Ringette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ringette is a team sport played on an ice surface. It was introduced by Sam Jacks in North Bay, Ontario in 1963. It is played internationally in such countries as Canada, Finland, France, and the United States.
Contents |
[edit] Rules
[edit] Time
A game consists of two periods ranging from 15 to 23 minutes each, depending on the level of play. In international play, three 20 minute periods are used.
[edit] Blue Lines
The players may not touch the ring on both sides of a blue line, or carry the ring over a blue line. If the ring goes over both blue lines, the opposing team must touch the ring before the attacking team may touch it again, similar to the icing rule in hockey, except that when the ring reaches the other end, the play does not stop.
[edit] Players
Only 6 players on each team are permitted on the ice at one time, these usually being one centre, two forwards, two defence, and a goalie. An exception to this is when a player gets a penalty, and must serve the penalty in the penalty box. The team will be "down" a player on the ice, while the penalized player serves the time. The minimum amount of players on the ice will be 4 (3 skaters and the goalie). A goalie may be substituted for a skater, also known as "pulling" the goalie, in the event of a delayed penalty on the other team, or during the last 2 minutes of the game. At any other time, this is considered a violation. Players are permitted to substitute at any time during a stoppage in play, or "on the fly".
[edit] Free Passes
A free pass or free ring, is where a team has possession of the ring in one of the circles on the ice, as opposed to a face-off. This team has to pass the ring (hence the name) to another team-mate.
At the beginning of the first period the Away team starts with the ring, in the centre free pass circle. In general, the defence takes the ring, and passes up to the centre and wingers, or to the other defence who is waiting behind the circle. This is called a "safety net" pass. At the beginning of the second period, the Home team gets the ring, so neither team has an advantage.
A free pass is awarded after a goal, penalty, or other stoppage of play. Some of the other rules pertaining to the free passes include time restrictions (The player has five seconds to pass or shoot) and mobility restrictions (No one may enter the circle until the ring leaves, and the ring carrier may not leave the circle. Many teams get around this by bouncing the ring off another players skate, allowing the ring taker to leave the circle). Free passes are also awarded when a ring is stuck between two players' sticks. The ring is theoretically given to the team that had their stick in the ring second, however this is the most common call to be awarded to the wrong team, due to the uncertainty of whether a player actually has their stick in the ring.
[edit] Ringette line
The "Ringette line" is a red line situated between the blue line and the red goal line along the top of the face-off circles. The area between the ringette line and the end boards, creates a "zone" where there are 3 skaters allowed inside for each team (not including the goalie). In the event of the defensive team only having 3 skaters on the ice (when they have 2 or more players in the penalty box), only 2 will be allowed in the zone. The penalized team is allowed to have all 3 players in the offensive zone. Four players are allowed in the zone if the goaltender has been pulled. This line is also known as the "free play" line.
[edit] Crease
Goalies are the only players allowed in the crease. If another player goes into the crease, possesion of the ring is given to the other team. When a goalie makes a save, or possession is awarded to the defending team, it is called a "goalie ring". The goalie then has five seconds to throw the ring out to another player, but not past the blue line. If the goalie does not pass it within 5 seconds, the ring is awarded to the other team for a free pass from one of the offensive face-off circles.
[edit] Shot Clock
While the team is in possesion of the ring, without the other team touching it, they have 30 seconds to take a shot, or give up possesion to the other team. The shot clock is reset when possesion of the ring changes teams, or when the ring stops in the goaltender's crease.
[edit] Penalties
Penalties in ringette are much the same as in hockey, with the notable exception of body contact. Penalties are given for several different offenses, and are 2 minutes in length. Players must serve their penalties in the penalty box Common infractions include: hooking, holding, high-sticking, tripping, body-contact, slashing, boarding, interference, charging, delay of game, and unsportsmanlike conduct. A Major penalty may be assessed on a minor infraction which increases the penalty time served to 4 minutes. Misconduct and Match penalties may be called for serious offences, and result in ejection from the game.
A penalty is nullified if a goal is scored. If both teams are equally penalized, the penalty is not nullified.
A team is allowed two penalties at a time. If a team incurs more than two, the player sits in the penalty box, but the penalty does not start on the clock until one of the other penalties expires. A team plays with a minimun of three skaters on the ice, regardless of the number of penalties.
[edit] Equipment
Required equipment for ringette is: ringette stick, skates, shin pads, girdle or hockey pants, gloves, elbow pads, jersey, hockey helmet with ringette facemask, and neck guard. Players may also wear shoulder pads.
[edit] Levels of play
There are several levels of play in Ringette, categorized by age. They are:
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- Bunnies - 7 years and younger, a beginner's program for young children
- Novice - 9 years and younger
- Petite - 11 years and younger
- Tween - 13 years and younger
- Junior - 15 years and younger
- Belle - 18 years and younger
- Open - 19 years and older
- Intermediate - 21 years and older
- Deb - 23 years and older
- Masters - 30 years and older
It should be noted that since the 2000/01 season, in Canadian National Championships, three groups of levels were combined to form one, Open. They were previously known separately as Open, Intermediate, and Deb. This level of play is for 19 years and older up until the Masters level, which is 30 years and older.
[edit] References
- Ringette Canada (Aug. 22, 2006). " Information about Stick Approval / Legal Sticks"
[edit] Links
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