How is ringette different from hockey?

Ringette is a Canadian winter sport created in 1963. Players use a straight stick with a specialized tip to move a hollow rubber ring (blue, 16.3 to 16.8 cm outside diameter) into the other team's net. Ringette Canada lists these differences from hockey:

• Shot clock: a 30-second shot clock keeps the game moving (it is not used in Children's Ringette).
• No face-offs: any stoppage results in a free pass to restart play.
• No offside rule.
• No-contact policy: no intentional body contact.
• Passing across blue lines: players cannot carry the ring over a blue line and must pass it to a teammate. Under Rule 8.5 of the Official Rules and Case Book (2025-2027), the ring also may not be passed directly from the defending zone to the attacking zone (a two blue line pass).
• Restricted end zone areas: a maximum of three skaters per team are allowed between the end boards and the free play line in each end zone.
• Cages: ringette face cages have tight triangular or horizontal bars to keep the stick from penetrating.

Sources: https://www.ringette.ca/our-sport/what-is-ringette/ and https://www.ringette.ca/about-us/rule-book/