Locker Room Policy
CT Polar Bears Locker Room Policy
There should be predictable and limited use of locker rooms and changing areas (e.g., immediately before and following practices and competitions). This allows for direct and regular monitoring of locker room areas. While constant monitoring inside locker rooms and changing areas might be the most effective way to prevent problems, we understand that this would likely make athletes uncomfortable and may even place staff and volunteers at risk for unwarranted suspicion.
Connecticut Polar Bears is concerned with locker room activities between minors, minors, and adults, adults being alone with individual youth in locker rooms and changing areas, non-official or non-related adults having unsupervised access to minor participants, and inappropriate behavior among adults in locker rooms.
1. There may be staggered games and practices with different groups arriving and departing throughout the day. Therefore, it is not practical to constantly monitor locker rooms and changing areas over this extended course of time.
2. 24/7 monitoring inside or at the doors of the locker rooms and changing areas may not be feasible. It is recommended to make occasional sweeps of these areas. Staff, coaches, and volunteers conduct these sweeps, with women checking on female-designated areas and men checking on male-designated areas.
Parents in Locker Rooms
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, for example, a player is or may be injured, or a player’s disability warrants assistance from a parent, we ask that a parent inform the coach beforehand that he or she will be helping the player. In circumstances in which parents are permitted in the locker room, coaches can ask parents to leave for a reasonable period of time before a game, and for reasonable period of time after a game, so that a coach or coaches may address the players. A coach, in his or her discretion, may prohibit parents from entering the locker room.
Cell Phones and Other Mobile Recording Devices
Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras, are not permitted to be used for capturing visual images or audio in the locker rooms and players must power off any such devices upon entering the locker room. If phones or other mobile devices must be used, they should be taken outside of the locker room. The coaching staff and locker room monitors may find it necessary to collect and temporarily hold phones of players who do not comply with this policy. Any player who violates this policy may be subject to discipline.
Prohibited Conduct and Reporting
CT Polar Bears prohibits all types of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment and hazing, all as described in the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook. CT Polar Bears participants, employees or volunteers 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. Reports of any actual or suspected violations, you may email USA Hockey at SafeSport@usahockey.org or may call 1-800-888-4656.