What are the goal crease and free pass rules?

From the Official Rules and Case Book of Ringette (2025-2027):

Goal crease (Rules 3.6, 8.7): the crease is a semicircle with a 2.43 m (8 ft) radius in front of each net. Only the goaltender (or the acting goaltender during goaltender substitution) may be in the crease in their team's defending zone. No other player may contact or control the ring unless it is entirely outside the crease (a defending skater may tip a ring in contact with the crease line further in, as long as their stick or body does not enter the crease and no advantage is gained).

• If a skater from the team in control of the ring enters the crease, play is stopped immediately.
• If a skater from the other team enters the crease, play is stopped if their team gains control of the ring in that zone before it leaves the zone and within five seconds of that player (or the later of that player and the ring) exiting the crease.
• Incidental stick overhang from which no advantage is gained is not a crease violation.

Free pass (Rule 10.1): the ring is placed in the centre of the half of the free pass circle closer to the goal being defended by the team awarded the pass. Only the taker may be in the circle. After the whistle, the taker must, using the stick, put the ring entirely outside the circle within five seconds. The taker cannot leave their half of the circle until the ring is entirely outside it, cannot touch the ring again until another player has, and no other player may touch it until it is entirely outside the circle. A teammate entering the circle early stops play immediately; an opponent entering early stops play if their team gains control in that zone within five seconds of the ring exiting the circle.

Source: https://www.ringette.ca/about-us/rule-book/