Starting the Game
Ringette is typically one hour long and is played in the halves. The game begins with the Visiting team being awarded a Free Pass in the Centre Ice Free Pass Circle. The Home team is awarded the Free Pass to start the second half.
Free Passes
Free passes are when the possession of the ring is awarded to a team and the ring is placed in the free pass circle. The ring is placed on a blue dot in the half of the circle nearest the goal of the team granted possession. (See Placement dots in Figure 1). One player takes possession and, on the whistle, has five seconds to either shoot or pass to a teammate outside the circle. During these five seconds no other player is allowed to enter the free pass circle. A shot on goal is permitted during a Free Pass. Failure to pass the ring ouside of the circle within the time allotted results in a loss of possession.
Figure 1. Ice Markings
Blue Lines
The blue lines are not used to indicate an off-side play since no such rule exists in the sport of ringette. However, the ring cannot be carried over the blue line and must be passed over each blue lines at all times in either direction. A player may not carry the ring across the line and may not pass the ring to themselves over the line. The ring must come in contact with another player (anyone on the ice other than the referee) before they may touch the ring again.
Two Blue Line Pass
If a ring is passed over both blue lines (without coming in contact with any player on the ice in between) then only the team, which did not make the pass, may touch it. This is the Ringette form of “icing.”
Zone Play – Any 3 in
The deep offensive and defensive zones extend from behind the goal net to the Free Play Line – the thin red line at the top of the defensive circles. (See shaded area in Figure 2.) Within these deep offensive and defensive zones, each team is allowed only three skaters (excluding the goalie) while at full strength. (See a standard Defensive setup with the green letters designating defensive players in Figure 2). If a team has more than one penalized player, they are permitted only two skaters in their deep defensive zone. If a team has pulled their goalie they may have an additional skater in both the deep offensive and defensive zones.
Figure 2 - Player Placements inside Deep Zones
Defensive Team is in Green, Offensive
Team in Purple
Goal Crease
If the ring lands in or on the crease line the only player who may play the ring is the goalie. The goalie can either pick it up and throw it (like you would throw a Frisbee) to a teammate or shoot it out of the crease with their stick or body. Once the ring enters the crease, the goalie has five seconds to pass it outside of the crease. They may not throw the ring over the blue line but they can pass it with their stick over the blue line. If the goalie takes longer than five seconds to get the ring out of the crease or throws it over the blue line, the opposing team gets a free pass in their offensive zone.
If a player whose team is in possession of the ring skates through the crease, play is stopped and the opposing team is awarded a free pass. If a player whose team is not in possession of the ring skates through the crease, there is a five-second delayed violation within which, if the violating team gains possession, play is stopped and possession returned the the team whose crease was violated. If an offensive player skates through the crease, the free pass is awarded to the goaltender (goalie ring).
Goalie Ring
A goalie ring is awarded when there is a crease violation committed by the offensive team, a second possession is awarded to the defensive team in their defensive zone, or the offensive team commits a 30 second violation (see 30-Second Shot Clock Rule). The ring is given to the goalie and the whistle is blown to restart play. The goalie has five seconds to pass it out of the crease to another player.
Joint Control
Joint possession of the ring, or as the rulebook calls it, "Joint Control," is when two or more opposing players place their sticks in the ring and it becomes immovable. The concept of the rule is very simple. The ring is awarded to the team gaining second control. That simply means the ring is awarded to the team that did not initially control it when that struggle for possession began. If the player first in control momentarily removes her stick from the ring, allowing an opponent to gain control and then takes joint control again, the ring is still awarded to the team that gained second control from the start of that play.
Penalties
Penalties are called for various infractions. Most unintentional penalties are the result of running into someone when stopping late, attempting to be first to a loose ring, or when missing a check on the opponent. Rough intentional body contact of any kind is not allowed. However, incidental body contact is typically allowed. Fighting of any kind results in an automatic game misconduct.
Violations
Violations are also called for various infractions, such as skating over the blue line in possession of the ring or unintentionally shooting or holding the ring out of play, more than three players in the deep zones, or skating through the goaltenders crease. These violations typically result in the opposing team receiving a free pass in the same zone.
30 Second Shot Clock
The 30-second shot clock rule is similar to that found in lacrosse and basketball. Once a team has gained possession of the ring, a 30-second clock countdown begins. Should the team retain possession of the ring but not get a shot on goal within the allotted 30 seconds, possession will be granted to the opposing team.
Information courtesy of Ringette Canada
