In addition to the development of our skaters and the enjoyment of the sport of figure skating, the safety and protection of our participants is central to the goals of Thomas Creek Figure Skating Club and the Mirror Images Synchronized Skating Teams (hereafter collectively referred to as “TCFSC/MI”). TCFSC/MI adheres to U.S. Figure Skating’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 ensure that steps are being taken to provide a safe environment for all skaters, TCFSC/MI has adopted the following changing room policy. This policy is designed to maintain personal privacy and to provide a safe environment in the changing rooms and restrooms at all venues in which members of TCFSC/MI skate, compete, test, or participate in off-ice, team building or any other club or team-sponsored activity.
At all TCFSC/MI events, including, but not limited to, club ice, test sessions, practices, off ice training, team building activities, ice shows and competitions, there will be changing rooms available for the skaters’ use. These changing rooms will be gender specific. Because TCFSC/MI may at times have many skaters with limited changing room space, we encourage competitors to use the changing rooms for changing only, and to utilize other public spaces for any purpose other than changing clothes.
Changing Room Monitoring
TCFSC/MI officials and/or representatives will monitor the changing room areas periodically throughout all TCFSC/MI events to ensure that competitors are abiding by this Changing Room Policy. 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 skaters uncomfortable and may defeat the purpose of the policy. Only competitors and credentialed coaches and family members are permitted in the changing rooms.
Parents in Changing Rooms
Except for competitors who are under the age of ten (10), we discourage parents from entering changing rooms unless it is truly necessary. We recognize that the youngest competitors rely on parents to assist them in getting dressed, applying makeup, styling hair and other preparatory activities; however, we encourage parents to complete these activities as expeditiously as possible and to only remain in the changing room for the time necessary to complete these activities.
Coaches
Coaches are expected to abide by the U.S. Figure Skating Handbook at all times:
- Any individual meeting between coaches and skaters should occur when others are present and where interactions can be easily observed.
- Where possible, an individual meeting should take place in a publicly visible and open area, such as the lobby or snack area of the arena.
- If an individual meeting is to take place in an office or a locker room, the door should remain unlocked and open.
- If a closed-door meeting is necessary, the coach should inform and include another coach, board member and/or volunteer and most importantly a skaters parent and ensure the door remains unlocked.
Cell phones and other Mobile Recording Devices
The use of cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras, is strictly prohibited in changing rooms, rest rooms, and any other room in which it is reasonably expected that skaters might be changing clothes. If a cell phone or other mobile device must be used, it must be taken outside of the changing room, rest room or other room in which skaters are changing clothes.
Skaters, coaches, parents, chaperones and TCFSC/MI officials or representatives will be subject to disciplinary action for violation of this Changing Room Policy or for engaging in any misconduct or abuse that violates the US Figure Skating SafeSport Policies.
To view the complete Safe Skate handbook: click here
To report any actual or suspected violations in immediate situations, please notify the TCFSC SafeSport Chair or Club President. If the situation does not require immediate intervention, please make a report to US Figure Skating by email at Skatesafe@usfigureskating.org. or (719)635-5202.