As a student-athlete at BRHS, getting things done efficiently is a big part of my life. This is true for many others. Changing after school is very important to get to practice on time and to prepare for events. Right now, the school lockerrooms are often inaccessible for those with after-school needs unless a coach requests them to be open. I am writing this essay in hopes of a better and more positive experience for student athletes.  

Although some may say that we have locker-room access if requested, in my opinion, they should be open and functional for all the sports teams, not just per request. In my personal experiences, I have had to wait 10-20 minutes in the bathroom waiting for people to finish changing before practice, and many people just change in the bathroom outside the stalls. If we had easier access to the locker rooms, it would make it much easier and more efficient for people to get ready for their after-school sports.  

Dean of Students and Athletic Director Allan Crocker states that “I have found since COVID that most athletes do not take advantage of the locker rooms and instead opt for the bathrooms.” Mr. Crocker does have a reason for them being closed during the day: “Students were hanging out in the locker rooms and not in class. We were finding evidence of inappropriate behavior, so we could no longer have the doors unlocked during the day.” This makes it difficult and more of a lengthy process to get them unlocked at the end of the day. 71.2% of the students who answered my survey, sent out to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, said that they would benefit from having easier access to the locker rooms. This is a large percentage of students. This shows that many students would take advantage of using the locker rooms to change, etc.  

A student responder to my survey stated that they “don’t play any sports but I’ve seen that all the girls crowd in all the bathrooms and there is still not enough room so it would make for sense for them to go into the bathroom.” This shows that it is not just the athlete's issue. When athletes crowd the bathroom while getting changed for practice or an event, it affects students who just need to use the restroom andcannot because athletes are getting changed for a game, practice, or other event. Having lockerrooms more accessible would benefit those who don’t want to be crowded in the bathrooms.  

Another student responded:“Everyday after school, several, if not all, the girls’ sports teams are forced to change in a total of 5 stalls. Easier access means less time spent waiting to change. This can be particularly important for students who are rushing between classes and sports practices or games. An accessible locker room also contributes to a more positive experience, allowing athletes to focus on their sport rather than struggling with changing or other logistical challenges.” 

Although the lockers can be opened per request, Mr. Crocker suspects “this concern has not been brought up to the coaches.” He told me that the lockers are unlocked when our teams are dismissed, but not always for practices, which would require supervision by coaches. The locker rooms are by default locked during the school day, most likely due to the concern of people misusing them, as Mr Crocker said. I agree with them being locked during the school day because if they aren't, there is always the chance of nefarious behavior.  

Many people are unaware that the locker rooms are unlocked for changing before events. I am not just hoping for this to reach the adults of the community, but also the students.  

I think having to change outside of the stalls and in the bathroom is not the way the bathrooms in the school were meant to be used. I know of people who have asked coaches about lockerrooms being unlocked for practices, but we need better communication so that the lockerrooms can be used to change before practice. I believe that many athletes use the bathrooms because the lockerrooms are not in ideal condition, and in the fall, the football team stores all of their gear in the boys' locker room from August to October, and guest teams use the girls' locker room.  

Providing easier accessibility to the locker rooms will allow student athletes to be more efficient and spend less time waiting around to get changed.