Club Affiliation

Commitment


The Toronto Tornadoes (TT) recognize that there is ample research demonstrating the health hazards caused by the use of tobacco products, including smoking, smokeless tobacco and breathing second-hand smoke.  We believe that as a sport and recreational organization we play a vital role in the health and well-being of our community and as such we have a responsibility to the participants of our club to model and promote healthy choices through demonstrating a tobacco-free lifestyle.


Terms


Tobacco-free sport and recreation indicates that all those taking part in a sport and recreational activity with the TT do not use tobacco industry products.  It means participants, spectators, coaches and leaders do not smoke, snuff, dip, or chew tobacco while engaged in the activities of TT.

Policy


All of TT’s activities; including games, activities, tournaments, competitions, sponsored events, and other performances sanctioned by our organization, will be tobacco-free.

TT will promote tobacco-free activities using various messages, including logos on team gear, and the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by:

  • Having a presentation by coaches/leaders to explain the policy to players/members and ask them to explain the policy to their parents and others who may come to their game/activity/performance.
  • Including the policy in the first schedules/notices about the sport or recreation group so all new and returning participants, their parents/guardians, coaches/leaders and officials/managers know about the policy from the start.
  • Making the policy visible throughout the year/season using various messages, including logos on pinnies and encouraging coaches and older players/members to promote active, healthy, tobacco-free lifestyles.

TT will reinforce the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by:

  • Encouraging all coaches/leaders, players/members, and parents to respectfully remind someone using tobacco about the tobacco-free policy – being able to point to a tobacco-free logo on a uniform or banner makes this easier.
  • With the goal of education, as a consequence of non-compliance the individual will complete an awareness project on the effects of smoking, and this will include a presentation for non-compliant board members and volunteers in front of the team or other volunteers.
  • A verbal and written warning from the coach/leader for repeated violations by players/members, or the association executive in the case of repeat coach/leader violation.
  • Following a written warning the individual violating the policy again may be asked to leave the activity or game

TT will be focusing on a healthy lifestyle as a value of our club which will reinforce and promote the tobacco-free message.  At each AGM we will review our values and re-pledge out commitment to them.

  
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