Hyde Park Youth Hockey (HPYH) is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants. Our Locker Room Policy is designed to promote player safety, protect privacy, and ensure appropriate supervision at all times.

It is the policy of Hyde Park Youth Hockey (HPYH) that all HPYH programs maintain appropriate locker room supervision to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.

1. Locker Room Supervision Requirements

Each team must have at least one responsible, screened adult (e.g., coach, manager, or approved volunteer) present to monitor the locker room during all team events. This supervision ensures that only players, coaches, approved team personnel, and family members are permitted in the locker room, and that appropriate conduct is maintained.

Acceptable forms of locker room monitoring include:

• A screened adult inside the locker room while participants are present.
• A screened adult immediately outside the door (within arm’s reach and able to hear inside), who also enters frequently to monitor activity.

When monitors are inside the locker room, it is strongly recommended that two screened adults be present.

Programs or teams may implement stricter supervision standards as they see fit.

2. One-on-One Interactions

Any individual meeting between a minor participant and a coach or other adult inside the locker room must include the presence of a second responsible adult.

All locker room monitors must have completed the USA Hockey Screening and Background Check Program. HPYH will support teams and coaches in ensuring locker room monitors are in place when required.

3. Securing the Locker Room

Responsible adults must also ensure the locker room is secured when players are on the ice or otherwise not present.

4. Parent Access

Teams may choose to prohibit parents from entering locker rooms. If this policy is in place, the team must ensure properly screened adults are monitoring the locker room.

For younger players, it is generally appropriate for parents to assist with equipment before and after games or practices. In these cases, parents should be allowed in the locker room during those times.

5. Mobile Device Policy

The use of cell phones or mobile devices with recording capabilities (audio, photo, or video) is strictly prohibited in locker rooms at all HPYH events.

Exceptions may be made in special circumstances (e.g., team victory celebrations) where:

• All individuals in the locker room are appropriately dressed.
• All individuals are informed in advance that photos or recordings are being taken.

6. Enforcement

The coach and/or team administrators are responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy. Failure to follow or enforce these requirements may result in disciplinary action for coaches, administrators, participants, or parents.

Hyde Park Youth Hockey (HPYH) recognizes that, as a team sport, hockey often includes both male and female players on youth teams. In such cases, special care must be taken to protect the privacy and safety of all participants and to prevent any situation that could lead to abuse or misconduct.

It is strictly prohibited under the HPYH Sexual Abuse Policy for individuals to observe players of the opposite gender while they are dressing or undressing. The privacy rights of all players—regardless of gender—must be respected, and appropriate arrangements must be made to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.

There are several acceptable ways to meet these expectations, depending on the locker room facilities available:

• Separate Locker Rooms Preferred:
• Whenever possible, male and female players should use separate locker rooms to change before and after practices or games. Players can then convene in a shared team room for team meetings or pre-game discussions.
• Post-Game Arrangements:
• After the game, players may again gather in a shared locker room for a debrief, and then proceed to their designated separate spaces to change or shower, if such facilities are available.
• Alternating Use When No Separate Rooms Exist:
• If only a single locker room is available, teams should implement a system where players of one gender use the locker room at a time, allowing for privacy while changing. Once changed, those players should exit the locker room before the other gender enters.
• Monitoring Requirements:
• All locker rooms used—whether separate or shared—must be appropriately monitored by screened adults in compliance with USA Hockey's Screening and Background Check Policy.
• Co-ed Locker Room Supervision:
• When male and female players are together in the same locker room, there should be at least two screened adults present, and they must be attentive to the conduct and privacy of all participants.

Hyde Park Youth Hockey is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment, and will work with teams, coaches, and facilities to ensure that proper accommodations are made for all athletes.