Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation

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Playing Tobacco Free Making Your Park
Recreational Facilities Tobacco Free
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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Tobacco Free Outdoor Recreation Facilities in
Minnesota
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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.

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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.

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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 departments regulation requirements vary
  but some departments ask violators to leave the
  facility for the remainder of the event.

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TFYR Signage Qualifications

• To qualify for TFYRs 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

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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 Leaders Guide