PositiveSports.net: Health: Tobacco

By Steve Horan

Despite everything we know about the hazards of tobacco, the numbers are still disheartening. Nearly one out of four high school students in the United States smokes cigarettes. One of ten male high school students uses smokeless tobacco. Today alone, more than 3,900 young people will start smoking, and about 1,140 will become daily cigarette smokers.

Can youth sports make a difference?

The reasons for youth smoking are many and complex, but we have to ask: Can youth sports make a difference? The good news is, young athletes are less likely to smoke than the general population. The bad news is, there is no difference, or perhaps even a slight increase, in smokeless tobacco use among male athletes. But we know from experience that coaches can influence athletes, and athletes can influence their peers. So sports-based tobacco prevention is worth trying, as many national and local organizations have decided.

As one example, the United States Centers for Disease Control believes that youth sports programs can indeed make a difference in reducing tobacco use among youth. Through youth sports, young athletes can be encouraged to make healthy decisions about tobacco and other health risks. In addition, these same young athletes can be equipped as positive role models to help other youth in their community decide against tobacco use.

With this potential in mind, the CDC has created Tobacco Free Sports - an initiative to support tobacco-free sports at all levels, with an emphasis on anti-tobacco education in youth sports. Tobacco Free Sports has had a positive influence around the world, including a commitment to tobacco free Olympics in 2008 (China) and 2010 (Vancouver). Tobacco Free Sports also provides many resources which we can use in our own local programs to promote tobacco avoidance among our athletes (see the Learn More box). From the Centers for Disease Control:

Tobacco Free Sports Main Page

Tips for Coaches

The Tobacco Free Sports Playbook

Smoke Free Soccer Coach's Manual

In the Mix Soccer: Kickin' Butts (A teen anti-smoking video program)

The CDC is not the only source of ideas for sports-based anti-tobacco initiatives. You can check out the websites in the the Learn More box for more ideas. Or, Contact Us for more information and advice on how you can prevent tobacco use among the athletes on your team, in your overall program, or in the community.

A call to action

The call to action is this: As coaches, we can assert a strong positive influence on our athletes to avoid tobacco. We can do this with very little effort, just by talking about the dangers of tobacco and making clear that we do not welcome tobacco use on our team. If we want to go a step further, we can also encourage our athletes to carry the anti-tobacco message into their community of peers and younger children. This is an excellent way for our athletes - and our program - to give back to the community which supports youth sports. The resources above or in the Learn More Box can help use take action.

Coaching Points

1. Tobacco use is still way too high among American youth.

2. Although smoking is generally lower among athletes, use of smokeless tobacco is as high or higher than in the general population.

3. As coaches we can assert a strong positive influence on our athletes to avoid tobacco.

4. We can also equip our athletes to carry the anti-tobacco message into their community of peers and younger children. This is an excellent way for athletes to 'give back' to their community.

Learn More

Tobacco-Free Sports (Milwaukee)

Example of a local sports-based anti-tobacco program from the Milwaukee Recreation.

NoTobacco.org

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free America's website for youth in grades 7-12.

Kentucky College Athletes Kick Off Anti-Tobacco Campaign

A good example of how athletes can get involved

Things to Keep Athletes Tobacco Free

From the Special Olympics

Tobacco-Free Sports (Canada)

Ideas and tools from the Canadian Cancer Society

Smokeless Tobacco