Intro 2 Ringette a bonus for beginners

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/12/2016 (3317 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ringette Manitoba has a brand new program that is being offered exclusively in River East.  
Intro 2 Ringette is now taking registration for the second half of the season, running out of Terry Sawchuk Arena (901 Kimberly Ave.).

It is targeted to children aged 3-10 who have little to no ringette experience and it offers both on-ice and off-ice components. The off-ice portion lessens the need for skating experience, making the program ideal for families wanting to learn what ringette is all about without having to first enroll in skating lessons. Children who are just beginning to skate will be able to learn a new sport without worrying about their skating ability.

The equipment required is minimal. Mandatory ringette equipment for a player on a team includes a helmet with a ringette cage, a neck guard, elbow pads, a ringette girdle, ringette or hockey gloves, knee and shin pads, skates and a stick — and most players also wear shoulder pads. This can get very pricey and may be too much of a commitment for families to make when starting a sport they are not sure their children will play.

Intro 2 Ringette requires only skates, a helmet and mask, and mitts.

Probably the best part about the Intro 2 Ringette program is that players will get their very own ringette sticks as part of their registration. At the first session, each player will receive a yellow Stinger ringette stick to keep.

The program is led by certified instructors at a four-players to-one- instructor ratio. The on-ice portion of the program features 30 minutes of basic skating instruction with some ringette skills tied in.

The off-ice portion is 45 minutes and takes place in a gym-like setting. Here the participants get to learn more aspects of the game. They earn to use the ring and the stick and get the basics of the game. Instructors also work on fundamental movement skills or physical literacy. They’ll play games that enhance balance, hand-eye coordination and other movement skills.
To be a part of the upcoming session of Intro 2 Ringette please visit ringettemanitoba.ca/want-to-play/intro-2-ringette/

Suzanne Dyck is a community correspondent for River East.