Young athletes in southeast Rocky View County interested in ringette will have the chance to try out the sport for free March 30, when the Indus Ringette Association (IRA) hosts its annual Come Try Ringette event in Chestermere. The yearly event, which will take place at the Chestermere Recreation Centre from 2 to 4 p.m., is open to boys and girls aged five to 16. The on-ice clinic will include games and drills, and kids will be taught how to properly stab, pass and shoot the ring. “[Ringette] is one of the fastest sports on ice, and we want to have as many athletes as possible in our association,” said IRA president Lorna Engleson. The association currently has 121 players and nine teams participating in local ringette leagues throughout the winter, according to Engleson, with squads competing from October to March. She added the sport is growing in popularity across the region – IRA’s membership has increased 10 per cent over the last two years. IRA caters to youths aged five to 16. The youngest athletes participate in the association’s Active Start program, while teams aged U10 to U16 compete in recreational or competitive leagues in Calgary and area. “We’re just a lot of fun,” Engleson said. “[Joining IRA] is a great way to get to know people, learn about leadership skills – and we have a great coaching staff, as well.” There will also be a 30-minute information session for parents at the event, Engleson added, where they can learn the rules of ringette – a non-contact sport that combines elements of ice hockey, basketball and box lacrosse. While ringette is played on the same surface as hockey, Engleson said, a common misconception is that the sport most closely resembles hockey. “It’s a very fast-paced passing game, whereas in hockey, you can go from one end to the other and score,” she said. “In ringette, you’re not allowed to do that – you have to pass over the blue line before you can score.” In fact, she said, the way ringette teams attack and defend their goal shares more similarities with basketball. “Where in basketball, where you have three in the key, in ringette, you have three in the ringette line,” Engleson said. The sport also includes elements of box lacrosse, in that players are not allowed to score from within the goaltender’s crease. Engleson also touted the non-contact aspect and lower risk of injury that ringette provides. “Depending on your level of play, it can vary on how much contact there is,” she said. “At the higher level, of course, it’s a lot faster. “At the lower level, they’re just learning a lot of things – they’re learning to skate, learning about the blue line and the ringette line. But it is one of the fastest games on ice.” Engleson said participants need to bring their own skates and helmet, and that sticks and rings will be supplied. To register for the event, visit cometryringette.ca
