It’s another season of ringette and volunteers with the Clarence-Rockland Ringette Association (CRRA) are occupied with registration. Besides the returning players who form the Rockland Falcons, there is a new corps of little ones eager to sign up for the association’s Learn to Skate program for future ringette players ages three and four. 

“It went really well,” said Melissa Gaudreau, CRRA president, smiling, adding 15 signups of players, ages 4 to 11 finished off the first open-house session. 

Clarence-Rockland has had a ringetter group for at least two decades. The sport remains popular with girls but Gaudrea noted that this year they have one little boy signed up for the CRRA’s Learn to Skate program. 

The CR Falcons play recreational ringette for the most part, though Gaudreau noted that the community used to field a competitive ringette team in past years. That may happen again as the sport continues to grow in popularity and once the pandemic ends and the restrictions on organized team sports end. 

Local players range in age from three to 12. Besides the recreational benefits of the sport, Gaudreau noted that ringette is very much a team sport and the chance to get together for fun and play is what most of the children enjoy. 

“We often get ‘Aw, is it over?’” Gaudreau said, laughing, about the common response when a practice session ends. 

Open registration for this year’s ringette session finishes by the Thanksgiving long weekend. But Gaudreau noted that the association will always accept calls later from parents of children who want to sign up later in the year.