More Than a Game, It’s a Community!

Ringette is an exciting, unique winter ice sport, played mainly by females but open to all and at all ages. Everyone gets to play on a team and everyone gets to play regardless of their skill or ability. Ringette is very inclusive.

Ringette, like basketball (but played on ice), is a non-contact sport. Players use a straight stick with a specially designed tip and a hollow rubber, blue ring. Ringette playing rules require players to pass the ring over each blue line in order to advance the play, creating excellent team participation.

Ringette is played across Canada from the Northwest Territories to Prince Edward Island. BC Ringette boasts local leagues and associations on Vancouver Island, throughout Lower Mainland, the Thompson-Okanagan and Northern BC.  Internationally, Ringette is played in Finland, the United States, Sweden, France and the United Arab Emirates with teams being formed in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Ringette Canada: What is Ringette? Ringette Canada: Rule Fundamentals

What makes the Ringette Rink Different?

Ringette has a few special lines and zones that make the game unique. Think of them as key landmarks that guide the play. Here’s a simple breakdown:

  1. The Free Play Line or the “Ringette Line”
    • This line marks the edge of the defensive zone. It creates a restricted area where only three players from each team (plus the goalie!) are allowed at any given time.
  2. Goal Crease
    • The area directly in front of the net. In ringette, only the goalie can enter the crease – protecting them is key!
  3. Blue Lines
    • Here’s where teamwork shines! To advance the ring, players must pass it *over* each blue line to a teammate.
    • Important: A player can’t pass the ring over *two* blue lines at once – that results in a turnover!