Policies - Locker Room Monitoring
USA Hockey recognizes that youth players may be vulnerable in locker rooms, changing areas, and restrooms. Athlete-to-athlete problems, such as abuse, bullying, harassment, or hazing can occur when a coach or other responsible adult is not in a position to observe. Additionally, inappropriate activities between adults and youth players, especially with non-official or non-related adults gaining unsupervised access to youth players at team events, can occur.
The AYHA adheres to USA Hockey’s SafeSport Program to help protect participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment, and hazing. Inadequate locker room supervision presents an opportunity for such misconduct, as well as for reckless behavior that can result in injury. The AYHA Locker Room Monitor Policy is based on USA Hockey requirements and model policy. Its goals are to reduce the risk of abuse or misconduct or injury in locker rooms, to maintain reasonable personal privacy, and to provide for equal treatment for girls and boys.
Reports of misconduct or violations of this policy may be made to any member of the AYHA Executive Board of Directors. To report any actual or suspected SafeSport violations, you may call USA Hockey at 1-800-888-4656 or email SafeSport@usahockey.org.
Locker Room Monitor Requirements
A Locker Room Monitor is a screened and trained adult other than the team’s head coach who monitors locker rooms for a specified team or teams according to this policy. A Locker Room Monitor is required any time players are in a locker room for games or practices. A Locker Room Monitor shall:
- Be a current individual member of USA Hockey and provide their member registration number to the AYHA Registrar
- Have current certification by USA Hockey of completion of SafeSport training.
- Even if not assigned as a Locker Room Monitor, all parents are encouraged to complete USA Hockey’s free online SafeSport training. They can register as volunteers with USA Hockey at no charge to access the training and provide their USA Hockey member number to the AYHA Registrar for verification.
All locker room monitors must be listed on the team's official roster.
- The Head Coach listed on the team's roster is the default locker room monitor unless otherwise documented.
- If an assistant coach or volunteer is the locker room monitor, the locker room monitor's name must be circled on the score sheet.
- The Team Manager is responsible for maintaining the list and schedule of locker room monitors. The Team Manager must submit the locker room monitors to the AYHA Registrar to be listed on the team's official roster.
- The Board of Directors shall appoint six locker room monitors per team at the October Board meeting in the event that any team representative does not have a list for their team by that meeting. The locker room monitors shall be drawn at random based on the players on the roster for that team.
- Co-ed teams must have a gender appropriate locker room monitor for each locker room.
- If a single player is present, the locker room should be monitored by at least two adults until other players arrive.
- A locker room monitor must be documented on all score sheets.
Updated July 24, 2024