Locker Room Policy
Purpose:
To ensure the safety and well-being of Minor Athletes, USA Hockey has created new guidelines for locker room supervision. These guidelines have been put in place to protect Minor Athletes from inappropriate interactions and to ensure a safe environment during all team activities.
The Policy states that at least one responsible, screened, trained adult (18 years or older; such as a coach, manager, or other pre-approved volunteer) must be present and actively monitoring the locker room at all times during team events. The said monitor is responsible for ensuring that only authorized individuals-such as coaches and players-are permitted in the locker room. It is recommended by USA Hockey that, whenever possible, two locker room monitors are present to enhance safety.
Non-official or unrelated adults are not permitted to have unsupervised access to Minor Athletes in the locker room or during team events. Adults are prohibited from being alone with an individual Minor Athlete in the locker room.
Rocky Mountain RoughRiders Policy Standard
Rocky Mountain RoughRiders will require that a designated Monitor be stationed at an appropriate distance from the dressing room areas of each team’s locker room. This will ensure that proper oversight is being given and aligns with the organization’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all players. The presence of a Monitor is a mandatory requirement. Designated Monitors will apply all diligence in upholding the Locker Room Policies regarding Adults being alone with Players in a Locker Room.
USA Hockey Preferences:
USA Hockey states that it is their preferred desire to have locker room monitors inside the locker room while Participants are in the locker room; at a minimum.
Rocky Mountain RoughRiders Policy Standard:
The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders will have Locker Room Monitors in the immediate vicinity outside the locker room. The monitor, at this placement, will be able to take prompt action to discourage and/or interrupt any negative or threatening behavior
Locker Room Monitoring and Supervision:
The responsible adult(s) who monitors and supervises the locker room shall have completed SafeSport Training and completed a background check in compliance with the USA Hockey standards.
The RoughRiders hockey division will be responsible and work with their teams and coaches to adequately ensure that locker room monitors are in place during all necessary times.
Adult Participants will also secure the locker room appropriately during times when Minor Athletes are on the ice. USA Hockey states that if a Minor Athlete leaves for the locker room during practice or a game and does not return promptly, an Adult Participant (preferably two) should check on the athlete’s whereabouts.
The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders Hockey Division reserves the right to restrict parents from entering the locker room.
Locker Room Policy Re: Cell Phones in the Locker Room:
Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, which includes voice recording, still cameras, and video cameras, increase the risk for some forms of abuse or misconduct. As a result, the use of any device’s recording capabilities in the locker rooms, changing areas, or similar spaces is prohibited.
Immediately upon entering the Locker Room, every player must place their cell phone in a designated phone cubby or storage bin area as the use of the cell phone is prohibited within the confines of the Locker Room.
Players can retrieve their cell phones as they leave the Locker Room.
Policy Communication:
The RoughRiders hockey division will publish locker room policies to the parents of all players that are specific to the Facilities they regularly use. The RoughRiders Locker Room Policy will include:
(a) specific instructions for supervising and monitoring locker rooms and changing areas.
(b) Guidelines on whether parents are permitted in the locker rooms with the express knowledge that RoughRiders reserves the right to prohibit parents from entering locker rooms.
(c) Safe Sport principals, prohibited conduct, including at least all forms of abuse and misconduct prohibited by USA Hockey.
(d) specific direction regarding the use of mobile electronic devices and phones and prohibiting the use of a device’s recording capabilities.
Team by Team Compliance:
Each team, the coach and/or team administrators shall be responsible for compliance with the locker room supervision requirements of this Policy.
A coach and/or team administrator that fails to take appropriate steps to ensure the Locker Room Policy is adhered to, and any USA Hockey Participant or parent of a Minor Athlete who otherwise violates this Policy is subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
Locker Room Access regarding Entrance and Exit times for Players Using the Locker Rooms:
Players will be allowed to enter the Locker Rooms 30 minutes before practice times and will exit the Locker Room within 30 minutes after the end of a practice or training session.
Players will be allowed to enter the Locker Rooms 75 minutes before game times and will exit the Locker Room within 30 minutes after the end of a game.
18U Team times are extended to 45 minutes prior to practice and 45 minutes after practice and/or training sessions.
Locker Room Access regarding non-USA Hockey programmed Events:
For non-programmed events like Stick and Puck or personal training times, players must gain access through Coach or Facility personnel.
The "Gatekeeper" (person unlocking the door) will record the time, date, player’s name, and their own name on an Entrance Ledger located just inside the locker room door.