Ringette passing drills for smarter teamwork

Ringette makes passing more than a stick skill. A well-timed puck movement links one player to the next, opens space and gives teammates time to support the attack. Strong teams do not pass merely because a drill tells them to; they pass because they have read the same cue, trusted the receiver and moved before the puck arrived.

Lapinlahden Luistin LL89 has grown around Lapinlahti Ice Hall since 1989, bringing together ice hockey, ringette, floorball and figure skating in one community club. Its 2010 Finnish championship achievement reflects that sporting background, while the club’s wider program shows how shared skills can strengthen entire teams. The same passing principles work for beginners learning control and for experienced players building coordinated attacks.

Why passing shapes ringette teamwork

Ringette removes body checking and prevents players from lifting the puck off the ice. Players must therefore create advantages through positioning, timing and puck movement rather than physical contact. A pass can move the defence toward one side, pull two opponents into the same area or give a teammate enough time to skate into space.

Think of each successful pass as a conversation. The passer identifies the receiver, the receiver recognises the cue, and other players adjust their runs accordingly. Breakdowns often begin with one player making a reasonable decision while teammates continue on unrelated paths. Good passing drills reduce that uncertainty by training both the puck and the movement surrounding it.

Build reliable passing fundamentals

Start with controlled passes through a flat blade, using either a forehand or backhand depending on the puck’s position. Ringette’s shallower blade requires a softer, more deliberate release than some players expect. A slight saucer can help the puck travel over an opponent’s stick, but excessive lifting is not permitted. Players should also practise the ringette-specific toe pass, especially when receiving close to the boards or in a crowded corner.

Use markers to define a passing lane rather than relying on vague directions. One player passes to a teammate, follows the pass with their stick on the ice and receives the return into an open blade. The drill can progress from stationary positions to short glides, then to a pass into a moving receiver’s path. This progression develops soft hands without asking beginners to chase loose pucks.

Create movement rather than static exchanges

The most useful passing exercise connects the pass to a run. After making the pass, the passer should skate toward a new area instead of stopping in front of the receiver. That movement may be a diagonal support route, a curl around a marker or a retreat to provide an outlet. The receiver can reward the pass by moving the puck onward rather than holding it.

Add a simple call to each repetition. “Man” or a player’s name can identify the intended receiver, while “up” can indicate a pass into space. Players should call before receiving the puck, not after it arrives. These short communication cues train teammates to search with their heads up and to make choices based on information rather than assumption.

Choose drills for the stage of play

Choose exercises that resemble the decisions players face during a game. Begin with clean technical repetitions, then introduce timing, angles and pressure. Keep the rink area small enough that players must make quick decisions, but leave enough room to skate into a useful passing lane.

Early-stage pair work

• Toe-pass gates: direct the puck through marker gates before reaching a stationary or moving partner.
• Mirror-and-move: exchange passes while skaters mirror each other’s diagonal runs.
• Two-lane weave: move from one channel to another through controlled pass-and-glide exchanges.
• Soft-hand return: cushion the return pass toward the passer’s open blade.

Game-linked progression

• Support triangle: connect three players with continuous passes while each player rotates position.
• Give-and-go exchange: pass, skate past the receiver and receive the return while moving.
• Passing-lane challenge: reward a pass released before the receiver reaches the scoring area.
• Small-grid game: award an extra goal for a sequence of successful passes.

End the progression by asking players what they noticed. A reply such as “I passed before the defender arrived” is more useful than “I passed well,” because it connects the skill to timing and awareness.

Measure communication and support

Count more than completed passes. A useful session might track passes made into space, receptions while moving and possession retained after the return pass. Players should also notice whether teammates supported the passer and whether the team had a safe option when pressure closed the preferred lane.

Set simple team targets, such as completing five of six passes during a circuit or receiving ten consecutive passes without a turnover. Praise the behaviour that produced the result: a clear call, an open blade, good spacing or a teammate supporting the puck carrier. This approach makes communication visible and gives the group a shared standard.

Make training fit an Australian club night

Australian indoor ice is available through venues such as The Icehouse in Melbourne, Adelaide IceArenA and Macquarie Ice Rink in Sydney. The local winter runs from June to August, while artificial ice allows training throughout the year. Community clubs commonly manage limited rink time through member fees, fundraising, sponsorship and volunteer support, so short drills with clear outcomes suit the local operating model well.

An arvo session can use the period for fundamentals and the evening session for game-linked passing. Local encouragement also works best when it stays concise: “head up,” “into space,” “have a go” or “good on ya” leaves players focused on the next action. Regional clubs covering greater distances can use repeated passing circuits to make each session valuable without adding unnecessary ice time.

A completed pass, a moving receiver and a supported next phase are the practical signs that a passing session is building genuine teamwork rather than simply moving the puck from one stick to another.