Tobacco Free Policy
(Adopted December 1, 2010)

COMMITMENT
We recognize that there is ample research demonstrating the health hazards caused by the use of tobacco products, including smoking, smokeless tobacco and breathing second-hand smoke, and understand our responsibility to the participants of our program to model and promote tobacco-free lifestyles.

We stress to leaders, coaches, officials, parents, spectators, and all others involved, the importance of maintaining a tobacco-free environment while working with young people.

POLICY
All games, activities, tournaments, competitions, sponsored events, and other performances sanctioned by our organization will be tobacco-free. Tobacco free means no smoking, snuffing, dipping, or chewing tobacco by players/participants, coaches/leaders, parents, spectators, and officials.

We will promote the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by:
• Having coaches/leaders explain the policy to players/members and ask them to
explain the policy to their parents and others who may come to their
game/activity/performance.
• Including the policy in the first schedules/notices about the sport or recreation
group so all new and returning participants, their parents/guardians,
coaches/leaders and officials/managers know about the policy from the start.
• Making the policy visible throughout the year/season using various messages,
including logos on uniforms, banners at events and encouraging coaches and
older players/members to promote active, healthy, tobacco-free lifestyles.

We will reinforce the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by:
• Encouraging all coaches/leaders, players/ members, and parents to respectfully
remind someone using tobacco about the tobacco-free policy – being able to point
to a tobacco-free logo on a uniform or banner makes this easier.
• Consistently applying consequences with people who repeatedly break the policy –
repeated violations by players/members or their parent/guardian may result in a
verbal and written warning from the coach/leader, or the association executive
in the case of a repeat coach/leader violation. Following a written warning the
individual violating the policy again may be asked to leave the activity or game.