Parents

Thank you for choosing ringette for your daughter. She is in good hands - we help build strong, fit, confident girls and women. 

Our goal is to provide your daughter with a safe and fun environment so she may fall in love with ringette and be active for life. As well, if she chooses to pursue it, our goal is to also help her become her very best on and off the ice.

Stage Based Structure

We are moving towards a “stage-based” structure to ensure athletes are placed in an environment that is optimal for their long-term development.

Traditionally, athletes have been grouped by chronological age despite children developing at different rates and not always fitting into a strict age-based structure.

The goal of a stage-based approach is to match your daughter’s needs today with a program that meets her needs today. 

Through the next few years, do not expect your daughter to progress through each step in a linear fashion. It is normal for children to remain at a stage only to catch up in subsequent seasons or, conversely, to be a little ahead of the curve now but not remain so in the future, or she may progress linearly. 

If you would like additional information on long term athlete development principles visit CanadianSportforLife.ca and look for parent information. 

STAGE: ACTIVE START

Active Start 1

• approximately 1 ice time per week
• Introduction and primary focus: skating, ring handling, passing, checking, shooting, small area games
• Emphasis on active involvement, participation and FUN
• Introduce the concept of informal games in a 1/2 or cross-ice format. No scorekeeping.
• 1-2 Jamborees with other local Associations with similar program
• Season - post thanksgiving to early March (approx. 22 weeks)

Active Start 2

Same as above but...

• Approximately 3 ice times every 2 weeks
• Enrolment in this program will be based on having more refined skating skills than Active Start 1

STAGE: FUNDAMENTALS

U10 - Step 1

• 2-3 ice times per week will include a combination of practice and games depending on the league game schedule
• Fundamental skills development focus including: skating skills, ringette skills and basic goalie instruction for all players
• Emphasis on active involvement, participation and FUN
• Full ice games with a focus on basic concepts, rules and flow of the game. Continue to play half ice or cross-ice games in practice sessions.
• Game format should be structured to maximize “time on the ring” for each player.
• Coaches on the ice during games for the first half of the season
• Strive for team travel to remain relatively close to home
• Tournament participation permitted. Quantity approved by the Association (1 - 2 maximum with recommendation that one be at or close to home and one “fun trip” away.)
• Season - Mid September to early March (approx. 25 weeks)

U10 - Step 2

As above plus...

• Continue to refining skills and to understand game concepts.

STAGE: LEARN TO TRAIN EARLY

U10 - Step 3

• Can execute most skills in U10-Step 2 plus understands the game concepts very well.
• Maturity of the athlete indicates readiness for Learn to Train early.
• Season - Mid September to early March (approx. 25 weeks)