Ringette4U - An Introductory Program for 3 to 8 year olds

 

Ringette4U (R4U) is a Manitoba produced program that applies the principles of Canada's Long Term Athletic Development Model (LTAD). R4U is an instructor led ringette program focused on helping to develop athletic abilities and fundamental skills in children aged 3-8. The R4U program allows players the opportunity to touch the ring more while learning to skate and play Ringette at their own pace.

At the beginning of the year, each child is assessed to make sure that they are entering into the ringette program at the right stage for them. All the lessons are designed to encourage participants to try new skills while having fun and playing appropriate games for their development.

 

Click to view video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXhxNq59pWg

 

R4U - Three Learning Stages

 

RED: This stage is for players who are primarily new ringette players that have never skated or who are just beginning to skate.  The focus of this stage is on learning skating skills while being introduced to ring skills and the game of ringette.

PURPLE: This stage is for players who have all of the skills required to pass RED, but have not necessarily played ringette before.

GREEN: This stage is for players who have all of the skills required to pass PURPLE, and are getting ready to play in the Winnipeg or Eastman Ringette Leagues at the U10 level. 

 

The Rural Program

 

The intent of the R4U program is to have players learn and play with other players at the same stage of ability. In the rural program we presently do not have enough players to create a team at each color stage. To ensure all R4U players play in their nearest community club, a single blended team of all color stages is created.

In the rural program, teams practice once a week and play a game on the weekend.  Coaches and instructors work together to ensure players at each color stage work on skills appropriate for their ability. Games are divided into two halves. In the first half, the team is divided into squads based on the player’s color stage (red, purple or green). The color squad matches up against the opposing teams like color squad to play. In the first half there may be 2 or 3 mini games running simultaneously. The mini games are advantageous to the red and purple stage players as it gives them opportunity to touch and move the ring. The green level players use the mini game to work on sharpening their ring agility and body control.  In the second half squads return to their team and a full ice game is played. Players play a 3 minute shift with 5 players and a goalie on the ice. This is a team versus team game. No scores are kept and as the season progresses more game rules are introduced.

 

Need More Information…

For more information about the program contact our association R4U Rep

Or visit these websites:

R4U website                                    www.ringette4u.ca

Ringette Canada                             www.ringette.ca

Ringette Manitoba                           www.ringettemanitoba.ca

 

 

 

Ringette vs Hockey

 

Ringette and hockey are similar in that both sports are team sports played on ice, and use the same number of players and player positions to play the game but differs in rules and approach to the game. Ringette was originally invented as a sport for girls but the sport is not exclusive to female players. More and more male athletes are playing the sport enticed by the games fast pace and no hitting.

In hockey, puck handling requires agility and concentration. In ringette, the challenge is in catching or "stabbing" the ring. To catch a ring, a player must stab through the hole in the ring with the stick, usually while the player is on the move. Once caught, the ring is easier to control than a puck is, but ringette's blue-line rules force more passing. This makes ringette a fast-paced game centered on skating and precision passing. The lack of "puck"-handling in ringette allows players to focus on improving their skating, which increases the tempo of the game. Increased control over the ring often results in higher scores, despite the ring being larger, lighter, and slower than a puck when shot. Also, players cannot enter the crease so their shots are taken from farther away and must be more precise than in hockey. As a result of ringette’s unique rules, players learn teamwork and must work together to move the ring down the ice.