Locker Room Policy

In addition to the development of our hockey players and enjoyment of hockey, the safety and protection of our participants is central to the Proctor Amateur Hockey Association’s (PAHA) goals. PAHA 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, PAHA has adopted a locker room policy. The policy is designed to maintain personal privacy as well as to reduce the risk of misconduct in locker rooms.

At the St. Luke's Sports and Event Center (Proctor Arena) there are four (4) locker rooms available for our program’s use in which one (1) that has a restroom and a shower area (locker room 135). Most teams in our program may also occasionally or regularly travel to play games at other arenas, and those locker rooms, rest rooms and shower facilities will vary from location to location. If asked, PAHA’s team organizers will attempt to provide information on the locker room facilities in advance of games away from our home arena. At arenas for which you are unfamiliar, parents should plan to have extra time and some flexibility in making arrangements for their child to dress, undress and shower if desired.

LOCKER ROOM MONITORING

PAHA has predictable and limited use of locker rooms and changing areas generally 30-45 minutes before and following practices and games. This allows for direct and regular monitoring of locker room areas. While constant monitoring inside 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 locker room monitors at risk for unwarranted suspicion.

Each team will have either a coach or volunteer to serve as a locker room monitor, both who will have a background screening completed before serving as a locker room monitor. Players will not be allowed into a locker room at any facility until a coach or volunteer locker room monitor is present. The locker room monitor will be posted at a minimum, directly outside of the locker room during periods of use, and leave the doors open only when adequate privacy is still possible. Only participants (coaches & players) or approved team personnel are permitted in the locker room.

PARENTS IN LOCKER ROOMS

Except for players at the younger levels, 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 the 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 the 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 coaches may address the players. As players get older, the coach may, in his or her descretion, prohibit parents from a locker room.

MIXED GENDER TEAMS

Some of our teams consist of both male and female players. It is important that the privacy rights of all of our players are given consideration and appropriate arrangements made. Where possible or when requested, PAHA will have the male and female players dress/undress in separate locker rooms and then convene in a single locker room before the game or team meeting. Once the game or practice is finished, the players may come to one locker room for a team meeting and then the male and female players may proceed to their separate locker rooms to undress and shower if available. If separate locker rooms are not available, then the players will take turns using the locker room to change. In the descretion of each individual player, a separate room or bathroom stall may be sufficient for the player to put on their undergarments and then join the team in one locker room to proceed with putting on the rest of his or her equipment. We understand that these arrangements may require that the players arrive earlier or leave later to dress, but believe that this is the most reasonable way to accommodate and respect all of our players.

CELL PHONES AND OTHER MOBILE RECORDING DEVICES

Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still camaeras 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.

PROHIBITED CONDUCT AND REPORTING

PAHA 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 PAHA may be subject to disciplinary action for violation of these locker room policies or for engaging in any misconduct or abuse or that violates USA Hockey SafeSport Policies. Reports of any actual or suspected violations, can be emailed to USA Hockey at safesport@usahockey.org or by calling 1-800-888-4656.