Tobacco-Free Sports and Recreation Policies

Tobacco-Free Sports and Recreation Policies
SUMMARY
Tobacco-free sports and recreation initiatives are relatively new (e.g., Play, Live, Be…Tobacco-
Free movement). Undertaking these efforts is challenging in local hockey settings where
resources are limited and communities rely on volunteers. This evaluation was designed to learn
about the TFSR policies being implemented in Ontario. Levels of awareness, structures and
processes that are associated with successful policy implementation and policy impacts were
explored. Barriers were also identified.
Rationale for TFSR Policy
Each of the four case studies implemented their policy in similar ways, but the impetus for
initiating the TFSR policy differed slightly and the time of implementation ranged from 2005 to
2010.
Case Study I (Bantam and Peewee teams) emphasized the importance of having the policy in
place to provide role models for the younger players, to raise awareness and knowledge about
healthy lifestyles and to establish a tobacco-free mindset before these players considered
tobacco use.
Case Study II (Women’s league) also highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyle choices,
positive role modeling as well as prevention, particularly for their own children and the girls that
they coach. In addition, several women mentioned that personal health challenges were also a
driver of the relatively recent (2010) TFSR policy implementation in their league.
Case Study III (Junior B) also reported that TFSR policy adoption emerged out of health concerns
(e.g., chew tobacco use) and the desire to provide a positive role model for youth, and for these
players in turn to set high standards for non-tobacco use to community members.
Case Study IV (Men’s University) has the longest-standing TFSR policy, in place since 2005, but
there is no information available on the rationale for adopting the policy.
All four case studies embraced the hope that adoption of the TFSR policy for their team or league
would stimulate change for other hockey teams and players. For example, in Case Study I, a PHU
key informant shared that other hockey leagues and other sports teams in the community had
become part of a drive to de-normalize the growing issue of chew tobacco use beyond Peewee
and Bantam levels.
Ontario Tobacco Research Unit 57