SMOKEFREE POLICY

Rationale

The Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club recognises that passive smoking (inhaling second-hand smoke) is hazardous to health and that non-smokers should be protected from tobacco smoke. Passive smoking can lead to other serious illnesses such as bronchitis, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chest illnesses in children. Accordingly the following policy has been developed by Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club to help protect people’s health.

The move to go SmokeFree also complements the Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club’s desire to create a healthy family friendly environment. The Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club believes that such an environment and image will be advantageous in attracting new members and positively promoting the club in the community.

Legislation and the legal duty of care also provide reasons to have a SmokeFree club. Under common law the Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club has a legal duty of care to ensure that employees, volunteers, players and officials are not exposed to potentially harmful situations. The Occupational Health and Safety Act also stipulates that employees and working volunteers must have a safe environment to work in. Victorian SmokeFree dining legislation also states that enclosed dining areas must be SmokeFree.

This Policy is also re-inforced via the Club Constitution – By Law # 29:

“Smoking is not permitted in the Clubrooms or by Officials of the Club or Team on the field of play.”

Who is affected by the Policy

This policy applies to all members, administrators, officials, coaches, players and visitors of the Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club.

Timing

This policy was accepted with ‘nil’ objections at the February 2008 Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club General Committee Meeting; and is effective from 1/03/2008.

Designated SmokeFree Areas 

The Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club requires the following areas to be SmokeFree:

  • Club and social rooms
  • Administration and office areas
  • Changing rooms
  • Toilet blocks
  • Indoor spectator viewing areas
  • Playing areas
  • Eating areas
  • Near entries and exits of buildings, facilities, and the ground

 
Sale of Tobacco Products 

The Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club will refrain from selling tobacco products.

Behavioural Expectations 

The Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club recognises that role modelling can have a significant impact upon the junior members of the club. Hence, the following individuals and groups will refrain from smoking while they are acting in an official capacity for the club or while in club uniform:

  • Coaches (when coaching or representing the club)
  • Trainers (when training players)
  • Officials (when officiating for the club) Volunteers (when working for the club)
  • Coaches and trainers will also speak to junior players about the effects of
  • smoking on performance.


Promotion of the Policy 

The following mediums will remind patrons about the Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club’s SmokeFree policy:

  • Signage/Non-smoking signs
  • Policy will be distributed to all players and families
  • Advertising and promotional resources via the web
  • Club correspondence (letters, faxes, e-mails etc)
  • Announcements
  • Function speeches

Ashtrays will be removed from the clubrooms to discourage smoking.
Cigarette butt bins will be provided outside to encourage smokers to smoke
outside.