Smokefree Sport Resources

The following legislation requirements apply when implementing a smoke free and partially smoke free setting in your organisation, facility or club.

Tobacco Legislation was first introduced in 1987 to help reduce:

• Smoking prevalence,
• Health impacts of smoking related diseases and deaths,
• Effects of second-hand smoke, and
• Social costs such as loss of productivity and health system costs.

New Victorian tobacco reforms commenced on 1 August 2017 and have increased the locations where smoking is restricted or not permitted. Today, legislation covers most public settings within our communities including:

• Workplaces,
• Schools and childcare centres,
• Public transport,
• Hospitals and community health centres,
• Restaurants and outdoor dining, and
• Outdoor public spaces including patrolled beaches, public swimming pools, playgrounds and skateparks.

New tobacco reforms have been enacted across multiple locations where people spend their time. Sporting organisations and clubs should be familiar with all legislative requirements regarding tobacco use in sport settings including venues and facilities that aren’t specifically designed for sport (i.e. Clubs participating in school stadiums). If they do not adhere to the requirements stipulated within legislation, an infringement notice of breach and penalties may be imposed.

Smoking is not permitted within 10-metres of any sporting venues where there is organised sport for children under the age of 18. This includes training sessions. Click on the following link to learn more: Under-age sporting events- smoke-free

Sporting clubs should consider how other major settings are addressing tobacco use. This may include total bans on smoking. Creating smoke-free settings can eliminate challenges that clubs may face with minimising exposure to tobacco use, particularly with children who are in attendance during senior sport. Sport administrators may also find it easier to make changes to their club around tobacco use when it is reinforced by other organisations such as State Government legislation and Local Government requirements such as inclusion in lease agreements. Similarly sporting organisations could work together to develop a consistent smoke-free policy when they operate out of a multi-use venue. For example, cricket, football, netball and tennis clubs that all use the same local government reserve.

Legislation supports the reduction of tobacco use within sporting clubs and venues giving the ability to effectively implement smoking reform (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

In addition to legislation, clubs should also check their local government and sport league policies as they may provide further restrictions that must be adhered to:

e.g. Warrnambool City Council

e.g. Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League

The Department of Health and Human Service website provides downloads of fact sheets, posters, signage and public information relating to tobacco controls and legislation. Please click on the following links to receive up to date information on:

• Children’s recreational areas - smoke-free
• Underage sporting events - smoke-free
• Resources and factsheets – tobacco reform

No smoking signs can also be ordered by completing order forms via the State Government's Health website and by emailing tobacco.policy@dhhs.vic.gov.au

Trouble shooting tools and strategies for implementing reduced tobacco use in your organisation facility or club.

Making Your Club/Venue Smoke Free

Clubs need systems in place to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

Sporting organisation and clubs should encourage the development of smoke-free environments within sport settings by creating either partially or completely smoke-free venues. You may wish to implement a totally smokefree policy, where smoking is not permitted anywhere within the club’s grounds. Alternatively, you may consider it more appropriate to take a phased-in approach and designate some outdoor areas within your club grounds as smokefree, with the ultimate goal of becoming totally smokefree in the future.

Some examples of helpful strategies that were highlighted during the Healthy Sporting Environments program to encourage the reduction of tobacco use included:

• Creating smoke-free areas,
• Displaying signage, and
• Implementing reduced tobacco use/ smoke-free policy.

Benefits of these strategies included:

• Reduction of smoking in and around clubs,
• Increase in facilities reported as smoke-free by clubs, and
• Increase in facilities reported as partially smoke-free by clubs.

“Charlton Croquet Club is a completely smoke-free venue. Murrabit Lawn Tennis Club adopted a new smoke free policy, created designated smoking areas, and displayed new signage to help identify smoke free areas”.

When designing designated smoking areas, it is important to consider where it will be positioned. Some clubs put their designated smoking areas outside of the club boundary and on the street, others choose to locate it away from club facilities but within the club boundary. Consider the following recommendations when deciding what is best for your club:

• Ensure there is limited foot traffic in the proposed area;
• Provide appropriate options for disposal of butts;
• Keep away from areas where food and drinks are consumed;
• Keep away from building entrances;
• Keep away from ventilation intakes (heating and cooling)
• Display appropriate signage; and
• Keep 10 metres away from sporting grounds (junior sport).

Quit provides a comprehensive resource centre for sporting groups and provides guidelines demonstrating how to create a smokefree sports club.

Please click on the following Link to download resources to support you with:

• Going partially smoke-free
• Going completely smoke-free
• How to go smoke-free implementation framework
• Sample club members survey
• Sample club policy: meeting existing legislation; partially smoke free; completely smoke free
• How to approach non-compliance of your policy
• Sample communication text
• Sample posters

“Bareena Bowls Club moved towards designated smoking areas to reduce smoking around the greens and put No Smoking signs up along the building. This was part of the bigger picture to attract new members to the club and improve the club facilities” (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

Benefits of Making Your Club Family Friendly 

“Some fear that they may be isolating members (especially life members) who are smokers and it can be difficult to change behaviours - get smokers to quit or accept change. Therefore, using a ‘family friendly’ approach may be helpful in acceptance of reduced tobacco use so as not to individualise” (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

During the Healthy Sporting Environments Program some clubs were initially reluctant to go completely smoke-free however those involved were able to think about and focus on the benefits of providing a healthier experience to the majority of their members. The program provided clubs with the support to make positive change and help them move towards smoke-free environments as well as helping minimise the uptake of smoking by members in their clubs. Smokefree environments enjoy strong levels of support in the community – even among smokers.

There are a range of benefits when implementing smoke-free or partially smoke free settings in sporting clubs including:

• Reduced risk of exposure to second-hand smoke;
• Reduced visibility of smoking;
• Good role modelling;
• Creating a safe environment;
• Reduction of health risks associated with smoking;
• Displaying a duty of care to members;
• Attracting and retaining members;
• Meeting the expectations and needs of the community; and
• Displaying a positive club image (family friendly and welcoming).

There are many strategies that your organisation or club can undertake to encourage going smokefree and to ensure your club displays themselves as a responsible and family friendly club. Going smoke free - a guide for sporting clubs is a great supportive resource available on the Quit website that provides an overview of why going smoke-free is great for sporting clubs.

For more information on how to create smoke free settings that meet current legislative requirements for junior sport, please click on the following link.

“Quambatook Football Netball Club had 27 club members complete a smoking survey. As a result, they adopted a new smoke-free policy and non-compliance policy. Signage was also erected to adhere to legislation of no smoking within 10 metres of underage sport.”

Communicate Smokefree Policies 

It is important for sporting organisations to educate committee members and players of the importance of creating smoke-free settings to help in changing their mindset (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

Sporting organisations can promote their smokefree policies to their committee, members, players and spectators in a number of ways. Ongoing communication and promotion of smoke-free or partially smoke-free environments is important as it shows commitment from your organisation. This can be conveyed through posters, newsletters, emails, club webpages and social media.

The prominent displaying of materials and signage supporting smoke free environments in and around clubs is important to ensure guests and spectators understand that smoking is not permitted.

No smoking signs can be ordered by completing order forms via the State Government's Health website and by emailing tobacco.policy@dhhs.vic.gov.au

“Tyntynder Football Netball Club adopted a smoke free policy and implemented smoke free signage in and around the club facilities including during junior football and netball matches”.

Quite Smoking 

Quit website

The Quit website www.quit.org.au provides practical advice to smokers wanting to quit. It is designed to give smokers the information, support and encouragement they need at the various stages of their quitting journey. It features many useful tips, videos of real-life experiences of people who have successfully quit, tools to build a tailored quitting plan and relaxation exercises.

Quitline 13 7848

Quitline offers help with quitting for the cost of a local call. Quit Specialists are trained and experienced and know how tough quitting can be. They will talk with callers about their difficulties in quitting and will give reliable information and support. For callers who would prefer Quitline support in a language other than English, Quit uses the Translation Information Service. Ask about this at the first call.

Good Sports also provides a resource about reasons to Quit smoking: Fact Sheet: Quit smoking

Templates and tips for clearly documenting guidelines and communicating tobacco control measures to your members and spectators.

Smokefree Policy 

Activated club policies during Healthy Sporting Environments program included partially and fully smoke-free policies (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

A ‘policy’ is a set of principles or rules that guide an organisation towards its overarching goals. They are generally endorsed by the committee or board and published somewhere that everyone can find them such as a dedicated ‘Policies’ section of the organisation website.

Change is often more achievable and lasting if backed up by policy. This is because having a policy can help you:

• Communicate a consistent message about smoking in your organisation.

• Plan and agree on a direction for change that aligns with the organisation’s values and priorities.

• Set specific goals and support members as they make the changes.

• Helps deal with any negative feedback.

A smoke-free policy is most effective when it has the support of the committee and is regularly reviewed. When establishing what needs to be included in a policy some key areas to consider are:

• Rationale
• Objectives
• Implementation
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Links to other Policies
• Responsible Officer

“Program success requires members to champion cultural change, a well-run committee with good governance and a whole club commitment” (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

Other important points to consider when developing a policy include:

Why – What is it that you want for your organisation? This may include:

• Adhering to legislation requirements
• Supporting health and wellbeing of members
• Improving/maintaining your reputation in the community
• Providing a safe environment that reduces risk of illness and disease
• Meeting community expectations about providing a safe environment

What – What will you be changing? Consider:

• Changes to the organisation that will minimise risk of second-hand smoke exposure
• Encouraging members to Quit smoking
• Create smoke-free or partially smoke-free settings
• Focusing on junior members
• De-normalise smoking

How – What changes will you put in place to achieve your goals? This may include:

• Providing and encouraging smoke-free or partially smoke-free environments
• Reduce the visibility of smoking
• Deliver education on smoking to members
• Actively promote strategies to quit smoking

Support and endorsement:

• This is not always easy and requires a willingness to listen and possibly compromise.
• Consider providing your committee with some background information for discussion on quitting and its influence on health and wellbeing.
• Ensure that the committee and members understand how a smoke-free policy supports the organisation’s overarching goals.
• Document how this policy relates to or supports other established policies, such as those on responsible use of alcohol and inclusiveness.

Promotion of the policy:

How will you communicate your smoke-free policy to members, supporters and visitors? Some of the ways to promote your new policy could be to:

• Display it around the organisation
• Distribute it with membership or enrolment forms
• Add it in your organisation’s handbook
• Write an article about it in your newsletter or website/social media page
• Distribute it at functions or meetings
• Email a copy to every member, with some background on why it was created.

For more information on how to develop and implement a policy, click on this link

A non-compliance strategy needed to address policy breaches around smoking (Healthy Sporting Environments evaluation)

Another policy to consider is a non-compliance policy. This can either sit within your smoke-free policy or can be a stand-alone document to support you in managing policy breaches.

Click here to view the Donald Golf and Bowls Club non-compliance policy.

“Seymour Cricket Club identified that there were many smokers at the club and wanted to reduce the impact it was having on club members and the club image. They began work on the Reduced Tobacco Use module and following a mostly positive response from members on their smoking survey, implemented a partial smoke free policy from January 1st, 2014 including banning smoking at junior events prior to the April 2014 legislation. They have found members and visitors to be responsive and compliant to the policy change.”

Smokefree Policy Examples 

The following resources include some existing sport specific smokefree policy examples

“Kerang Bowling Club adheres to the Bowls Victoria tobacco policy and has also tailored their own club policy to meet the specific needs of their clubs”.

AFL Victoria Smoke free Policy and Club template

Calisthenics Victoria Club Smoke Free Policy

Oakleigh Cricket Club Smoke Free Policy