St. Thomas University sociology professor Kristi Allain had one simple question in reaction to Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 new dressing room policy: B次元官网网址淲hy?B次元官网网址�

Hockey Canada has implemented a new policy for the 2023-24 minor hockey season, including a B次元官网网址渕inimum attire rule,B次元官网网址� with the goal of respecting privacy and making dressing environments more inclusive.

Allain, who has spent years researching masculinity in hockey, wants to know what sparked Hockey Canada to introduce this policy when the sport has much larger issues.

B次元官网网址淚 think we have to ask serious questions about B次元官网网址榳hy?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Allain. B次元官网网址淚f a community, the LGBTQ community, the Muslim community, is asking for this, then we should have it.

B次元官网网址淏ut if these communities have not asked for this, then I think we have to wonder if this is just a distraction from some of the really actual hard, hard changes that are going to need to happen to make hockey a safe place for women, for LGBTQ people, for racialized folks.B次元官网网址�

Allain isnB次元官网网址檛 the only one in the academic community whoB次元官网网址檚 puzzled by Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 decision.

Bruce Kidd, a Canadian Olympian, writer and Professor Emeritus of sport and public policy at the University of Toronto, wonders how Hockey Canada came to the conclusion these policy changes needed to be made.

B次元官网网址淒id you have a study? Did you consult? Did you look at whether other jurisdictions are doing (this)?B次元官网网址� said Kidd. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to say that itB次元官网网址檚 a solution searching for a problem, but this came as a big surprise to me.B次元官网网址�

Hockey Canada did not specifically clarify how this policy came about when asked for comment from The Canadian Press.

B次元官网网址淗ockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Dressing Room Policy, which will be implemented for the 2023-24 season, was designed to enhance the safety of all participants through proper supervision and minimum attire requirements,B次元官网网址� Hockey Canada said in a statement.

B次元官网网址淎ll participants have the right to utilize the dressing room or appropriate and equivalent dressing environment based on their gender identity, religious beliefs, body image concerns, and/or other reasons related to their individual needs.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址渕inimum attire ruleB次元官网网址� requires that players be wearing a base layer in a dressing room when surrounded by at least one other person.

The policy, which applies to all minor hockey teams sanctioned by Hockey Canada and its member associations, recommends that players arrive at the arena wearing that base layer.

Should a player arrive without it, theyB次元官网网址檙e to get changed in a private area, such as a bathroom stall, before joining the rest of the team in the dressing room and putting on their equipment.

Hockey Canada states itB次元官网网址檚 the responsibility of coaches and team staff to ensure players follow the policy.

As part of the policy, Hockey Canada is also introducing a B次元官网网址渞ule of two,B次元官网网址� requiring two trained and screened adults to be present in or directly outside (with an open door) the dressing room at once B次元官网网址渢o ensure it is free of any discrimination, harassment, bullying, or other forms of maltreatment.B次元官网网址�

The new policy also outlines recommended best practices for the use of showers, where players must wear minimum attire in open-concept scenarios, such as swimwear. It also prohibits violent activities and videos, still photos or recordings of any kind in dressing environments.

Kidd remembers from his days as a University of Toronto athletic director that there were increasing calls for private showers and dressing rooms when the school was undergoing renovations, but that was 20-some years ago.

Allain says the B次元官网网址渕inimum attireB次元官网网址� issue is not something sheB次元官网网址檚 come across in her 20 years of research.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e heard lots of concerns from lots of people, but this is actually not one of them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 was surprised.B次元官网网址�

Allain lists racism, homophobia, sexual violence and the physical trauma people can experience after years of playing hockey as examples of problems in hockey. She also points out the lack of accessibility to the sport for working-class families in Canada.

B次元官网网址淭here are lots of complaints about hockey and its lack of inclusion,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗ockey Canada needs to be making true efforts to increase diversity in the game, to be an inclusive game, to be a sport thatB次元官网网址檚 not linked to violence. There are lots of places where they need to make changes. Every day we hear stories about how hockey is failing.

B次元官网网址淚 was surprised that this is the issue theyB次元官网网址檙e going to tackle first and IB次元官网网址檇 like to know what precipitated this.B次元官网网址�

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press