Playing Tobacco Free: Making Your Park & Recreational Facilities Tobacco Free

1. Playing Tobacco Free: Making Your Park & Recreational Facilities Tobacco Free

2. What is Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation (TFYR)? • Statewide program of the Minnesota Youth Tobacco Prevention Initiative • Build partnerships between local recreational organizations and health professionals to work on tobacco prevention • Give assistance to groups in their effort to create tobacco-free environments to model and promote healthy lifestyles

3. Groups that Support Tobacco-Free Policies • The National Alliance for Youth Sports and the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation state that parents must demand a tobacco, drug and alcohol-free environment. • The National Youth Sports Coaches Association Code of Ethics states that each coach should provide a sports environment that is free of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. • Little League • The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association prohibits the use of tobacco during sanctioned events and activities

4. A Local Park & Recreation Perspective “In order to influence youth towards a positive lifestyle, it takes a united front between all involved: family, school and community. Our goal is to unite all community groups to demonstrate to youngsters that tobacco use is not a part of a healthy lifestyle.” --Bob Bierscheid, St. Paul Parks & Recreation Department

5. Why are tobacco-free policies effective? Why are policies effective? • They reinforce to the community the message that tobacco use is unhealthy and unnecessary behavior. • They ensure that participants and spectators are not exposed to secondhand smoke. • They create an environment where leaders can model and promote positive, healthy lifestyle choices.

6. Tobacco Free Outdoor Recreation Facilities in Minnesota

7. Why are city tobacco-free policies for outdoor facilities important? • Tobacco-free environments protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community. • A city policy creates consistency for youth recreation facilities in the community, since most school districts prohibit tobacco use at their outdoor facilities. • Policies for city-owned facilities support local groups (soccer clubs, etc.) who use city facilities and promote healthy lifestyles. • Discarded cigarette butts cause litter, require maintenance expenses, and can be ingested by toddlers.

8. What does a typical city tobacco-free policy look like? • Policies outline the specific outdoor recreational facilities that are covered (playgrounds, parks, beaches, etc.). • Policies prohibit spectators and participants from using tobacco. • Policies describe how facility users will be notified (user mailings, policy guidebooks, etc.). • Policies outline how enforcement will occur.

9. How are these policies enforced? • Similar to other park policies, such as alcohol and litter policies, primary enforcement tool is signage. • Other methods include policy manual, newsletter, and e-mail updates. • Signed statements from teams, participants, coaches, and parents are other ways to notify facility users. • Each department’s regulation requirements vary – but some departments ask violators to leave the facility for the remainder of the event.

10. TFYR Signage Qualifications To qualify for TFYR’s FREE metal signs, your tobacco-free policy must include: • A list of all the facilities it covers • A statement that all forms of tobacco use are prohibited • An enforcement plan that includes user notification, signage, and occasional staff compliance checks

11. Available Resources Policy Development & Implementation Resources • TFYR Model Policy • Examples of various park & recreation policies • Free outdoor signage Other Prevention Resources • Tobacco prevention posters • Team/Player Pledges • Recreational Leader’s Guide