PLAYING RULES DEVELOPMENT POLICY

Submission of Rule Change Suggestions

Any stakeholder of Ringette Canada may submit a rule change suggestion for review by way of completing the online form HERE. The rule change submission is to be identified as either “editorial”, “equipment” or “playing rule”.

Purpose

1. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that the playing rules of ringette are reviewed regularly, distributed nationally and are used to help foster the development of ringette and its participants.

Application of this Policy

2. This Policy applies to the playing and equipment rules of Ringette Canada. This Policy does not apply to the playing and equipment rules of the International Ringette Federation. This Policy does not apply to policies or Policy development and does not modify the technical packages for any Ringette Canada events.

Definitions

3. The following terms have these meanings in this Policy:

“Equipment Rules” – Rules pertaining to the specifications of the equipment used by participants on the ice in ringette competition.

“Official Rules and Case Book” – The document published by Ringette Canada in accordance with this Policy, for the playing of the sport of ringette, in combination with interpretations of rules based on cases, including rule interpretation scenarios.

Publication of Rules

4. The Official Rules and Case Book of Ringette Canada shall be published in its entirety every two (2) years. The two (2) year publication cycle begins on September 1st of every even year.
5. Published rules shall come into effect September 1st of the year of their publication and remain in force until the following cycle.
6. The Official Rules and Case Book, when published, shall identify the years to which the rules apply and the effective date of implementation.

Approval of Rule Changes

7. Changes to the Official Rules and Case Book will be approved by the Rules Change Task Force.

Submission of Rule Change Suggestions

8. Any stakeholder of Ringette Canada may submit a rule change suggestion for review by way of completing the online form here. The rule change submission is to be identified as either “editorial”, “equipment” or “playing rule”.
9. The following stakeholders will be actively solicited for rule change suggestion feedback:
   1. Ringette Canada Members;
   2. Ringette Canada Committees;
   3. International Ringette Federation;
   4. International Ringette Federation Member Nations; and
   5. Ringette Industry stakeholders.

Timeline for Rules Changes

10. Ringette Canada shall adhere to the following timelines for the inclusion of rule changes:

10.1 January 31st on odd years:

1. 1. Beginning of rule change solicitation period. Rule change suggestions are to be submitted via an online form on the Ringette Canada website at ringette.ca or officiatingringette.ca.

10.2 June 1st on odd years:

1. 1. Deadline for submissions to be received by the Ringette Canada Office.

10.3  June 1st to September 1st on odd years:

1. 1. Rule Change Task Force solicits feedback from Ringette Canada Members.
   2. Rule Change Task Force solicits feedback from other stakeholders if needed, reviews and approves or refuses submitted rule change suggestion.

10.4  September 1 on odd years:

1. 1. Rules Change Task Force submits approved rule changes to the rulebook editor

10.5 January 15th on even years:

1. 1. Rulebook editor completes English rulebook revisions.

10.6 January 15 to July 1 on even years:

1. 1. Translation and translation review is completed.

10.7 September 1st, on even year

1. 1. New rules are in effect.

Rules Change Task Force

11. The Executive Director, in consultation with the Technical Director shall appoint a Rule Change Task Force to execute specific elements of the rules change process.
12. The Rules Change Task Force shall be appointed at the beginning of each rules change cycle (starting January of every odd year) and shall disband upon the completion of the final rulebook revision.
13. The Executive Director may allocate funds to the functions of the Rules Change Task force as necessary to clarify the rules change remit.
14. Composition:
    The Executive Director shall appoint the following members to the Rule Change Task Force:
    1. Member or individual suggested by the Officials Development Committee; b. Member or individual suggested by the Coach Developer Team;
    2. The NRL Director of Officials or alternate;
    3. Appointee representing the High Performance Program;
    4. Appointee adjudged to provide the perspective of the Fundamentals, and Learning to Train developmental levels; and
    5. The Rule and Case Book Editor.
15. Duties:
    The Rules Change Task Force will be assigned the following specific duties:
    1. 1. Develop rule changes to complement or supplement the rule change suggestions received from members and stakeholders; and
       2. Based on feedback received from the membership, develop rules change recommendations to include specific rules wording.

Official Rules and Case Book Editor

16. For each rule change cycle, an editor will be retained to provide writing and editorial support to the rules change process.
17. The editor shall report to the Technical Director.
18. The Executive Director may provide funds for an honorarium or other support of this position as deemed appropriate under Ringette Canada guidelines.

Safe Sport

19. Please refer to Ringette Canada’s Screening Policy and Ringette Canada’s Statement on Safe Sport in relation to Rule Change Task Force participants requirements around safe sport.

Reporting Forms

20. Ringette Canada shall produce forms for:
    1. Rule change submissions; and
    2. Equipment specifications form.

Process Review

21. The Technical Director, in consultation with the Executive Director will review the rule change process each rule change cycle.
22. Rule Change Procedure (Equipment)
    All rule changes relating to ringette equipment are to be submitted through the online Rule Change Suggestion Form found on ringette.ca and officiatingringette.ca websites between December 1st and April 1st during any playing season.
23. The Rule Change suggestion form shall include:
    1. Name, contact information, equipment details, a specifications diagram, and a complete rationale. All submitted information will remain confidential; and
    2. Submissions will be reviewed by the Equipment Change Task Group (as defined below) by the end of May.
24. As the Official Rules and Case Book is only published every two years, any equipment rule change passed will be communicated to the membership as follows:
    1. Official memo to the Members;
    2. Posting of the approved rule change on ringette.ca and officiatingringette.ca web sites;
    3. Incorporate notification of the rule change into officiating and coaching clinic content;
    4. Update the rules application; and
    5. Communication via social media postings.
25. The provincial associations are expected to communicate any equipment rule changes to their members in a reasonable manner.
26. Approved equipment rule changes will automatically be included in the next edition of the Official Rules and Case Book of ringette.

Equipment Change Task Group:

27. The Ringette Canada Executive Director, in consultation with the Technical Director shall appoint an Equipment Change Task Group to execute specific elements of the rules change process relating to equipment.
28. The Equipment Change Task Group shall be appointed every March and shall disband upon the completion of a final recommendations report.
29. The Executive Director may allocate funds to the functions of the Equipment Change Task group as needed.
30. Composition
    The following members will be appointed to the Equipment Change Task Group:
    1. Representative from the Officials Development Committee;
    2. Representative from the Coach Developer Team;
    3. The NRL Director of Officials or alternative;
    4. Representative from the High Performance program;
    5. Appointee adjudged to provide the perspective of the Fundamentals, and Learning to Train developmental levels;
    6. A representative from a ringette manufacturer; and g) The Rule and Case Book Editor.
31. Duties
    The Equipment Change Task Group will be assigned the following specific duties:
    1. Develop a package of equipment rule changes based on the rule change submissions received and converted into consistent language; and
    2. Develop rule changes to complement or supplement the rule change suggestions received from Members and stakeholders.

This Policy is subject to review at least once every three years

Date of last review: January 2021

The publication of Ringette Canada policies will be in the English and French languages. In the case of conflicting interpretations, the English version will prevail.