Edmonton Ringette

Ringette is an exciting team sport played on ice with skates. Players use a straight stick to pass, carry and shoot a rubber ring, with their objective being to score in the opposing team's net. The late Sam Jacks invented the sport in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario. The rules of Ringette were established to encourage controlled team play. Body checking is prohibited. The speed of the game has been enhanced with recent modifications to the rules, but teamwork remains essential. Ringette is played by two teams of 7 to 18 players, each with six players on the ice at one time (5 players and 1 goalkeeper).

          Ringette offers challenging competition and provides the opportunity for athletes and volunteers to experience unparalleled team spirit and develop lasting friendships.

          With the permission of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) a committee of eleven community league representatives met on June 16, 1976 to form the Edmonton Federation Ringette Association (EFRA), which later became the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues Ringette Association (EFCLRA). By 1978 there were 18 communities interested in starting teams at various age levels. Participants registered within their communities and were placed on community teams.

          In addition to the A and B levels of play, players are grouped according to age. The age categories have been revised over the years and currently are as follows:

Bunny	7 and under
Novice	9 and under
Petite	11 and under
Tween	13 and under
Junior	15 and under
Belle	18 and under
Open	19 and over
Masters	30 and over

          League play for Bunny EFCLRA (Zone 6) teamsoccurs within Edmonton. To expand the competition as the players mature, teams from Novice to Belle participate in the Black/Gold League with Zones 4, 5, 7 and 8 teams (St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, etc.) in their regular league play. In the 2004/05 season the EFCLRA had a total of 28 teams representing all of the above categories with the exception of Masters. The average team had 13 players.

          Costs of our program have increased substantially over the years, primarily due to ever increasing ice costs. At the inception of our organization in 1976, ice was obtained at a rate of $10 per hour. This increased to $25 per hour by 1983 and currently our ice costs average about $125 per hour. Our program registration fees for 1998/99 ranged from $245 to $300 for the season depending on the age level.

           For the 2004/2005 season, registration fees range from $125 to $360.00 depending on the age level. The registration fee covers 2 exhibition games, 14 league games, 18 half-ice (or 9 full-ice practices and playoffs for all teams as well as provincial fees for qualifying teams. Teams can purchase additional practice ice from the EFCLRA.

          The EFCLRA has worked hard to support and expand our programs over the years. In addition to the Edmonton Ringette School and the Silver Ring Tournament, the EFCLRA has also regularly hosted and/or supported coach/manager certification programs and information sessions as well as specifically designed development programs for beginners and goalies.

          Edmonton has been well represented by many teams at local and out of town/province tournaments, as well as provincial contenders over the years. Zone 6 (Edmonton) has been the recipient of two silver medals and one bronze medal at the Alberta Winter Games.

We have employed various campaigns to increase our numbers however in spite of our best efforts our membership has not continued to grow in recent years. In 1996 a forum was held and all interested parties were invited to attend in an effort to determine changes required in the program and suggestions for improvements. About 100 members of the EFCLRA and the ERC attended this session and many excellent ideas were presented and subsequently implemented.

          Our goal for now and the near future is to increase the number of players by increasing the awareness of the sport