Ringette: Canada's Fast Game With a Ring
Key Vocabulary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ringette | a Canadian team sport played with a rubber ring | My cousin plays ringette in winter. |
| rubber ring | a round piece of rubber used instead of a puck | The player passed the rubber ring. |
| straight stick | a stick without a curved hockey blade | Each player uses a straight stick. |
| teammate | a person who plays on the same team | She passed the ring to her teammate. |
| body contact | physical hitting or checking between players | Intentional body contact is not allowed. |
Article
Ringette is a team sport from Canada. It is played on ice with skates, sticks and a rubber ring. It can look a little like ice hockey, but the rules and equipment are different. [1]
The sport began in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario. Sam Jacks helped create it as a winter team sport for girls. The first game was played in the town of Espanola during the winter of 1963–64. [3]
Players use a straight stick to control and pass the ring. They try to put the ring into the other team's goal. A team has only 30 seconds to take a shot, so the game moves quickly. [1][2]
Passing is very important. A player cannot carry the ring over a blue line alone. The ring must be passed across the line to a teammate. This rule makes players work together. [1][2]
Ringette does not allow intentional body contact. Players still wear helmets and other safety equipment because they skate fast and use sticks on the ice. [2]
Today, ringette is played from beginner to elite levels and has also spread outside Canada. It has something familiar—ice, skates and goals—but the ring gives the game its own Canadian personality.
Discussion Questions
- What part of ringette sounds most interesting to you?
- How does using a rubber ring change the game compared with using a ball or puck?
- Why can a rule that forces players to pass to a teammate be good for a sport?
- What sports in your country have little or no body contact?
- Which Canadian sport would you most like to try?
References
- Ringette Canada, "What is Ringette."
- Ringette Canada, "Participating in Come Try Ringette."
- Ringette Canada, "Gym Ringette Teacher Manual 2025."
- Ringette Canada, "The 2026 Canadian Ringette Championships are about to kick off in Ottawa!"