Protecting the Locker Room

When leaders have to protect those they lead from each other, the team suffers. But when leaders create environments where those within the team trust and cooperate with each other – It pulls together team members and the team grows stronger as a result. #DailyMight

Youth sports locker rooms are mostly thought of as places for athletes to change, shower, and store gear. And while that is the main purpose, a locker room serves many important purposes in an athlete’s journey. In addition to being a safe place for athletes to prepare for games and practices, the locker room is a place that teammates communicate and interact with each other. Where they can bond, build trust, and connect with each other. Or worse, where it can tear a team apart. It’s why the locker room needs to be protected.

The locker room is where team culture is built. It’s where athletes talk and communicate within the walls of a sanctuary and not open to those outside the team. It’s ground zero to where leaders (coaches and team voted) create an environment that promotes togetherness, support, and encouragement. It’s where we might expect such talk that reflects the values and priorities of the team in a setting where the members feel safe to express opinions without concern of being overheard. It’s honest, and real – and it must be protected.

As coaches (and entrusted team leaders) – we create the environment in our protected locker room. We, together, identify what we want our team to stand for. Then we protect that identity. Starting with protecting the locker room. Here’s how. 

Nothing is Too Small

There will be opportunities initially to perpetuate ultimately destructive talk about each other, the opponent, or someone or something else. It sneaks in as humor, or prejudice, or jokingly, the so-called playful banter. Buried beneath this seemingly insignificant talk is the implication that this type of talk is harmless and that words don’t really matter. But they do. They ALL do. No disparaging word is too small. You protect the locker room by speaking up. No matter your role on the team, leadership or otherwise, you choose not to participate in that behavior. And you hold others to that same standard.

Remove Distractions

Distractions are removed when you protect the locker room. The use of electronics of any kind inside your prepare palace is limited, or removed all together. Nothing is present but what is absolutely necessary to prepare for the event (game, practice, or otherwise). Sure some music may be playing. That’s natural. Music in a protected locker room is encouraging, it’s up beat, and is free of obscene language. Talk is coordinating plays, reviewing game plans. A protected locker room removes your mental distractions so you can focus on the task at hand. The event that is about to take place, and leaning into your teammates.

Keep Track of Who’s Present

Coaches and leaders keep track of who’s present in protected locker rooms. During pre-game, intermissions, and post games observed in the locker room – only participating and eligible players (as well as authorized coaching staff and personnel) are to be in team locker rooms for any reason. This is a time for teammates, not friends or parents. Present staff is properly vetted, and they have been instructed on what is expected and standards have been laid out.

Reward What’s Wanted

We all have the potential to be unintentionally complicit in unhealthy talk and behaviors – coaches, players, support staff – we all are at risk in unprotected locker rooms. Choosing to be non-complicit requires vulnerability, and correction can be hard and fearful. If you have to, start small and focus on the Do, not the Don’ts. Catch a teammate supporting and encouraging a teammate – bring attention to it. Encourage each other to be open and honest in communication. Always take the opportunity to vocally reward desired talk or actions. Whenever you can.

Protecting the locker room really just refers to exchanges between teammates and in the company of like-minded friends. We talk about protecting the locker room, but what we really want is a protected team. It’s more than a locker room, but its a great start. If we can succeed, and we can trust and cooperate with each other, we can pull together as a team. Let’s protect our locker rooms.

Give everything your everything. And then some.