Coaches - You Can Influence Youth

Know the facts about youth and tobacco use.

• Young people who do not start using tobacco by age 18 will most likely never start.
• Smoking slows lung growth, decreases lung function and reduces the oxygen available for muscles used in sports.
• Smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost 3 times more often than nonsmokers.
• Other tobacco products such as “chew” (spit tobacco), flavoured and unflavoured cigarillos, cigars, snuff or pipe tobacco are not safe alternatives to cigarettes.
• Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in Canada, causing heart and lung diseases, cancers and strokes.

Take a stand – early and often.

• Recognize your influence with young people. Don’t use tobacco industry products around them.
• Remind participants of the importance of being tobacco-free.
• When talking to players remember they relate more to messages about the immediate effects of tobacco use (such as poorer athletic performance) than to its long-term threats.
• Adopt and reinforce a tobacco-free policy for players, coaches, referees and spectators.
• Send a copy of the tobacco-free policy home for review.
• Challenge spectators to give their personal support to the players by respecting a tobacco-free zone.