What is Tobacco-Free Sport & Recreation?
Tobacco-Free Sport and Recreation is about promoting health
and creating environments to help prevent youth from starting to use tobacco
industry products, protect the public from second-hand smoke and help people trying
to quit.
Tobacco-free sport and recreation means participants,
spectators, coaches and leaders do not smoke, snuff, dip or chew tobacco while
engaged in the activities of your organizations.
How to be Tobacco-Free?
By adopting a tobacco-free policy, sport and recreation
organizations will send a clear message to all members and the wider community
that their health is being taken seriously. Here is how it’s done:
1.
Assess your current situation
2.
Make it a priority
3.
Write the tobacco-free policy
4.
Promote the policy
5.
Reinforce the policy
6.
Review the policy
How do we get people to support the policy?
Involve the key players and participants, leaders, coaches,
officials and parents during the
development of the policy.
Communicate the policy to everyone through:
• Announcements before, during and after activities or
events
• Written messages in newsletters, schedules and on your
website
• Placement of the tobacco-free logo on signage, clothing,
uniforms and equipment
What if I find someone using tobacco at a sport or recreation
event?
• Assume the person doesn’t know about the policy
• Approach the person and remind them about the policy
• Provide the person with a written letter describing the
policy
The tobacco-free logo is a friendly reminder of the policy
and can be placed anywhere people will see it, such as uniforms, signs,
equipment, scoreboards and event schedules.
Will tobacco users support the policy?
A tobacco-free policy is not a personal attack on tobacco
users. The issue is not whether people can use tobacco, but when and where they
can use tobacco.
Why Sport and Recreation?
Sport and recreation programs provide an alternative to
tobacco use through physical and social activities.
The benefits of tobacco-free sport and recreation
include:
• Preventing youth from starting to use tobacco industry
products
• Giving everyone a chance to perform their best
• Creating a tobacco-free culture
• Helping people trying to quit
• Protecting children from secondhand smoke
• Protecting the environment
Tobacco-Free Sport and Recreation Guide
Visit www.playlivebetobaccofree.ca
for more details about the tobacco-free sports and recreation movement across Ontario.
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