Scope:

The Dressing Room Policy applies to all minor hockey teams sanctioned by Hockey Canada and its Members.

Definitions

• “Dressing rooms” – officially designated spaces for changing in and out of gear. Mostly, these men’s and women’s, multi-stall spaces and occasionally can be all-gender, multi-stall spaces.
• “Dressing environments” – spaces beyond dressing rooms (in close proximity to them) that can be temporarily repurposed to provide a space for a small number of participants to change in and out of their gear (e.g., official’s room, multi-purpose room, meeting rooms, single-unit washrooms).
• “Policy” – means this Dressing Room

Procedure

The Minimum Attire Rule

To best promote inclusion and to respect the privacy of all participants on a team, Hockey Canada requires all participants to wear ‘minimum attire’ at all times in a dressing room or in dressing environments where more than one participant is present. This means that participants should arrive at the rink wearing a base layer (e.g., shorts and t-shirt, compression shorts and shirt or sports bra). A participant not arriving at the rink wearing their base layer can use an appropriate private space (e.g., private restroom stalls or empty/unused dressing rooms) to change into the base layer and then enter the team dressing room with the other participants.

It is the responsibility of all coaches and team staff to instruct players regarding the minimum attire rule and ensure that players are complying with this Policy.

Hockey Canada recognizes the physical limitations of some facilities and encourages associations to work creatively and proactively, using an athlete-focused, ethical, and values-based approach, with local facility management to ensure that appropriate and equivalent dressing environments are available to all participants who would prefer not to get dressed in the team dressing room.

Team Talks

Hockey Canada stresses the importance that all participants are treated as valued members of a team. Therefore, coaches and team staff should only engage in pre- and post-game talks when all athletes are present in the dressing room.

Use of Showers – Recommended Best Practice

As outlined in the purpose section, there are many reasons why athletes may require privacy (religious reasons, chronic conditions, body image, gender). The following guidance around the use of showers, is an additional step in creating environments within which athletes feel safe and secure. It is recommended that when showers are not private stalls, that these be used in a manner that respects the privacy of all participants. When in open concept showers, it is encouraged that all athletes wear certain “minimum attire” at all times, including swimwear. In order to facilitate this, participants could use a private restroom stall to change out of their base layer and into their swimwear prior to using the shower. Similarly, they could dress in a private restroom stall after they have completed their shower. Coaches and/or team staff should ensure they are able to supervise the dressing room while participants are showering, following ‘Rule of Two’ guidelines below.

Officials Dressing Rooms

Given that dressing room spaces for officials and officiating teams are often shared by officials of a wide variety of ages and genders and may be used by different sports at the same time, safety and privacy are of the utmost importance. To create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who uses an officials dressing room space, the minimum attire rule and shower recommendations described should be applied.

Applicable Laws

Hockey Canada Members that have mediated human rights settlements within their Province/Territory with respect to specific dressing room parameters are exempted from this Policy within their jurisdictions, but solely to the extent required so that they may continue to adhere to such settlements.