In some cases, yes. However, facility guidelines and GHC policy must be followed.
FACILITY COVID-19 POLICIES FOR DRESSING ROOMS
If dressing rooms are available and parents are allowed within the dressing room, they must wear masks and practice physical distancing. As much as possible, parents/siblings should be kept out of participant spaces (e.g. dressing rooms, play surfaces) unless necessary for equipment support.
PARENTS IN THE DRESSING ROOM
GHC must meet, at minimum, the dressing room policies of our governing bodies. As these policies often regulate the boundaries of the "lesser represented gender" (on a co-ed hockey team, this is typically a female), GHC has enacted specific policies that address our all-female teams. The privacy and dignity of our players is the first priority. We also hope to provide a positive and exciting dressing room atmosphere for our female minor hockey players.
For younger age divisions (U7 and U9) parents are generally allowed in the dressing rooms to assist players in dressing and tightening skates. Coaches may ask parents to leave for "Coach Talk, however the Female Dressing Room Supervisor must remain in the dressing room at all times. Coaches may ask families to minimize the number of people (parents, siblings) in the dressing room for space reasons. This must be clearly articulated to the team.
At older levels (U11 upwards), no males are permitted in the dressing room outside of “Coach Talk” times. Players are expected to dress by themselves and tighten their own skates. Players who need assistance in tightening their skates may leave the dressing room for help. Generally, parents in the older age divisions should not be in the dressing room as this is a private, comfortable space for our players to prepare and bond.
MALES / COACHES IN THE DRESSING ROOM
For U11, U13, U15 and U15 age divisions, no males are permitted in the dressing room outside of “Coach Talk” times. “Coach Talk” routines at practices and games should be clearly articulated to the teams and no more than 15 minutes prior to ice time. Players arriving late for a game must not undress during Pre-Game “Coach Talk” and must wait until the coaches leave the room. Players must not remove equipment (with the exception of Helmet and Gloves) during the Post-Game “Coach Talk." Players arriving late must not undress during Pre-Game “Coach Talk” and must wait until the coaches leave the room.
FEMALE SUPERVISOR IN THE DRESSING ROOM
There must be a female supervisor at all times, including during "Coach Talk." The purpose of this role is to:
- Support the players in maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive dressing room atmosphere.
- Support the players in remaining on time for any pre-game expectations (dry-land warm-up, dressed for coach talk, etc).
- Support the players in any equipment needs or other issues.
- Monitor and enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics Policy (GHC Policy Manual).
- Monitor and enforce the Dressing Room Policy (GHC Policy Manual), which includes the use of cell phones (see below).
- Report any issues to the Cohort Manager.
CELL PHONES IN THE DRESSING ROOM
The use of cameras, video equipment, audio equipment, camera phones and other cellular phones is strictly prohibited in the team dressing rooms at any time. (This is often a rule for recreation facilities, who also prohibit the use of any electronic device, such as a cell phone, with the ability to take photos or record audio or video, in or around any dressing room, washroom or shower.)
Teams may have music in the dressing room. Use of a cell phone is permitted for this purpose ONLY, and its use must be clearly articulated to the team and monitored by the Female Dressing Room Supervisor. In the case of special events (e.g., championships, etc), where no other location can be found for a photo, cell phones may be permitted in the dressing room for this purpose ONLY and all players must be appropriately dressed.
