touch the ring outside the crease, and can also pass through the crease, but may not pull it into the crease unless they pull it all the way through and out with one motion. Otherwise, this results in a loss of possession, and a penalty if they have already been given a warning. The goalie may not pick up or cover the ring with their glove outside the crease. The goalie can push the ring with a hand when outside the crease, as can any other player.

The team in possession of the ring has 30 seconds to shoot, though this rule does not apply to the younger teams (Bunny/U8, and Novice/U10). The shot clock is reset when possession of the ring changes teams, when the ring stops in the goaltender's crease, or when the ring bounces off of the goalie or the front of the goal posts. The shot clock is only applied in competitive levels, starting at the petite level (U12).

A violation is a minor penalty called for violations of game play rules, usually due to improper movement or handling of the ring. Common violations include entering the crease, touching the ring on either side of the blue line, four players in the zone and 2 (blue) line passes.

If a violation is committed by the team in possession of the ring, play is stopped immediately. The ring is awarded to the opposing team in the zone the violation occurred. If a violation is committed by the team not in possession of the ring, a 'delayed violation' is signaled by the official (arm raised with a 90 degree bend at the elbow) and a 5-second count begins. If the team in violation touches the ring within that time period, play is stopped and the violation is assessed. If the count expires, the violation is dropped and play continues.

If a violation occurs that would award the defending team a free pass in their own zone, the ring is given to the goaltender as a "goalie ring". Play resumes immediately when the goaltender receives the ring. Time is not provided for teams to perform line changes as can be done on a free pass, although on-the-fly changes are permitted as in normal play.

Penalties in ringette have the same concept as in hockey, with the notable exception that less body contact is allowed, and fighting has a zero-tolerance policy. Penalties are of the following classes:

• Minor penalties, such as boarding, charging, cross checking, elbowing, holding, illegal substitution, hooking, high-sticking, tripping, body contact, slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct and interference. The offending player must sit in the penalty box for two or four minutes depending on the severity of the penalty (other exceptions apply) and her team plays short-handed. The penalty ends when the team with the penalty is scored on, or the penalty time runs out. (If the defense is serving two penalties, the oldest penalty ends.)
• A major penalty is assessed for serious offenses, generally involving intent to injure or an intentional penalty action to prevent a shot during the attacking team's breakaway. Major penalties are four minutes in length and do not end upon the scoring of a goal.

-- body contact, slashing, tripping, boarding, charging and any other physical contact penalty, and unsportsmanlike can become a four-minute major penalty depending on the severity and roughness. Players may also receive multiple penalties at the same time for a combination of four or more minutes.

• Misconduct and Match penalties may also be called. They result in a player's ejection from the game. Misconduct and Major penalties also incur a two- or four-minute fully served penalty to be served by a teammate, unless the penalty is assessed to a non-playing bench member.

When a penalty is assessed against the goalie, a teammate on the ice at the time of the offence must serve it.

If the team not in control of the ring commits a penalty, play is not stopped until the penalized team gains control. This is called a delayed penalty. A minor penalty is nullified if a goal is scored during the delay, unless penalties of equal class were called on both teams. While the penalty is delayed, the attacking team can add a sixth skater to the ice by pulling their goalie. This player can enter the play zone as the fourth attacker.

A team can work off at most two penalties at a time. If a team commits a third penalty, the penalized player sits in the penalty box, but her interval does not start until the first of the other penalties expires (and so forth if there are more penalties). A team plays with a minimum of three skaters on the ice, regardless of the number of penalties. If freeing a player from the penalty box would give the team more players on the ice than it is entitled to (such as when the team is down to three attackers, but there are two other players in the penalty box), she will not be freed until a whistle stops play. During the stoppage, the team must remove one player from the ice to return to its proper strength.

A team with two penalties can have only two players (instead of the usual three) in its defensive zone. But if a third person is active in the defensive zone while two man down a third penalty will be called. If there is a third penalty that penalty time does not start till the first penalty is over. All three players may enter the offensive zone.

There are several levels of play in Ringette, categorized by age. Divisions were recently renamed as U* divisions under the new Long Term Development Plan (LTDP) rolled out nationally by Ringette Canada for the 2009-10 ringette season:

U6-8 under 6 or 8 years- this age division has been recently created by only a few associations. It is designed to introduce younger children to the sport and begin to develop skills at an early age. Typically, these young players play modified games (shorter time, no penalties, on half of the ice etc.)

U8 under 8 (previously called 'Bunny' division)

U9 ' Under 9 (this is a minor Novice Division)

U10 primarily 8 & 9 years (previously called the 'Novice' division)

U12 10- & 11-year-old players (previously referred to as 'Petite' division)

U14 12- & 13-year-old players (previously referred to as 'Tween' division)

U16 14- & 15-year-old players (previously referred to as 'Junior' division)

U19 16- to 18-year-old players (previously referred to as 'Jr Belle' or 'Belle' division)

18+ 18 years and older players (previously referred to as 'Open' or adult division, usually included lifelong players under 30)

Masters 18 years and older, either lifelong players desiring a slower pace, or new players who begin as adults (this division is part of the league associations but excluded from Provincial tournaments)

NRL Known as the National Ringette league, for elite players aged 18+

In 2010 the league put back in place previous age groups.

Boys are permitted to play at any age level but are restricted to competing at the "B" level or lower in many places, however efforts to include male players at the AA level is increasing. It isn't uncommon to see boys participating above U9 or U6 divisions in some provinces. Due to the pure speed of the sport, skating is emphasized at these levels. Levels of competition, based on skill, range from recreational to competitive, and include: Rec, C, B, BB, A, and AA and AAA, with AA being the highest level at which league competition occurs. AAA ringette is typically specific to particular regions who feel another category is necessary to clarify their league or tournament play. For example: AAA teams out of Quebec have played AA teams out of Alberta at various tournaments, including the National Championships. In Alberta, the highest level considered is AA, although they are deemed equal to the AAA teams from areas such as Quebec. For those who like the hockey parallel, playing AA ringette is the same as playing AAA hockey. The National Ringette League was introduced in 2004–2005 season and includes open-aged players at AA/AAA level.

Bourassa Royal against Montréal Mission in NRL

The National Ringette League (also indicated by the initials NRL) is an elite league of ringette in Canada. The NRL groups together the very best players over the age of 19 in Canada. The NRL consists of fifteen teams separated into two conferences. The Western Conference has 5 teams and the Eastern Conference has 10 teams. The NRL recovers directly from Ringette Canada, the guiding organisation for Ringette in Canada.

The Championnats Canadien d'Ringuette/Canadian Ringette Championships took place for the first time in 1979 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[11] This tournament was conceived so as to be able to determine who are the Canadian champions in the categories Under-16 years, Under-19 years and Open (replaced by the National Ringette League since 2008). The Canadian Championships of ringette usually take place in April of every year.

Year (Host City)	U16 (Junior)	U19 (Belle)	Open/NRL
2021 (Calgary, AB)
2020 (Ottawa, ON)
2019 (Charlottetown & Summerside, PE)	Calgary Core (AB4)	Guelph Predators (ON1)	Calgary Rath
2018 (Winnipeg, MB)	Bonivital Angels (Manitoba)	Laurentides (Quebec)	Atlantic Attack
2017 (Leduc, AB)	NB1 (New Brunswick)	Bonivital Angels (Manitoba)	Cambridge Turbos
2016 (London, ON)	Laurentides (Quebec)	Guelph Predators (Ontario)	Cambridge Turbos
2015 (Wood Buffalo, AB)	BVRA Angels (Manitoba)	Nepean Ravens (Ontario)	Cambridge Turbos
2014 (Regina, SK)	Guelph Predators (Ontario)	Winnipeg Magic (Manitoba)	Ottawa Ice
2013 (Fredericton, NB)	LMRL Thunder (British Columbia)	Nepean Ravens (Ontario)	Calgary Rath
2012 (Burnaby, BC)	NB1 (New Brunswick)	St. Clement Rockets (Ontario)	LMRL Thunder
2011 (Cambridge, ON)	Alberta	Quebec	Edmonton WAM!
2010 (Saskatoon, SK)	Alberta	Ontario	Edmonton WAM!
2009 (Charlottetown, PEI)	Ontario	Alberta	Cambridge Turbos
2008 (St. Albert, AB)	Alberta Host	Ontario	Cambridge Turbos
2007 (Halifax, NS)	Saskatchewan	Quebec	Alberta
2006 (Longueil, QE)	Quebec	Manitoba	Ontario
2005 (Winnipeg, MB)	Quebec	Alberta	Alberta
2004 (Calgary, AB)	Manitoba	Ontario	Alberta
2003 (Waterloo, ON)	Manitoba	Ontario	Alberta
2002 (Regina, SK)	Alberta	Manitoba	Ontario
2001 (Moncton, NB)	Manitoba	Alberta	Alberta

The annual competition groups together Canadian universities[12] in 2 conferences and is organized by the association Canadian University Ringette

University Champions

Year (Host University)[13]	Tier 1	Tier 2
2020 (Wilfrid Laurier University)
2019 (Wilfrid Laurier University)	University of Calgary	Dalhousie University
2018 (University of Guelph)	University of Calgary	Wilfrid Laurier University
2017 (University of Guelph)[14]	University of Ottawa[15]	McMaster University[16]
2016 (University of Calgary)[17]	University of Calgary	N/A
2015 (University of Calgary)[17]	University N. Alberta	N/A
2014 (Nipissing University)[17]	University N. Alberta	University of Guelph
2013 (Nipissing University)[17]	University of Alberta	McMaster University
2012 (University of Western Ontario)[17]	University of Alberta	McMaster University
2011 (University of Western Ontario)[17]	University of Calgary	University of Western Ontario
2010 (Brock University)[17]	University of Calgary	University of Western Ontario
2009 (Brock University)[18]	University of Calgary	University of Western Ontario[19]
2008 (Ottawa)[20]	University of Calgary	N/A
2007 (Ottawa)[21]	University of Calgary	N/A
2006	University of Ottawa	N/A
2005 (University of Manitoba)[22]	University of Calgary	N/A
2004 (Winnipeg)[23]	University of Calgary	N/A
2003	College of Saint-Boniface	N/A
2002	College of Saint-Boniface	N/A
2001	University of Manitoba, Team A	N/A
2000	College of Saint-Boniface	N/A
1999	University of Winnipeg	N/A

The Canada Winter Games are a multi-sport competition of two weeks duration. The Canada Games represent an important national competition. Twenty one sports appear. Ringette takes part in the event during one of two weeks of the Canada Games. Usually the competition begins on Mondays followed by the semi-final on Friday evening and of the National final on Saturdays. The best ringette athletes of ten provinces meet under the banner of teams of each of the provinces there. The Winter Games are held in every 4 years.

Ringette at 2019 Canada Winter Games[24]

• Gold : Quebec
• Silver : Ontario
• Bronze : Manitoba

Ringette at 2015 Canada Winter Games[25]

• Gold : Manitoba
• Silver : Ontario
• Bronze : New Brunswick

Ringette at 2011 Canada Winter Games[26]

• Gold : Ontario
• Silver : Alberta
• Bronze : Quebec

Ringette at 2007 Canada Winter Games[27]

• Gold : Ontario
• Silver : Alberta
• Bronze : Québec

Ringette at 2003 Canada Winter Games [28]

• Gold : Ontario
• Silver : Manitoba
• Bronze : British Columbia

Ringette at 1999 Canada Winter Games[29]

• Gold : Ontario
• Silver : Manitoba
• Bronze : Saskatchewan

Ringette at 1995 Canada Winter Games [30]

• Gold : Alberta
• Silver : Manitoba
• Bronze : British Columbia

Ringette at 1991 Canada Winter Games[31]

• Gold : Alberta
• Silver : Ontario
• Bronze : British Columbia

The provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario have competed in the Eastern Canadian Ringette Championships (ECRC) in the following 4 divisions since 2002: (U14AA, U16A, U19A and 18+ A).

The provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia have competed annually in the Western Canadian Ringette Championships (WCRC) since 2003, at the levels of U14AA, U16A, U19A, and 18+ A.

Some of the Canada's national level ringette players have also played for the Canadian women's national bandy team. Their best results are 4th at the 2007 Women's Bandy World Championship and 2010.

Canada's first goal scored in the nations history of organized women's bandy was by Lindsay Burns.[32] Burns has also played for Canada's National Ringette Team.[33]

In 1979, Juhani Wahlsten introduced ringette in Finland.[35] Wahlsten created some teams in Turku. Finland's first ringette club was Ringetteläisiä Turun Siniset and the country's first ringette tournament took place in December, 1980. In 1979 Juhani Wahlsten invited two coaches Wendy King and Evelyn Watson from Dollard des Ormeaux ( a suburb of Montreal Quebec. Canada to teach girls of various ages how to play ringette

The Ringette Association of Turku was established in 1981 and several Canadian coaches went there to make of the training and formation. The ski national week then organized an annual tournament to bring together all the ringette teams.

The National Association of Ringuette of Finland was created in 1983.

The 1985 tournament included several hundred girls. It became impossible to combine into a single event all the age groups and all the categories of players.

The visit of different Canadian teams in the winter of 1986 increased the popularity of the sport. Currently 10,000 young Finnish girls participate in 31 ringette clubs. Several cities have important clubs: Naantali, Turku, Uusikaupunki.

Finnish ringette takes place at the local amateur level to the professional level with the elite league Ringeten SM-Sarja.[36] This professional women league established in 1987 and consists of eight clubs in 2011–2012 season:

• VG-62 , won 6 National Championships titles[37]
• Tuusula Ringette, won 6 National Championships titles
• Lapinlahden Luistin, won 6 National Championships titles[38]
• Luvian Kiekko , won 3 National Championships titles[39]
• Hyvinkää Ringette, won 2 National Championships titles[40]
• Lahti Ringette, won 1 National Championships title
• Helsinki Ringette, won 1 National Championships title,[41][42]
• Raision Nuorisokiekko, won 1 National Championships title[43]

The Swedish Ringette Association, Svenska Ringetteförbundet , is a special sports association for ringette. It was formed in 1994 and was elected as an associate member of the Swedish Sports Confederation, Riksidrottsförbundet, in 2003.[44] The association's office is located in Solna .

Ringette was introduced to Sweden in the 1980s.[45] The first ringette club was Ulriksdals, in Stockholm. The national federation of ringette was established in 1990[46] and the elite league Ringetteförbundet was established in 1994. The league groups together 7 professional women clubs:

Kista Hockey[47]

IFK Salem[48]

IK Huge[49]

Järna SK[50]

Segeltorps IF[51]

Sollentuna HC[52]

Ulriksdals SK[53]

Several junior teams, and numerous amateur teams are connected with these 7 semi-pro clubs. Most Swedish ringette associations are located in the Mälardalen region.[54] There are programs of "twin towns" between Swedish ringette association and Canadian associations for the development of the sport within the Swedish population. More than 6,000 girls are registered annually.[55]

The National Ringette Team of the USA competes regularly at the World Ringette Championships. The two major national sporting organization for ringette in the USA are USA Ringette[56] and Team USA Ringette.[57]