New To Ringette? Start Here

Welcome to Foothills Ringette

A Quick Guide for New Players

What is Ringette?

Ringette is a dynamic, non-contact team sport played on ice with a straight stick and rubber ring. Designed with an emphasis on teamwork, strategy, and speed, it's often called "the fastest game on ice." Unlike hockey, players must pass the ring over each blue line, encouraging constant collaboration and quick thinking. It's a fantastic sport for building skills, confidence, and friendships.

Our Story: Foothills Ringette Association (FRA)

Foothills Ringette began in the 2016-2017 season with just 13 athletes, practicing once a week and playing a few exhibition games — often outdoors in Black Diamond. Fast forward to today, FRA now proudly supports around 90 athletes from communities across the Foothills region. We are committed to empowering girls through sport, creating an inclusive environment, and building strong, confident athletes on and off the ice.

Recent Highlights:

U14B team: Silver Medalists at Provincials & Zone 2 Champions (2024-25)
U12C team: Regional Champions (2024-25)

Who We Serve

We welcome players from:

Okotoks
High River
DeWinton
As well as players from Diamond Valley, Nanton, and South Calgary

Home Arenas:

Okotoks Recreation Centre (Okotoks)
Bob Snodgrass Recreation Centre (High River)
New for 2025-26: Scott Seaman Arena (DeWinton)

Age Groups & Divisions

Division	Age Range	Format & Notes
Active Start	4-5	One practice per week and typically two games per month (played on half ice)
U10 Step 1	6-7	Focus on foundational skills; games are played on half ice. Some seasons may only have a Step 1 or Step 2 team depending on registration and development needs
U10 Step 2	7-8	Continued development; gameplay still on half ice. Team formation varies each season based on athlete numbers and readiness
U10 Step 3	8-9	Full ice gameplay. Teams may include a mix of players, but all 9-year-olds will be placed here to prepare for U12. If spots remain, younger players may be considered based on skill and experience at the discretion of the coaching team and Director of Coaching
U12	10-11	Full ice play with shot clock. Teams are classified as A, B, or C. As a development-focused association, FRA typically fields B or C level teams to ensure players are placed where they can thrive, grow, and enjoy the game
U14	12-13	Full ice with shot clock; team levels (A, B, or C) depend on player experience and registration numbers. FRA generally supports B and C teams, where athletes receive appropriate development opportunities
U16	14-15	New for 2025-26! FRA will proudly field its first-ever U16 team. Level will be determined during evaluations based on the team’s composition

Note: At this time, Foothills Ringette does not offer U19 or 18+ programming — however, we hope to expand into these levels as our athlete base continues to grow.

When Does the Season Start?

Early Bird Pricing Registration Opens: Early June (TBD) - July 15th
Registration Deadline: July 16 - Aug 30th
Preseason Camp: Late August
Evaluations Begin: Early September (after Labour Day)
Practices Begin: After evaluations, with divisional groupings until teams are formed
League Play Begins:

Early October (U14 & up)
Mid-late October (U12 & under)

Season Ends:

Active Start & U10: Early-Mid March
U12 & up: By end of March (depending on regionals/provincials)

Weekly Commitment

Division	Practices/Week	Games/Week	Notes
Active Start	1	biweekly	On average two games per month
U10	1-2	1	Weekends games, occasional doubleheaders and optional tournaments
U12-U16	2	1	Regular games with occasional doubleheaders and optional tournaments

Games are typically played within Zone 2 (Strathmore, Airdrie, Indus, Cochrane, Rockyford, Foothills), Calgary, and occasionally Lethbridge or Medicine Hat depending on league assignments and team levels.

Tournaments & Season Structure

FRA teams from U10 and up typically participate in one tournament per session. These tournaments are selected by each team and may be local or travel-based, depending on interest and availability.

The ringette season is divided into sessions, which vary slightly by age division:

Division	Number of Sessions	Notes
U12 & Under	2 sessions	Season starts mid-late October
U14 & Up	3 sessions	Season begins earlier (early October) to accommodate the extra session

Session dates are set by Ringette Alberta and can be found under the "Critical Dates" section of their website.

🔹 All FRA teams are required to participate in the Foothills Freeze Tournament, hosted by our association on the first weekend of February.

Equipment Checklist

To play ringette, your athlete will need the following standard gear:

Required Equipment for Skaters:

Ringette stick (straight tip, no blade)
CSA approved players helmet with Ringette players cage combination
Neck guard
Shoulder pads
Elbow pads
Protective Gloves
Shin guards
Ringette pants or hockey pants (for practice and games for u10 and below)
*Ringette pants (required for U12 and up - see note below)
Girdle (worn under pants)
Skates (hockey style)
Practice jersey
Water bottle & equipment bag

Optional but helpful:

Mouth guard
Comfortable/athletic base layer to wear under equipment

Important Note for U12 and Up:
Players in the U12 division and above are required to wear ringette pants in Foothills Ringette Association (FRA) colors. These can be:

Ordered through FRA during pre-order windows
Purchased directly from The Ringette Store
**Coming Soon - partnership with Local Sports Store - details to come
Found second-hand via the Foothills Ringette Buy & Sell Facebook group

This guideline applies to player equipment only — goalie-specific players have separate equipment requirements and may access shared goalie gear provided by FRA.

FRA Provides the Use of:

Game jerseys (for all players)
A limited supply of goalie equipment for those trying or rotating into goalie positions

Bonus Tip:
Attend our August Come Try Ringette event to participate in our gear swap — a great place to find gently used equipment or pass along gear your athlete has outgrown.

Beyond the Ice: Building Stronger Athletes and Stronger People

At Foothills Ringette, development doesn’t stop when the skates come off. We believe in supporting the whole athlete — physically, mentally, and socially — through a wide range of off-ice opportunities:

Off-Ice Development

Dryland training helps keep the momentum going even when we're not on the ice. These team-specific sessions are designed to build strength, agility, and teamwork.
Off-ice skills training includes activities like shooting lanes and the occasional marathon-style team challenge — all aimed at building focus, accuracy, and endurance in a fun and engaging way.

Mentorship & Leadership

Our mentorship program pairs older players with younger ones to foster team spirit and confidence.
Players are encouraged to get involved in community outreach, learning how to lead both on and off the ice.
We proudly support female empowerment and retention in sport, ensuring girls feel encouraged to stay active and strong.

Family Involvement

We’re proud of the community that makes FRA so special — and we believe that everyone has a role to play in creating a fun and supportive season.

All FRA families participate in making our Foothills Freeze Tournament (held the first weekend of February) a success. From setting up the tables to staffing the sign-in table, being part of this event is a great way to get involved and help create memories for all our athletes.

Volunteer Bond Program (2025-26):
This new initiative ensures all families are included in the behind-the-scenes magic that keeps our association thriving.

And of course... the friendships.
Some of the best moments in ringette happen between the whistles — team bonding, road trip laughs, and dressing room giggles are just as important as goals and assists. At FRA, players build friendships that last long after the season ends.

Why Choose Foothills Ringette?

Inclusive & welcoming
Development-first coaching
Strong parent & community support
Off-ice growth opportunities
Power skating sessions built in
Female athlete leadership focus
Friendship, mentorship & fun
Room to start — at any age or skill level

Ready to Join Foothills Ringette?

Early Bird Registration opens June 6th!

You can register directly through our website:
🔗www.foothillsringette.com - (link will be live when registration opens)

We offer payment plans to help keep ringette accessible for every family.

Don’t wait — Early Bird Pricing for registration closes July 15th.

Regular registration - July 16th - Aug 30th

*New players signing up after the Come Try Ringette in Aug are eligible for the Early Bird Pricing*

Registration for all teams includes a $100 cash call

U12 Registration includes entry fee for Regionals

U14 & U16 includes session 3 fees.

We’re Also Looking for Amazing Volunteers!

Foothills Ringette runs on the energy and heart of our volunteers — and we’d love to have you on board. Whether you’re interested in becoming a:

Head Coach
Assistant Coach
Team Manager
On-ice Helper
...or simply looking to be more involved — there’s a place for you here!

Nervous about coaching? You’re not alone — and that’s okay.

Many parents hesitate to sign up because they feel they don’t know enough about ringette. But here’s the truth: every coach started exactly where you are. At FRA, we believe the most important qualities in a coach — especially at the younger levels — are positivity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.

We’ll guide and support you every step of the way, whether you’re leading drills or just cheering players on from the bench. The ringette-specific knowledge will come with time — and you’ll be surprised how quickly you pick it up.

So if you're even a little curious about helping out, we encourage you to take that first step. Your support could make all the difference for a team — and it might just become one of the most rewarding experiences of your season.