Tobacco-Free Policy
Tobacco-free Policy 
Background and Rationale
The Iroquois Falls Ringette Association (IFRA) is committed to providing a healthy environment for participants, volunteers and spectators involved with our organization. We recognize that there is significant evidence demonstrating the negative health impacts of tobacco use and exposure (including second-hand smoke from the use of tobacco indoors and exposure to drifting smoke outdoors) and that no level of tobacco exposure is safe. We also recognize that children and youth gain positive images of tobacco use when they see role-models, leaders and individuals that they respect using tobacco.
Commitment
We believe that Ringette is a healthy sport that promotes physical activity and healthy living. Players, coaches, and volunteers involved in our association have a responsibility to model positive health behaviour with regard to tobacco use.
Policy
Activities including but not limited to games, tournaments, competitions, practices, training sessions, fundraising events and other activities sanctioned by our organization will be tobacco-free, which means that the use of tobacco by players, coaches, parents/care givers, spectators and officials is prohibited during all activities sanctioned or engaged by our association.
Tobacco products include: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, cigarillos, tobacco chew, plug or snuff, snus, hookah, bidis and kreteks.
Scope and Location
The Iroquois Falls Ringette Association tobacco-free policy will apply to all activities sanctioned by our organization. Locations for each of these activities may vary, however our policy will apply to all locations while the sanctioned event is ongoing.
Policy Implementation
IFRA will promote the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by providing a copy of the policy and explaining it to the coaching staff, who in turn, will explain the policy to parents/caregivers. We will review and share the policy with other organizations who may attend or participate in our activities and we will make the policy visible throughout the year using various opportunities including banners and signs at our events. IFRA will encourage coaches and players to promote a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Policy Enforcement
IFRA will enforce our policy by posting signs about our policy where activities take place and by including it in the information materials handed out during sanctioned events. We will encourage our coaches, players, officials, an volunteers to respectfully remind individuals using tobacco at IFRA activities about our policy.
Policy Approval
The policy will be reviewed by the IFRA Executive Committee annually.
Policy Approved: April 19th 2013 at AGM
Policy Revised: N/A
