Marshfield Youth Hockey Association (MYHA)

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 MYHA’s goals. MYHA 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, MYHA 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.

At the Marshfield Ice Arena there are seven locker rooms available for our program’s use. Locker Rooms C and D have their own bathroom/shower. Locker Rooms A and B are in close proximity to a single stall bathroom (off the Locker Room A hallway). Locker Rooms E and F do not have bathrooms; however the concession bathroom is available for use. There is also a small changing room between the ticket booth and skate sharpening room, usually reserved for members of co-ed teams to change privately if necessary. Some 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. 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

MYHA has predictable and limited use of locker rooms and changing areas (generally 30-45 minutes before and following practices/games). This allows for direct and regular monitoring of locker room areas. MYHA coaches or their designated volunteers (all of who must be screened) will be responsible for monitoring the locker rooms and changing areas during periods of use, and leave the doors open only when adequate privacy is still possible, so that only coaches, players, approved team personnel, and family members are permitted in the locker room. A sweep of the locker room should be completed before players arrive, and coaches may secure the locker room appropriately when the team is on the ice. Locker room monitors should be of the same gender as the players being monitored. One female and one male should work together to monitor a shared co-ed locker room.

Coaches will normally be allowed discretion when deciding to have the locker room monitored constantly from inside or intermittently from outside, however MYHA Board of Directors reserves the right to dictate one option or another. While constant monitoring inside of locker rooms and changing areas might be the most effective way to prevent problems, we understand this may make some players uncomfortable and may place our staff at risk for unwarranted suspicion. Therefore, players not comfortable with constant monitoring inside the team locker room will be provided access to aseparate locker room, changing room, or bathroom with instruction to return to the team locker room after changing. Also, constant monitoring inside the locker room shall require the use of two monitors to avoid unwarranted suspicion. MYHA restricts private one-on-one coach/player meetings in areas such as locker rooms and changing rooms.

Parents in Locker Rooms

Except for players at the younger age groups (6U, 8U, 10U, and Squirt), 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, 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 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, a coach may in his or her discretion, prohibit parents from a locker room.

Co-ed Teams / Locker Rooms

Some of our teams consist of both male and female players. It is important that the privacy rights of all players are given consideration and appropriate arrangements made. The co-ed locker room policy attempts to balance the social integration and camaraderie of a team sport while providing a safe and respectful environment for all of our participants. Coaches of younger co-ed teams (6U, 8U, & Squirt) will be allowed discretion touse procedure #1, #2, or #3. Coaches of older co-ed teams (Peewee & Bantam) will be allowed discretion to use procedure #2 or #3.

#1: Sharing a locker room. All players are required to arrive at the rink wearing their hockey base layers or shorts and t-shirts (in good condition - no holes or tears in clothing) under their street clothes. Players must have the minimum attire before entering the co-ed locker room so that no player of one gender has the opportunity to see players of the opposite gender in a state of undress. If a player does not arrive with proper attire, or if a player is not comfortable undressing to the minimal attire standard, the player will be provided access to a separate locker room, changing area, or bathroom with instruction to return to the co-ed locker room after changing.

#2: Separate locker rooms. Boys and girls change/dress in separate, monitored locker rooms. All players are to be properly dressed by a designated time to meet in one designated locker room. If a player is not fully dressed by the designated time, the player must use a separate locker room, changing room, or bathroom with instruction to return to the designated locker room after changing. Neither gender group should be favored when assigning separate locker rooms (always having bathroom access or always changing in the locker room designated as the meet location).

#3: Alternate use of a single locker room. Players of one gender dress in the locker room while players of the opposite gender wait outside. When the first group is fully changed, the players switch places. When the second group is fully changed, all players can be allowed in the locker room together. Neither gender group should be favored (always allowed to change first).

Cell Phones and Other Mobile Recording Devices

Devices with recording capability (cameras, cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) are not allowed in the locker room except under the following conditions.

#1: Recording of post-game speeches and awards presentations will be permitted if the coach or designated locker room monitor is present, no player is in a state of undress, and everyone in the locker room is aware that the recorder is activated.

#2: The coach or locker room monitor may, at his/her discretion, allow music playing functions to be used on devices such as cell phones and tablets if requested in advance of use. The device itself will be covered so that all camera lenses are incapable of recording activity within the locker room.

Prohibited Conduct and Reporting

MYHA 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 MYHA 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. To report any actual or suspected violations, you may email USA Hockey at or may call 1-800-888-4656.

Adopted: Dec. 15th, 2014