Hockey clubs and families are grappling with a new nationwide policy governing player behavior in locker rooms, changes intended to respect privacy and improve inclusion, but which Calgary hockey officials say were not previously communicated.
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This policy aims to make locker rooms more inclusive for athletes, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, religion or other individual needs.
“Hockey Canada firmly believes that all participants (athletes, officials, coaches, team staff, etc.) have the right to access safe, inclusive and equitable dressing spaces,” the policy states.
New “minimum clothing” rule
One change is the “minimum clothing” rule, which requires athletes to wear a base layer of clothing (such as shorts and a compression shirt) when there is more than one person in the locker room.
Players who arrive at the rink without this base layer are asked to change in a private space, such as a bathroom or toilet stall, before joining teammates in the team’s locker room.
The policy also outlines recommendations for athlete showers, the “Monday Rule,” and a ban on digital recordings in locker rooms.
New shower guidelines recommend that athletes use private stalls when available. If these stalls are not available, the policy states that athletes showering in a common area must wear swimsuits.
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The Monday Rule requires at least two trained and screened adults to be in the locker room (or immediately outside the locker room with the door open) to ensure it is free of discrimination, harassment or bullying.
Politics Not previously reported: Hockey Calgary
Although the policy was posted online nearly a month ago, Hockey Calgary’s executive director claims the rule changes were not communicated to his organization until October 5.
“We have not received any official communications from our governing bodies directly to us as of Thursday evening,” Hockey Calgary executive director Kevin Kobilka said.
“Basically, we were not informed.”
Regarding compliance, Kobilka said Hockey Calgary is not trying to enforce the policy yet, adding that compliance with some of the new rules will be difficult at some Calgary rinks.
The minimum clothing rule also carries some ambiguity, Kobilka added.
“As an organization, we’re just looking at it and taking the weekend to try to understand all the ramifications of what we need to do to implement this policy,” he said Saturday.
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“The new thing is about base layers. We want some clarification on what base layer means. Is it upper body? Lower body? Define base layer for us.”
“It should have been done in August.”
Hockey parents are also trying to get around Hockey Canada’s new requirements. At the U13 AA Championships at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex in the Tsuu T’ina Nation this weekend, changes were a recurring topic of discussion among parents.
Edmonton hockey father and coach TJ Smith, whose son was competing in the tournament, said he mostly supports the new policy.
However, he feels the changes should have been communicated to the minor hockey leagues before the season began.
“This should have been done in August so that teams just starting out could better prepare for this policy,” he said. “I think a lot of people are scrambling about how to go about this policy. There are some gray areas for some people.”
As a former hockey player and now coach, Smith said he agrees the policy’s intentions are positive, adding that he hopes the changes will lead to less harassment.
“This may still happen, not just in hockey but in other sports as well,” he said.
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Policy encourages greater inclusion: LGBTQ advocacy
While some have expressed confusion or frustration with the policy, You Can Play Project — an organization that advocates for safe participation in sports for LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches and fans — said it strongly supports the changes.
Curt Weaver, chief operating officer of the Toronto-based group, said the new rules have been “a long time coming” to make youth hockey a more welcoming environment for players of all genders, sexual orientations and religions.
“I think there are a lot of reasons why kids might not feel welcome in sports,” he said. “A lot of times, it comes down to language or behavior. A lot of times, the locker room can be an uncomfortable place. Sometimes it’s the source of the best times you have on the team, and sometimes it’s the source of the biggest challenge you face in the sport.”
“…This is one of those policies that makes a lot of sense in making people more comfortable and more welcoming there.”
According to Hockey Canada, the policy will be reviewed in 2026.
