Coaching Resources
“A good coach can change a game;
a great coach can change a life.”John Wooden
Templates & quick links
Yearly Training Plan (YTP) – seasonal plan for Competition Introduction coaches. An excel version is available – email Bronwen.
Emergency Action Plan – GENERIC
Practice Drills & Games
Ringette Canada’s Coaches Tools page & email Bronwen for details on accessing the Drill Manual
Hockey Canada’s Drill Hub has some great skating drills. Be sure to modify as needed for ringette!
Miscellaneous drills: (many have different names or slightly different execution)
- 1v1 out of the corner – basic 1v1
- pass/shoot/goalie warmup – 3 line L cut passing
- pass/shoot/goalie warmup – half ice horseshoe
- pass/shoot/goalie warmup – half ice horseshoe with turn pass
- pass/shoot/goalie warmup – full ice horseshoe with drop
- shooting/goalie warmup – Bentleys
- shoot/pass/timing – Snakebite
- passing – 2-player weave
- skating pivots – Castle
- passing & timing – 2Z passing, 2Z modified, 3Z passing
- 2v2 transition – Tulo’s Box
- 1v1 small area & support – Anu’s Squares
Get a Junior Coach!
These young athletes have a ton of experience relevant not only to ringette but to team-building and are often able to relate much more easily to your athletes than you can.
They are role models and future coaches. As head and assistant coaches, part of your responsibility is to mentor them. Include them on decision-making, and ask for their input and ideas both on and off the ice. Some will take more encouragement than others to speak up, but they’re there because they love ringette and want to share it.
Though they are often busy and I know that attendance is probably hit and miss, they are young and learning to balance the demands on their time. Help them find ways to stay involved and the more they enjoy being there and feel valued, the higher you’ll be on their list of priorities.
Please do NOT reduce them to pylon-pushers, they have so much more to offer. Ask them to run a drill/game in practice. Take your team to watch theirs play. Your kids can make posters to cheer on their junior coach.
Tactics & Strategies
Offense:
- Breakout – Flare, Flare Hi-Lo
- Breakout – Power Left/Right, Power Left 2 Low
- Other Breakouts
- Video explaining 3 lanes and Quiet Zones
- Drawings and explanation of 3 lanes and Quiet Zones
- Support passes
- L formation passing
- Basic flow in the offensive zone
- Drive skating
- Ring handling/ring protection
- Passing
- Wrist shot practice
Defense:
- Triangle Movement
- Triangle Positioning videos: Part 1, Part 2
- drawing and explanation
- additional/different illustrations: general, scenario 1, scenario 2, scenario 3
- Zone Defense explanation
- additional Zone D drawing, full ice
- Zone Defense from a center ice free pass
- Forechecking – 2-on drawing/explanation
- Defending a Drop Pass and Low Walk
- Teaching goalside defense
- Stick checking
Transition: (more added soon)
- This section is really a combination of defense and offense. Defense to recover the ring, and offense to know where to go. Focus on correct checking (including body positioning), and then providing support for the ring carrier.
Special Situations:
- General 4v3 setup video
Team Building Games & Activities
Team Building Activities – updated regularly!
Orange Marks the Spot : Orienteering Alberta and Be Fit For Life have teamed up to produce a resource available to everyone as a fun way to introduce outdoor adventure skills and promote physical activity. There are 6 detailed lesson plans available for free download. The lesson plans can be adapted for all ages, skills levels, and locations. This would be a great team activity to get out of the rink and learn new skills!
Warmup Exercises
- lunge & twist
- squat walk (pivot 180 after each squat)
- knee hugs
- toe touch walk
- toe touch skip
- side shuffle
- inchworms
- T-pushups
Check out this series of videos based on FIFA 11+ exercises.
Interesting Extras
Watch Full Ringette Games
There are some videos of high-level ringette games on YouTube.
2016 World Ringette Championships Canada vs. Finland (senior team, final #1)
2016 World Ringette Championships Canada vs. Finland (junior team, final #2)
https://canadagames.live/video/2611 is one of MANY Canada Winter Games ringette games that are available at canadagames.live/ringette. Games include commentary and are fantastic to watch and learn about the game!
2019 Canada Winter Games Gold Medal Game – Ontario vs. Quebec
2019 World Ringette Championships Canada Sr. vs. Finland Sr.
2019 World Ringette Championships Canada Jr. vs Finland Jr.
Health & Wellness
There is a tab under ‘athletes’ for Health and Wellness which link to the NCCP’s Sport Nutrition module as well as a website called BodySense which has tons of information about promoting a positive body image for athletes. Highly recommend checking them both out!
CAAWS also has some great resources specifically aimed at female athletes: Disordered Eating, Physical Activity + Tobacco, Self-Esteem and more.
Sample Practice Plans by Division – submit yours!
It’s important to remember that not all athletes, even within the same division, are at the same stage of development. These are rough outlines or examples of plans that coaches have used for these groups, but can be used and/or adapted for others. Know your athletes and what they need to ensure improvement.
We know there are a lot of coaches out there with great ideas to share. To add to this list, send an email to Bronwen.
This page will be updated regularly with new content – keep checking back!
We Love Ringette!
We’re guessing you do too. A favourite activity? Staying at the hotel with your team? SWIMMING? Lots of team cheers on the bench? Working hard at practice? Skating fast? Catching the quick low-post passes?