Ringette in Canada
Ringette in Canada began in 1963 when it was first conceptualized by Sam Jacks of North Bay, Ontario, in West Ferris.
The sport of ringette is played in all 10 Canadian provinces and the Northwest Territories and involves an average of over 31,000 registered players every year.
[2] The idea that ringette was developed as a result of girls and women being prohibited from playing ice hockey is a common but untrue myth that is widely spread by Canadian media, as well as by a number of sports organizations and people.
By the 1800s, women were also playing bandy in a number of European nations, but the sport, which had its organized beginnings in England, did not successfully develop in North America and ultimately evolved into what is now known as ice hockey.
The female Canadian ice hockey establishment, feminist academics, and the entire country of Canada's feminist sports culture have all periodically expressed open antagonism for ringette as a result of its unusual success with the premise being that ringette is inferior to female hockey because it does not involve a narrative which involves a struggle against men or a desire to be more like them.
[2] The first ringette team in history was a group of Canadian girls from Espanola, Ontario who had played female high school ice hockey.
Ringette is also a sport in the Canada Winter Games, a multi-sport competition for amateur Canadian athletes.
A number of Canadian national ringette teams have been inducted over the course of its existence, as well as players, builders, coaches, and officials.
AAA ringette is typically specific to particular regions who feel another category is necessary to clarify their league or tournament play.
La Relève provides additional training and mentorship opportunities for selected athletes who have shown potential at the U16 level.
The program typically includes regional and national camps where players receive specialized coaching and skill development sessions.
La Relève in ringette is part of a broader effort to support the growth and advancement of the sport in Canada.
It plays a critical role in identifying and nurturing talented young players, ultimately contributing to the development of the next generation of elite ringette athletes.
At the first World Ringette Championships, five teams from five separate Canadian provinces were represented: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Canada has competed at every World Ringette Championships since, though a new division for junior players was eventually created in the early part of the 21st century beginning in 2009.
Now called the Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup the trophy is awarded to the best team in the National Ringette League.
[19] A small decrease in the number of ringette athletes after 1998 has been attributed at least partially to women's ice hockey being recognized officially as an Olympic sport that same season,[15][20][21] but is largely considered due to the decision by major governing body's for the women's hockey game to exclude body checking.
Despite the inclusion of women's ice hockey in the Olympics, there remains a striking absence of recognition towards the fact that female players had historically employed body checking as an element of their game.
[25] The organizing body for the post-secondary level is known as the Canadian University & College Ringette Association, which is abbreviated "CUCRA".
It is important to note that these teams may change over time, and there may be additional universities that participate in local or regional tournaments and events.
Competition usually begins on Mondays followed by the semi-final on Friday evening with the National final taking place on Saturdays.
Annual province-wide championship competitions are organized in a number of Canadian provinces for various skill levels and age groups.
The competition involves teams from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
The bandy team has included top level ringette players like Ainsley Ferguson, Carrie Nash, Shelly Hruska, Amy Clarkson, and Lindsay Burns.
[67][68] In Canada male players are uncommon since numerous other winter team sports options for them exist such as ice hockey, bandy, and broomball.
Boys are restricted to competing at the "B" level or lower in many ringette organizations since the sport is meant to highlight, cater to, and increase participation among females.
[70][71] The sport has a relatively narrow profile and is played predominately in four nations: Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States.
[citation needed] Ringette is played predominantly by female athletes and the IOC has higher requirements for male participation.
