Locker Room Policy

Photographic Devices Policy.

District 12 strictly prohibits the possession and/or use of cell phones and/or any type of photographic device(s) in locker rooms. Effective at the start of the 2025-2026 Hockey Season, use of phones, cameras or any device that can take pictures or videos in a locker room is prohibited, at any time or for any reason. Any player(s), locker room monitor(s), coach(s), parent(s), or person(s) caught using phones or photographic devices inside a locker room or has taken pictures or video from within a locker room and posted on social media, the following will be accessed: NOTE: Associations may impose stiffer penalties and fines.

Athletes/Players:

1. 1st Violation: After confirmation, the player shall be suspended from all team activities including “practices, games, (including tournament games), scrimmages, team events” for the next two (2) consecutive games or two (2) weeks of a season, whichever is greater. Player may not be in the locker room or on/near the team bench for games or practices during the suspension time. Player and Parents will meet with the Association President, Association Level Director to discuss future repercussions if it happens again. A $500 fine will also be assessed to the team/association.
2. 2nd Violation: After confirmation, the player shall be suspended from all team activities including “practices, games , (including tournament games), scrimmages, team events” for the next four (4) consecutive games or three (3) weeks of a season, whichever is greater. Player may not be in the locker room or on/near the team bench for games or practices during the suspension time period. Player and Parents will meet with the Association President, Association Level Director, District 12 Director and District Level Coordinator to discuss future repercussions. A $1,000.00 fine will also be assessed to the team/association.

3rd Violation: After confirmation, the player shall be suspended from all team activities for a period of sixty (60) days. A $1,500.00 fine will also be assessed to the team/association.

Coaches/Parents/Locker Room Monitors “Adult(s)”.

1. 1st Violation: After confirmation, the “Adult(s)” shall be suspended for the next two (2) consecutive games or two (2) weeks of the season, whichever is greater and assessed a $500 fine. They will be required to meet with the Association President and Association Level Coordinator to discuss future repercussions if it happens again.
2. 2nd Violation: After confirmation, the “Adult(s)” shall be suspended for the next four (4) consecutive games or three (3) weeks of a season, whichever is greater and assessed a $1,000.00 fine. They will be required to meet with the Association President, Association Level Coordinator, District Director and District Level Coordinator to discuss future repercussions.
3. 3rd Violation: After confirmation, the “Adult(s)” shall be suspended for a period of sixty (60) days and will be ban from attending any sanctioned games, practices, D12 Activities, team functions and assessed a $1,500.00 fine.

After the third (3rd) occurrence by either player or adult(s), the player or adult will be banned from all D12 Activities until a hearing committee shall be convened by D12, to determine any further disciplinary action is required. Any association with outstanding fines, may be considered not in good standing with the district, which will result in the association not being allowed to participate in district tournaments or district events.” These violations by a player or adult(s) can and will be carried over to the next season.

Locker Room Policy:

Locker Room Policy District 12 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, District 12 has adopted a locker room policy, designed to maintain personal privacy as well as to reduce the risk of misconduct in locker rooms.

Locker Room Monitoring:

Locker Room Monitors should conduct a sweep of the locker rooms and changing areas. If the coaches are not inside the locker rooms, then a coach or a volunteer locker room monitors (each of which has been screened) will be posted directly INSIDE of the locker rooms and changing areas during periods of use, and leave the doors open only when adequate privacy is still possible. Only participants (coaches and players), approved team personnel and family members are permitted in the locker room (when appropriate). Team personnel will also secure the locker room appropriately during times when the team is on the ice.

Adult supervisors for the locker room monitoring must follow the screening process in the MN Hockey Handbook, Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse and Criminal Background Screening Policy. Volunteers MUST be registered as a volunteer with USA Hockey and complete SafeSport training. No team/player(s) shall be allowed to enter a locker room prior to a scheduled event until a proper locker room monitor is present and such monitor shall remain present until the last player leaves the locker room. When coaches are present in the locker room, they may serve as locker room monitors.

1st Violation will result in a warning and discussion with the D12 Director and a $500.00 fine to the Association.

2nd Violation will result in a $1,000.00 fine to the Association and a hearing with D12.

3rd Violation will result in a $1.500.00 fine to the Association and a hearing with D12.

Official Locker Room – No one is allowed into the Officials Locker room, without being invited in BY THE OFFICALS. Violations of this rule will be reported to the D12 Supervisor of Officials, who will notify the D12 Director.

SafeSport Locker Room Policy – USA Hockey

All USA member programs must have at least one responsible screened adult (Locker Room Monitor) present to monitor the locker room or changing area. Individual meetings between a minor and a coach in a locker room or changing area requires the presence of a second screened adult.

• -Permission or lack of permission for parents to be in the locker rooms.
• -Prohibited conduct, including at least all forms of abuse and misconduct prohibited by USA Hockey
• -Specific policies for the use of mobile electronic devices and phones and prohibiting the use of a device’s recording capabilities.

Failure by a coach or administrator to take appropriate steps to ensure adherence to the Locker Room Policy, or violation thereof by any participant or parent of a participant is subject to appropriate disciplinary action. It should also be noted that a local program may at its discretion adopt stricter policies than those defined by USA Hockey or Minnesota Hockey, but in no case may said policy be less strict.

Mixed Gender Teams

Some teams consist of both male and female players. It is important that the privacy rights of all players are given consideration and appropriate arrangements are made. Where possible, District 12 will have the male and female players dress/undress in separate locker rooms and then convene in a single locker room before the game or team meeting. Once the game or practice is finished, the players may come to one locker room for a team meeting and then the male and female players proceed to their separate locker rooms to undress and shower, if available. If separate locker rooms are not available, then the players will take turns using the locker room to change. We understand that these arrangements may require that players arrive earlier or leave later to dress but believe that this is the most reasonable way to accommodate and respect all our players.