Locker Room Policy

Constant monitoring inside locker rooms and changing areas is required. Only coaches, players, and approved personnel are permitted in the locker room. NBAHA acknowledges the Locker Room Monitoring Policy as established by USA Hockey:

Monitors must be the same gender as the players, SafeSport trained and undergo background screening by Minnesota Hockey to serve in this capacity. 

1. 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.
2. 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 and 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. If there is only one player in the locker room, the monitor must prop the door open.
3. Absolutely no phones are allowed in the locker rooms, this includes players, parents and coaches.
4. Any coach(es) meeting(s) with an individual, minor player shall be conducted on the ice, on the bench, in the locker room with the other team members and/or locker room monitor(s) present, or in an observable and interruptible setting. 
5. 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.
6. Alleged violations of these rules shall cause a mandatory hearing to be held in accordance with MH Bylaw Article 6. If warranted, a suspension penalty may be levied upon the head coach or person in charge of the team if the head coach is not present. The penalty for violations of this rule shall be $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $2,500 for the third offense. These fines are the responsibility of the offending team and shall be paid to the applicable district.

Co-ed locker rooms

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. 

The options below comply with USA Hockey’s Co-ed Locker Room Policy and the CLHA coach will have discretion for choosing which option their team will implement.  

1. Minimum attire policy: All players should be 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. All members of the team must have this minimum attire before entering a 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 dress/undress.  
2. Separate locker rooms: Have boys and girls change/dress in separate, supervised locker rooms. Then approximately ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes before each game/practice everyone is to be ready in gear in one designated locker room so the coach can address the entire team. If a player (whether boy or girl) is not fully dressed by the time the coach arrives, then that player must go to a separate locker room or bathroom to finish dressing. The onus is on the players to be properly dressed when the coaches actually begin preparing the team for the practice or game.   
3. Alternate locker room use: Players of one gender dress in the locker room while players of the opposite gender wait outside. When one group is ready, the players switch places and the players in gear wait for players of the opposite gender to get dressed. No coaching is to be done until all the players are together in full gear. Taking turns is a means of reasonable accommodation; neither gender group should be favored, nor should one group be the group that always has to wait to change.   

Please note that with Co-ed programs, it is important that the person(s) monitoring the locker room is of the same gender as the players being monitored. USA Hockey would consider it acceptable to have one (1) locker room monitor immediately outside the locker room and regularly check in on the locker room. If there are two (2) monitors, then they can monitor from inside the locker room. Having only one person inside a locker room can expose that person to allegations, so a second person can help protect one another from allegations.