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 Ringette Rules
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Rules of the Game
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Ringette is played on any standard ice 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 of wood,
fiberglass, or aluminum is used to pass an 8" hollow rubber ring between
team mates.
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 (see diagram
below) closest to the visitor's goalie. On the referee's whistle the player
'taking the free pass' has 5 seconds to pass the ring to a team mate... 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 (see diagram below) define restricted areas in the offensive and
defensive zones. Teams are allowed no more than three skaters at a time in
these areas, so over crowding is minimal.
Teams have 1 goalie, 1 center, 2 forwards, and 2 defence on the ice while at
full strength. Any free pass would be taken from any one of the 'Placement
Dots' (see diagram below) depending on the possession, unless it is a
Goalkeeper's Ring.
There is no intentional contact allowed in Ringette, with all 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.
Rink Markings
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