Locker Room Policy

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 SLPHA goals. SLPHA 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, SLPHA 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 assignments are posted on the electronic boards as players enter the ice arena. All players and coaches are expected to find their locker room assignment on the board and enter only that locker room while at the rink. It is not acceptable to access other locker rooms as this may lead to issues where other players are changing.

In accordance with USA Hockey’s Guidelines, whenever there are players present in the locker room there must be at least one screened and SafeSport-trained adult present to monitor the locker room.

While constant monitoring inside of locker rooms and changing areas might be the most effective way to prevent problems, we understand that this would likely make some players uncomfortable and may even place our staff at risk for unwarranted suspicion. Coaches have the discretion to provide this monitoring for their teams in-place of parent monitors.

Parents are only allowed in locker rooms to provide assistance to players in the youngest age groups (Termites, Mini-mites, and Upper Mites). We encourage parents to teach their players as young as possible how to get dressed so that players will learn how to get dressed independently.

At travel levels, parents are not allowed to enter the locker room unless SafeSport certified and they have approval from team officials to do so (e.g., acting as a locker-room monitor). If a player requires help with tying skates, the player can meet their parent outside the locker room for support.