Courtesy of 
Courtesy of
Ringette is a fast-paced winter sport enjoyed by over 60,000 Canadian girls and women of all ages - with lots of teams in the National Capital Region. The rules ensure passing, skating and teamwork are part of every game. The game combines the fast-break of basketball, the dexterity of lacrosse, the speed of hockey and the fitness of soccer. Ringette is played on the same ice surface as hockey. Teams have six skaters: a goalie, two defense, a center and two forwards.
Both teams are allowed only three skaters in the offensive zone - not including the goalie. Typically this means that the offensive team has two forwards and a center while the defensive team has their center and two defense. The attacking zone extends to the Ringette Line - the thin blue line at the top of the face off circles. If the defensive team has more than three skaters in their zone during the last two minutes of a game a penalty shot can be called; at other times they lose possession.
The ring carrier can not carry the ring in either direction over the main Blue Line - this is Off-side. The ring must be passed over the blue line to another team mate. The team mate has usually skated ahead of the ring carrier and is already across the Blue Line. This is the total reverse of hockey where the puck must cross the Blue Line before any offensive player does. This eliminates the situation where one player can carry the ring from one end to the other. Passing is a requirement.
Neither team is allowed to have skaters in the crease. If the team with the ring has a skater in the crease then they lose possession. If a player attempts to take the ring out of the crease they lose the ring. If the offensive team loses the ring it is a Goalie Ring. If the defensive team loses the ring then the offensive team gains the ring on a Face-Off in the attacking zone.
On a Goalie Ring the goalie is given five seconds to throw the ring towards a team mate. The referee counts the seconds by extending his/her arm.
If the ring is in the crease the goalie has five seconds to get rid of it by either hitting it with her stick or picking it up and throwing it. If the ring is thrown beyond the Blue Line then the offensive team re-gains possession on a Face-Off.
Face-Offsin ringette are like free kicks in soccer. The ring is placed in the appropriate face-off circle. On the whistle one player then takes possession and has five seconds to either shoot or pass to a team mate; they cannot 'carry' the ring out of the circle. During this five seconds no other player is allowed in the Face-Off circle.
There is no icing or two-line Off-Side; i.e. the center line does not come into play.
Penalties, similar to hockey, are called for various infractions. Body contact of any type is not allowed. When a team is two players short they can only have two skaters in their defensive zone.