Locker Room Policy

Des Moines Capitals - Locker Room Policy

In addition to the development of our hockey players and enjoyment of the sport of hockey, the safety and protection of our participants is central to the Capitals’ goals. The Capitals adhere 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, the Capitals have adopted the following locker room policy. This policy is designed to maintain personal privacy as well as to reduce the risk of misconduct in locker rooms.

At Buccaneer Arena, we are assigned locker rooms for our use. Each of the locker rooms has its own restroom and shower area. The Capitals will also regularly travel to play games at other arenas, and those locker rooms, rest rooms and shower facilities will vary from location to location.

Locker Room Monitoring

The Capitals have predictable and limited use of locker rooms and changing areas (e.g., generally 30-60 minutes before and following practices and games). This allows for direct and regular monitoring of locker room areas. While constant monitoring inside of locker rooms and changing areas might be the most effective way to prevent problems, we understand that this would likely make some players uncomfortable and may even place our staff at risk for unwarranted suspicion. We conduct a sweep of the locker rooms and changing areas before players arrive, and if the coaches are not inside the locker rooms, either a coach or voluntary locker room monitors (each of which has been screened) will be posted directly outside of the locker rooms and changing areas during periods of use, and leave the doors open only when adequate privacy is still possible, so that only participants (coaches and players), approved team personnel and approved family members are permitted in the locker room. Team personnel will also secure the locker room appropriately during times when the team is on the ice.

Parents in Locker Rooms

We prohibit parents from entering locker rooms without prior permission from a member of the Capitals coaching staff, team medical staff, team manager or team president.

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 in the locker rooms. If phones or other mobile devices must be used, they should be taken outside of the locker room. At the coaching staff’s discretion, it may be permissible to have the team manager collect phones prior to entering locker rooms.

Prohibited Conduct and Reporting

The Capitals prohibit all types of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment and hazing, all as described in the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook. Participants, coaches or parents in the Capitals program 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.