KHO LOCKER ROOM POLICY

Overview

SafeSport provides guidelines for eliminating unacceptable behaviors and actions in athletics, even if those actions are not intentional. Under those SafeSport policies, it is not appropriate for persons of the opposite gender to get dressed/undressed in the same room at a hockey rink, nor is it acceptable for adults to be getting dressed/undressed in the same room as a minor. This document provides further guidance on avoiding unwanted and unwarranted situations regarding locker rooms.

Rink Accommodations

Only a few rinks have rooms dedicated for male/female officials or rooms delineated by adult/minor officials, but most do not. Alternate accommodation is not always easily feasible due to space limitations or other issues at the facility, but all parties – particularly the officials – must make an attempt to avoid an unnecessary situation. No person who is not a female official -- including female players -- should be utilizing a room that is specifically designated for female officials, and no adult should be utilizing a room that is specifically designated for minor-aged officials. Please ask the rink/person/team to immediately find an alternate accommodation if this happens. Coaches using an officials’ room as their changing room is not acceptable in the sense of etiquette but does not fall under the guidance of SafeSport. However, if a female official or minor-aged official needs to use the room, those coaches must find another room to use.

Planning

If you are assigned to a game with an official of the opposite gender or an official who is of the opposite adult/minor as you, it is advisable to establish appropriate accommodations in advance of the game. Communicate appropriately with each other to establish a timeline or some basic guidelines on how to properly handle the situation. There are likely a variety of ways to comply with SafeSport guidelines, and what works best may depend on the available options at each rink. Communicating with your partner can work through those options in advance so that confusion and disruption can be minimized upon arrival. You may also need to communicate with the rink upon arrival to ensure that the right rooms are available and the rink staff knows not to create a new conflict with how those rooms are used/assigned.

Room Rotation

If there is only one official’s room available for use prior to a game, the officials should take turns using the room to put on at least a base layer. Unless a timeline is communicated between the officials in advance, both officials should arrive and remain fully dressed until the rotation is started. This will avoid any confusion and unforeseen issues. The same practice can be applied after the game, including the use of the showers available to the officials.

Room Entry

It is recommended that all officials knock and announce themselves before entering a dressing room where there may be a minor or member of the opposite gender getting dressed. If a person inside the room responds that entry is not acceptable at the moment, please do not enter the room until the person in the room states that your entry is acceptable. If there is no response, try again before attempting to enter, and upon attempting to enter, do so slowly to ensure that the room is empty. This provision applies even if you are “passing through” the dressing room to get to your own room. Find another route to your dressing room or wait until the person has vacated the room before entering.

Room Usage

Even when dressed appropriately, adult officials should minimize their time in a closed room with just one minor present in the room. While officials’ rooms often have a fair amount of people occupying or moving through them, that is not always the case and not always predictable. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the door to the officials’ room be propped open when both officials are dressed appropriately in order to avoid a potentially unwelcoming situation or a situation in which an adult official can be accused of a SafeSport violation. Alternately, adult officials can arrange for another adult official to remain in the room until the minor exits the room.

Summary

As a general rule, use common sense to avoid putting yourself or another person in a compromising position that could result in allegations of misconduct (regardless of the truth or falsity of such allegations).

When one official is a minor or the officials are of mixed genders, the following guidelines should be used:

Communicate with the rink and with each other to establish a plan for the situation, either prior to arrival or immediately upon arrival
Rotate usage of the room before and after the game if only one is available to get dressed/undressed, as well as use the shower following the game
Always knock at least twice before entering a room in which a minor or official of the opposite gender might be present in the room

Additionally, these situations should be avoided as practically as possible:

Female players from teams should not be using rooms dedicated for officials
Coaches should not be using an officials’ room when a female official or minor-aged official is present
Adult officials should make provisions for transparency when in an officials’ room with a minor, including propping the door open or asking another adult official to remain present

If you have any concerns regarding male/female or adult/minor dressing room interactions or policies, please contact the Mid-Am SafeSport Coordinator.