Tobacco-Free Sports and Recreation Policies

Tobacco-Free Sports and Recreation Policies
Chew Tobacco
The findings show that the messages about the detrimental effects of chew tobacco are not
penetrating all groups, especially the Junior B team players. There is also a sense that coaches
may equate chew tobacco use with competitive edge. There is a need to address this area of
tobacco use with all groups (players, parents, coaches, team staff and venue management).
Extend Designated Area/Bans
We recommend either extending the 9-metre rule from arena doors or introducing an outright
tobacco ban in hockey settings.
Raise Awareness and Expand TFSR Policy Reach
We recommend that “Play, Live, Be…Tobacco-Free” continues to increase awareness of itself and
TFSR policy among the sports and recreation community as well as the Canadian public. We
recommend identifying mechanisms for increasing its presence. This could include continued
efforts to increase the number of policies being developed and implemented with accompanying
signage and advertisements in and around arenas. An increased PLBTF presence would better
enable broad (e.g., organisation-wide, league-wide, arena-wide) TFSR policy implementation.
Adequate funding and resources will be needed to assist sports and recreation organizations in
advocating, developing and implementing policy.
Ontario Tobacco Research Unit 64