Wild Rose Premier Ringette League

Coming Soon… The Wild Rose Premier Ringette League

Ringette Alberta and Sport for Life, with funding support from the Government of Alberta, are pleased to share that work is beginning on a new Provincial AA Ringette League.

This league will be guided by a Provincial AA Ringette Committee. Members of this committee will be appointed by Ringette Alberta. Day-to-day AA programming will still be delivered by approved regional AA program providers.

Background

With support from the Every Kid Can Play Grant, Ringette Alberta and Sport for Life spoke with many people across the ringette community. This included athletes, coaches, program leaders, and volunteers.

What we heard was clear. AA ringette in Alberta is already strong and successful, especially at national competitions. At the same time, many people said there is room to improve. They would like to see more consistency between regions, fair competition between teams, and better access for all athletes.

Why are changes being made?

These changes are meant to build on what is already working well. The goal is to better connect programs across the province, provide stronger and more consistent support, and help make competition fair at all levels of ringette.

When will changes happen?

Ringette Alberta is aiming to have these changes in place for the 2026-2027 season.

Who will lead this work?

Ringette Alberta will lead the work with support from Sport for Life and a fixed-term AA Provincial Working Group. This group will include Ringette Alberta staff and representatives, leaders from each regional AA provider, athlete development specialists or technical advisors, and other members chosen for their experience or community perspective.

Who will be on the Provincial AA League Committee?

The committee will be made up of members appointed by Ringette Alberta. It may include Ringette Alberta board or staff representatives, AA leaders from each region, athlete development or technical experts, and other members with helpful knowledge or experience.

What will the Committee do?

The Provincial AA League Committee will guide and oversee the new provincial AA league. Its role is to help make sure the league supports Ringette Alberta’s goals, keeps athletes at the centre of decisions, and helps programs work together across the province.

This work will include helping create policies and procedures, planning budgets and staffing needs, managing agreements, scheduling games and officials, and supporting communication between regions. The committee will also review the league each year, including looking at competitive balance, and help make improvements over time.

Why will there be agreements with AA associations?

Agreements will help make expectations clear for program providers, athletes, coaches, and Ringette Alberta. These agreements may outline how long a provider offers AA programming, which age groups they run, and how they support player-focused development and long-term athlete growth. They may also include commitments to help grow the sport through player and coach development.

Even though AA programming is already strong in Alberta, these agreements will help programs work more closely together, improve consistency between regions, and make the AA pathway clearer for families.

What will this mean for players? Will AA change?

For most athletes, regional AA providers will still run the day-to-day program. Some changes may happen over time, such as adjustments to tournaments or league play, to help teams compete more smoothly across Alberta. The goal is to improve the experience, not replace what already works.

Will all AA teams play in a provincial league?

Not necessarily. Competition formats will still be planned based on what works best for each age group, including U14, U16, and U19.

What does this mean for players and coaches across Alberta?

One goal of this work is to help the whole ringette system grow stronger. By improving coordination and development opportunities, Ringette Alberta hopes to support more players, help coaches grow, and raise the level of play across all divisions.

What needs to be considered as this work continues?

As planning moves forward, careful attention will be given to ice availability, goalie development, officials, tournament and league schedules, accessibility for players, program costs, and the long-term development of athletes.

Funding for this project has been provided by The Government of Alberta thanks to the Every Kid Can Play Grant