FAQ

rulesquestionsregles@ringette.ca   

Dear Ask a Ref,

Can you please explain what a "Pick" is and when it is a penalty.

ANSWER

A pick is a term for an offensive tactic, in which one player assumes a stationary position in the attacking zone, with the purpose of helping a teammate evade a checker from the defending team. The player setting the pick must take up a vacant position within the zone and setup in a natural stance with the feet no more than shoulder width apart and the stick in a position on the ice near the feet (so that no one trips over it). This position must be taken prior to the moment of play so that the player setting the pick can become completely motionless at the time of the collision.

A pick becomes a penalty when the player setting the pick moves at the last minute to position or reposition themselves in the defensive player's path. This would be known as a floating pick, and becomes an interference penalty. It may also become a penalty if at the last second, the player moves to try to avoid or lessen the impact.

Here's the situation my daughter's team encountered:

Ten minutes into the first half of the game a player from the opposing team went into the boards and didn't get up. The coaches approached the player, and called a nurse out from the stands. The coaches then approached the referee to request a back board and ambulance. The ambulance arrived at the rink, came on the ice with the stretcher and back board. The player didn't get on the stretcher or backboard. She stood up with assistance and was guided back to the bench (she didn't skate or move her feet).

This took up to 20 minutes. The play resumed. With 5 minutes remaining in the first half, another player from that team ran into the boards and stayed down until her coaches came to get her. While that player was down, the first injured player did a couple of 'warm up' laps around the rink.

The injured player that caused a minimum 15 minute delay in the game played the entire second half.

My primary concern is for that player's safety and well being. Injuries such as concussions, whiplash etc can happen and yet not be diagnosed for some time. Is there a rule that the player should not have played the rest of the game?

ANSWER

The only ‘rule’ that governs this situation is covered under Section 22 of the rule book and states:

Rule Book Reference : Section 22 – Injured Players

22.1     Play is stopped immediately when an injury occurs.

22.2     If play is stopped due to a suspected injury to a skater, that player must leave the ice and may not return until play has resumed.

Additional Comments

There is no further ‘rule’ in regards to a player returning into the game if the delay was excessive when that player was injured.

That being said, we would all hope and expect that the bench staff took the appropriate precautions and determined that this player was fit to keep playing.

Is there a certain position within the playing area where the 30-second shot clocks must be located?

ANSWER

Rule Book Reference - S1: Shot Clock

The rink shall have a separate clock, in addition to the game clock, that counts down time in seconds. Two identical display units are required, one in each end zone. The display unit shall be mounted behind and above the end boards, no higher than the top of the glass, between the centre of the goal and the beginning of the arc of the corner to the goalkeeper's left. The position of the display units relative to the goal must be identical in each end zone.

Dear Ask a Ref,

I was wondering about the mechanics for the following scenario:

Team A has a delayed penalty with play in their attacking zone.
Team B has pulled their goalie for the extra attacker.
A1 skates through Team B goal crease and legally checks B1's stick causing the ring to enter Team B's net.

As the official, do I count the delayed violation mentally or with my arm with the delayed penalty?

ANSWER

As the penalty and the violation are for the same team, there would be no reason to count the violation.  The goal would count, as Rule 10.2.d states that a goal is scored if the ring is directed into the net by a defending player, unless it is the direct result of an illegal act by the attacking team.  Since the check by the stick was a legal act the goal would count. 

What are the shot clock mechanics for the following situations:

Situation #1

Team A shoots the ring at Team B's goal.  The goalkeeper is in the crease and has prevented the ring from entering the net but the ring has been deflected by the goalie outside the crease.

ANSWER #1

The shot clock is reset when the ring contacts the goalkeeper inside the goal crease. The shot clock immediately begins to count down. Team B has not yet gained control of the ring so Team A has up to 30 seconds to take another shot.

Situation #2

Following situation #1, Team A picks up the ring outside the crease.

ANSWER #2:

No reset. There should not be a reset when Team A picks up the ring outside the crease as Team A still has control of the ring, as control does not change when the ring is deflected off the goalkeeper and back into play outside the goal crease.

Situation #3

Following situation #1, Team B picks up the ring outside the crease

ANSWER #3

Reset. There should be a reset when Team B picks up the ring outside of the crease, or gains control of the ring, as the shot clock was currently counting down Team A’s control. 

Situation #4

Team A shoots the ring at Team B's goal.  The goalkeeper is in the crease, makes contact with the ring, but the shot would not have gone in the net. (i.e. It hits the goalie in the head and would have gone over the net if contact hadn't been made). The ring comes to rest outside the crease. 

Result #4

Shot hits goalie in the crease.

ANSWER #4: 

The shot clock is reset when the ring contacts the goalkeeper inside the goal crease. The shot clock immediately begins to count down. Team B has not yet gained control of the ring so Team A has up to 30 seconds to take another shot.

Situation #5

Team A shoots the ring at Team B's goal.  The ring hits the post or crossbar and comes to rest outside the crease.

Result #5

Shot hits the post or crossbar

ANSWER #5

The shot clock is reset when the ring contacts the goal post. The shot clock immediately begins to count down. Team B has not yet gained control of the ring so Team A has up to 30 seconds to take another shot.

Additional Comments

In all three of your situations, ‘control’ does not change teams. Therefore, when Team A shoots the ring and it hits a) the goalie while preventing a goal b) hits the goalie while they are in the crease, or c) hits the crossbar or post, a reset would occur. As Team A still has ‘control’ of the ring, if they pick up the ring there would be no additional reset given. If Team B gains ‘control’ of the ring then a reset would occur at that time.


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Hi, My question is if team A is playing shorthanded with one player in the penalty box and team B commits a penalty for which a delayed penalty call is signalled by the official, during the delay team A scores a goal, is the penalty to team B nullified as it would be if team A were not serving a penalty?

ANSWER

Although it may not be completely clear from the rule book what happens in this situation there is a case in the Official Rules and Case Book. The case book covers a lot of situations and what the ruling is for those situations. Case books can be purchased through your provincial office. For the question that you have asked below here is the exact wording from the case book:

Case: B1 is serving a Minor penalty. A delayed Minor penalty is signalled on A1. Team B scores.

Ruling B1: Each team has one penalized player (B1 and A1). Therefore, no penalties are cancelled or nullified. A1’s penalty is assessed

When the goal is scored if the official assesses the happening on the ice in the order they occurred then they would have the penalized player go into the penalty box, then they would report the goal. When the goal would be reported there would be a player from each team in the penalty box, therefore no penalty would be nullified by the goal.

Dear Ask A Ref,

If a team commits a two blue-line pass, where is the free pass for the non-offending team? 

ANSWER

As listed in the Official Rules: 

9.4.d (2)  The ring is awared to the non-offending team in their attacking zone when:

9.4.d (2) (a)  play was stopped due to a two blue line pass violation.

Dear Ask A Ref,

If a player scores a goal and then slides/skates into the crease or another player on the scoring team does the goal count?

ANSWER

The player scoring or another player from the same team can not enter the crease before the ring completely crosses the goal line, if they do, the goal would be nullified as per Rule 10.3.b as follows:

10.3    A goal is nullified:

10.3.(b)  and a violation is assessed if an attacking player commits a violation before the ring enters the net.

If the players enter the crease after the ring crosses the goal line, the goal would stand.

Dear Ask a Ref,

If a team scores a goal and a player on the scoring team lifts their stick high in the air to celebrate can a penalty be assessed for high-sticking.  My sister used to play (almost 15 years ago) and that was what she was told then.

ANSWER

Penalty for high sticking can be assessed after a goal under 13.7 for high sticking, as defined below:

13.7    High Sticking. A minor penalty is committed if a player:

13.7.(a) intentionally or unintentionally, raises the playing end of the stick above standing shoulder height within a stick length of any other on-ice participant.

When a defensive player contacts an opponent, they need to keep in mind the degree of contact and its affect on the play.  Simply placing a hand on the opponent is often okay provided they do not impede the progress of the player and they do not grab or push.  More and more often, we are seeing defenders setup by placing a hand on the hip of their opponent as you described.  If they push down with this hand, push off or ward off the player and it affects that player's ability to pass, shoot or reasonably get to the net, then a penalty would be called.

 The decision to assess a penalty in situations described above are discretionary and it's really the affect and intent that is taken into account when deciding whether or not a penalty is warranted.

 Rule Book Reference: Section 13 – Minor Penalties

13.2    Body Contact. A minor penalty is committed if a player uses any part of the body to contact an opponent in a forceful manner.

Dear Ask a Ref,

Team A is short-handed during the following situation (one Team A player in penalty box serving a minor penalty from a prior play).

Team B trips a Team A player during this situation and a delayed penalty is being called against Team B by the referee.

Before Team B can control the ring, Team A pulls their goalie for an extra attacker then Team A scores a goal (short handed goal).

Question:  Does the Team B’s tripping penalty that was going to be called get cancelled or nullified (Not sure that I see the answer in rule 20.4) given that Team A is already serving their own penalty? Or does Team B’s player go to the penalty box to serve the delayed tripping penalty even though Team A scored on the play.

ANSWER

In the scenario described, Team B's penalty would still be assessed and served.  The easiest way to think of this is that when a penalty is on delay, pretend that player is in the penalty box.  This helps determine if a penalty should be nullified by a goal or not.  In this situation, Team A has 4 skaters on the ice and 1 in the penalty box.  While Team B has 5 skaters on the ice, as soon as the delayed penalty is signalled, think of that player being in the penalty box which means Team B has 4 skaters "on the ice" as well.  When Team A scores, the teams are considered to be equal strength therefore the delayed penalty is still assessed.

A case on page 20-3 of the Case Book addresses this exact scenario and it’s listed as follows:

Case 2:   B1 is serving a Minor penalty. A delayed Minor penalty is signalled on A1. Team B scores.

Ruling 2:   Each team has one penalized player (B1 and A1). Therefore, no penalties are cancelled or nullified. A1’s penalty is assessed.

I have been a hockey goalie for years and have been asked to help some of the young girls on my daughter’s ringette team with their goaltending.  I know that no one is allowed into the blue semi-circle crease but the goalie, but where is the goaltender allowed to go?  Can they move outside of the blue semi-circle to "cut down" the angles?  Are they allowed to touch the ring outside the crease?  Can they "play" the ring outside the crease?  I would appreciate answers to these questions so that I know I am passing along the best information to the girls.

ANSWER

In ringette, a goalie is allowed to play anywhere on the ice up to and including the opponents' blue line.  This means a goalie can participate in play over 2/3 of the ice surface.  With respect to the crease, only the goalie (or acting goalie if the goalie has been pulled for an extra attacker) can enter the goal crease and play a ring that is in the crease or on the crease line.  They absolutely are free to go outside of the crease to play the ring or cut down on the angles.

 Rule Book Reference: Section 8 – Goalkeeper Play 

8.2      Goalkeepers may become involved in the play only in their team’s  defending zone and the centre zone. 

8.5      When the ring is entirely outside the goal crease, the goalkeeper: 

8.5.a   may not move the ring into the goal crease or onto the goal crease line.

8.5.b   may pass the ring through the goal crease, provided that the goalkeeper does not contact or control the ring when the ring is inside or contacting the goal crease. 

8.5.c   may catch the ring outside the goal crease in the act of making a save, but it must be immediately dropped and played legally. If  the ring is thrown or not immediately dropped, a Delay of  Game penalty shall be assessed to the goalkeeper for holding  the ring out of play.

Dear Ask a Ref,

ANSWER

When double penalties are called, play should be stopped immediately - you do not need to wait for a team to gain control of the ring.  The ring will be awarded to the team that was receiving the first penalty as it's deemed that the second penalty is the one that causes the stoppage in play.  In your scenario, Black would be awarded the free pass at center ice (penalties occurred in Team B’s defending zone).

 Rule Book Reference: Section 19 - Consequences of Penalties

19.2 - Stoppages of Play

19.2.(c) If neither team is in control of the ring and both teams have a delayed penalty, play is stopped immediately when the penalty is committed by the second team.

 Case: A1 passes the ring toward A2.  B2 and A2 skate toward the ring.  On the way to the ring, B2 slashes A2 then A2 retaliates by elbowing B2.

 Ruling: Play is stopped when A2 elbows B2.  The penalties are assessed and Team B is awarded the free pass in accordance with Rule 9.4.b. 

The reference for the question below is:  Ringette Canada Official Rules 2008-2011, Section 7, Point 7.8, p. 19.

"When two or more opposing players place their sticks in the ring and gain joint control, play is stopped if the ring is immovable or cannot safely be played. The ring is awarded to the team gaining second control.

NOTE: The ring is awarded to the team that did not initially control it if the player first in control momentarily removes their stick from the ring, allowing an opponent to gain control,and then takes joint control."

The rule doesn't specifically spell out who is awarded the ring if the player first in control does NOT remove her stick from the ring and continues to maintain some control. 

When a two or more players (from opposing teams) place their sticks in the ring and it becomes immovable, the ring is awarded to the team that gained second control.

The note is simply stating that the player that had first control of the ring can not simply take their stick out of the ring when the other team puts their stick in the ring and then place their stick back in the ring and get the ensuing free pass, the rule and note are separate explanations, and one does not take the place of the other, they cover two separate situations.

Below are some case book situations from page 7-20 and 7-21 of the Case Book to help illustrate.

Case 1:       A1 and B1 are trying to gain control of a free ring. B1 reaches the ring first and places their stick into the ring. A1, close behind, also manages to place their stick into the ring. The ring becomes immovable.

Ruling 1:     Play is stopped and Team A is awarded the ring. 

Case 2:       A1 has control of the ring and is being checked by B1. Realizing that B1 will gain joint (and second) control of the ring, A1 relinquishes control momentarily, in order to allow B1 to put their stick into the ring. A1 then takes joint (and second) control of the ring. The ring becomes immovable.

Ruling 2:      Play is stopped and Team B is awarded the ring.

Comment: If two players place their sticks in the ring simultaneously, then the player of the team that previously had possession of the ring has first control (possession of the ring has not changed). If the ring becomes immovable, then the player of the team that did not previously have possession of the ring has second control.

Dear Ask a Ref,

Is a player allowed to pass the ring with their hand? 

ANSWER

Yes, they are allowed at any time, in any zone, as long as the player's hand never covers the ring.

Dear Ask A Ref,

When a Team pulls its goalie in the last minute of play:

Situation #1

For a sixth skater, how many players of that Team can play in the offensive zone? 

Answer #1

Teams can pull their goalie at any time during a match, including during overtime. When a Team has no goalie on the ice, it can have 4 players in its offensive zone, and 4 in its defensive zone (one player can be the Acting Goalkeeper (AGK) who replaces the goalkeeper).

Situation #2

If the Team does not replace its goalie (and remains with 5 players)? 

Answer #2

The situation does not change.  With the goalie pulled, the team can still have 4 skaters in its offensive and defensive zone regardless of how many players they choose to put on the ice.

Dear Ask a Ref,

The opponent goalkeeper was in possession of the ring and during the 5 seconds delay one of my players raised her hand (without the stick) in order to intercept the ring and bother the goalkeeper.

The referee gave us two penalties for high sticking. I don't understand. Is there a rule prohibiting a player to raise her hand during the 5 seconds delay to bother the goalkeeper as she is trying to throw the ring?

ANSWER

It is legal if a player positions herself in front of the goalkeeper and raises the arms in order to intercept a pass, except in the following cases:

- if the player touches the goalkeeper with her hand or her arm while the goalie is inside her crease, in which case there is a penalty for interference; and

- if the player raises her stick (whichever end of it) at the same time as her hand while attempting to intercept the ring, in which case there is a penalty for high sticking.