Who can join a WRAC ringette team and how do you get started?

The Women's Ringette Association of Calgary (WRAC) is a non-profit organization for players primarily 19 years of age and older who want to play on recreational teams. If you are an adult woman in Calgary looking for a recreational ringette team, you likely qualify — and the way to start is to use the "Join a Team" option on the WRAC website. If you are new to the sport entirely, WRAC also points to a separate beginner program you can try first.

Who WRAC is for

WRAC describes itself as a non-profit organization for players primarily 19 years of age and older who want to play on recreational teams. Its stated purpose is connecting women in Calgary through ringette while fostering teamwork and community spirit.

That gives you two practical eligibility signals to check against your own situation:

• Age: primarily 19+. The word "primarily" is doing real work here — it signals this is the association's core membership, not necessarily a hard line for every single program it runs.
• Level of play: recreational, not competitive. If you are looking for a high-performance or rep stream, this is a different kind of commitment than what WRAC describes.

Scale is a useful indicator of whether you'll find a fit: WRAC has 11 teams and 200+ players, and the association was established over 35 years ago. In practical terms, 11 teams means there are multiple roster openings and levels of experience within the recreational stream, rather than a single team you either make or don't.

How to get started

If you already play and want a team

The site's primary call to action is "Join a Team." That is the entry point WRAC provides for players who want to be placed on a recreational team for the season. Use it to express your interest; from there the association handles team placement.

If you have never played ringette

WRAC runs Progressive Adult Ringette for beginners, which is designed for people who want to try the sport before committing to a team. According to the site, the sessions run:

• Cost: $80 total
• Capacity: 22 spots available
• Contact: Jeannette Bailey, [email protected]

This is the lowest-commitment way to answer "do I actually like ringette?" before joining a team. Note the location is Chestermere Rec Centre, not a Calgary facility, so factor in travel if you're coming from elsewhere in the city.

If you are a younger player or have a disability

WRAC also promotes Ringette for All (RFA), a Ringette Alberta sanctioned, adapted program where everyone gets to play. It is open to any player aged 8–18 with a developmental and/or physical disability. All abilities are welcome and all participants are part of the team. Details are hosted at ringettecalgary.ca under Programs → RFA.

What to expect as a member

WRAC holds an AGM, described as open to all WRAC members, with registered teams required to send at least one representative. It is held via Zoom. This matters if you want a say in how the association is run — membership comes with a voice, not just a roster spot.

Common sticking points

• "Primarily 19+" is not the same as "19+ only." If you are close to that age or unsure, ask before assuming you're ineligible.
• Beginner sessions are time-limited. Four dates, 22 spots, $80 — if you want to try before joining, that window closes quickly.
• Recreational means recreational. If your goal is elite competition, check whether WRAC's model matches what you want before expressing interest.
• The beginner program and team registration are separate paths. Trying the beginner sessions does not automatically place you on a team; you still go through "Join a Team."

The simplest next step: if you're an adult woman in Calgary who wants recreational ringette, go to womensringette.ca and use "Join a Team." If you've never played, email Jeannette Bailey about the September/October beginner sessions first.