PURPOSE

FC Durham Academy is committed to providing a healthy environment for participants, volunteers and spectators involved with our organization.  We recognize that there is significant evidence demonstrating the negative health impacts of tobacco industry products and exposure (including second-hand smoke from the use of tobacco indoors and exposure to drifting smoke outdoors) and that no level of tobacco exposure is safe.  We also recognize that children and youth gain positive images of being tobacco free when they see role models, leaders and individuals modelling and respecting tobacco-free living.  A tobacco-free environment is important to keep youth from trying, and using, tobacco industry products.

COMMITMENT

We believe that soccer is a sport that promotes physical activity and healthy living and is not compatible with tobacco industry product use.  Tobacco industry products use in all its forms is considered the single most preventable cause of premature death and disease in Canada.  Our organization has a responsibility to provide a healthy environment for all those involved in our sport, and to model positive health behavior about tobacco use.

POLICY

Activities including but not limited to games, tournaments, competitions, practices, training sessions, events and other performances sanctioned by our organization will be tobacco-free.  The use of all tobacco industry products by players, volunteers, officials, coaches, leaders and spectators is prohibited during any organization-sanctioned events.  Our organization will not accept funding from the tobacco industry.

DEFINITIONS

Tobacco-free means no smoking, snuffing, dipping or chewing tobacco industry products by players/participants, coaches/leaders, parents, spectators and officials within 9 metres radius of any FC Durham Academy activity.

Tobacco industry products include any form of lit or unlit cigarettes, cigarillos, cigar, pipe, bidi, hookah, clove cigarette or spit (smokeless) tobacco.

SCOPE AND LOCATIONS

The FC Durham Academy tobacco-free policy will apply to all activities including but not limited to, games, tournaments, competitions, practices, training sessions, events (e.g. Fundraising, meetings, press conferences, etc.) and other performances sanctioned by our organization.  Locations for each of the activities may vary, however our policy will apply to all locations while the FC Durham Academy sanctioned event is ongoing.

IMPLEMENTATION

We will promote the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by:

• Providing a copy of the policy in all orientation and information packages for coaches, players/members, officials and volunteers.  Coaching staff will plain the policy to parents/caregivers.
• Reviewing and sharing the policy with other organizations/groups who may attend or participate in our events/facilities.
• Announcing our tobacco-free policy before, during and after all games, practices, competitions, events and activities sanctioned by our organization.
• Making the policy visible throughout the year using various channels/opportunities including information on our website, banners/signage at events and encouraging coaches and all players to promote an active, healthy lifestyle free from the use of tobacco industry products.

POLICY ENFORCEMENT

We will enforce the tobacco-free policy to ensure that all those attending and participating in FC Durham Academy activities have access to a tobacco-free environment.

We will use the following steps to enforce our policy:

• Post signs about our policy where our activities take place, using signs, banners and include in information materials available at the activity.
• Train our coaches, players/members, officials and volunteers on how to inform individuals who may be using tobacco about FC Durham Academy’s tobacco-free policy.
• Encourage our coaches, players/members, officials and volunteers to respectfully remind individuals using tobacco at FC Durham Academy activities about the tobacco-free policy.
• Provide one verbal warning to individuals who repeatedly do not follow the policy.  Verbal warning will be delivered by an official representation of FC Durham Academy, such as director, official, team coach or team manager.  The FC Durham Academy representative will inform the FC Durham Academy Academy Manager about the verbal warning including the date, location and name of the individual who was warned.

For individuals not heeding a verbal warning, the Academy Manager will provide a formal written warning.  Following a written warning, further violation may result in disciplinary actions, which could include being banned from all FC Durham Academy events.