Locker Room Policies & Monitoring
*This policy applies to all USA Hockey sanctioned events (practices and games).
In addition to the development of our hockey players and enjoyment of the sport of hockey, the safety and protection of our participants is central to Warroad Youth Hockey's goals. WYH adheres to USA Hockey’s SafeSport Program as a means to help protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of misconduct, including emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment and hazing. To help prevent abuse or misconduct from occurring in our locker rooms, WYH has adopted the following locker room policy. This policy is designed to maintain personal privacy as well as to reduce the risk of misconduct in locker rooms.
Locker Room Monitoring
Minnesota Hockey acknowledges the Locker Room Monitoring Policy as established by USA Hockey. Monitors must be the same gender as the players and must undergo background screening by Minnesota Hockey to serve in this capacity. When coaches are not the same gender as the players, coaches may not be in the locker room while players are changing unless the players have a base layer on or come to the rink in a base layer.
- No team or player shall be allowed to enter a locker room prior to a scheduled event until a locker room monitor is present in the locker room. Such monitor shall remain in the locker room until the last player leaves the locker room unless coaches are present. When coaches are present in the locker room, they may serve as locker room monitors.
- Any coach (es) meeting (s) with an individual minor player shall be conducted on the ice, on the bench or in the locker room with other team members and/or locker room monitor (s) present, or in an observable and interruptible setting.
- When a player is ejected from a game there must be at least two adults consisting either of locker room monitors or coaches in the locker room with the suspended player. If there is a break and players go to the locker room without coaches, a locker room monitor must be inside the locker room.
Parent Expectations
Except for players at the younger age groups (Tiny Mites/6U, Mites/8U), we discourage parents from entering locker rooms unless it is truly necessary. If a player needs assistance with his or her uniform or gear, if the player is or may be injured, or a player’s disability warrants assistance, then we ask that parents let the coach know beforehand that he or she will be helping the player.
Naturally, with our youngest age groups it is necessary for parents to assist the players getting dressed. We encourage parents to teach their players as young as possible how to get dressed so that players will learn as early as possible how to get dressed independently. In circumstances where parents are permitted in the locker room, coaches are permitted to ask that the parents leave for a short time before the game and for a short time after the game so that the coaches may address the players. As players get older, the coach may in his or her discretion prohibit parents from a locker room.
Parents: please be aware that your player may not be in the locker room unattended. Coaches/managers serving as monitors must be present. This may be anywhere from 30-45 minutes before a practice or game (Coach's discretion). Unattended players in a locker room may result in disciplinary action.
Cell Phones and Other Mobile Recording Devices
Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras, are not permitted to be used in the locker rooms. If phones or other mobile devices must be used, they should be taken outside of the locker room. All reported violations are subject to disciplinary actions by the WYH Board.
Prohibited Conduct and Reporting
WYH prohibits all types of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment and hazing, all as described in the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook. Participants, employees or volunteers in WYH may be subject to disciplinary action for violation of these locker room policies or for engaging in any misconduct or abuse or that violates the USA Hockey SafeSport Policies. Reports of any actual or suspected violations, you may email USA Hockey at SafeSport@usahockey.org or may call 1-800-888-4656.