Smoke free environments are a key ambition of Hull’s work to de-normalise smoking for children; children copy behaviour that they see. Smoke free Playgrounds were implemented in Hull in 2017 followed by Smoke free School Gates. Smoke free side-lines is a project that The Hull and District Youth Football league and East Riding County Football Association propose to implement a rule amendment that will help to end exposure to tobacco use and smoke at football.
The smoke free side-lines ambition is to support all adults involved in youth football across Hull and East Riding to understand their responsibility as positive role models. It is about promoting a sports club as a healthy and inclusive place, where the wellbeing of all, but particularly children and young people, is a priority. This initiative will support 600 youth teams, equating to approximately 7,000 players and their families.
Norwich Public Health and Norfolk Football Association launched their smoke free side-lines project in 2017. The ambition in Hull and East Riding is for all young people’s sports clubs to be smoke free and we want to lead the way by being a smoke free football league with your help.
What does smoke free side-lines mean to clubs?
Smoke free side-lines means that members and visitors to youth and children’s football are asked to refrain from smoking or vaping on the side-lines and in sight of children at matches and during training. Vaping will be included in the smoke free side-lines initiative to help guard against youth uptake of vaping. Vaping is not recommended for young people. In the UK protection is in place via prohibitions on the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s.
It is anticipated that parents will recognise what the initiative is trying to achieve and adhere to the rule. The campaign will give parents the opportunity to report smoking or vaping on the side-lines or in the view of children, to the coaches. Any further concerns by clubs can then be communicated to the league administrator who can offer support.
All clubs will be issued with leaflets, optional smoking cessation brief advice training, logos, access to information about the initiative on the league website and an optional policy template to use to promote the positive move to being a smoke free area. A launch of the project is planned for the start of the 2018/19 football season.
If you have any questions, then please contact the League Administrator
We hope that you will join us in making youth football a healthy environment for young people.
Smoke free side-lines Hull and East Riding
- The Hull and District Youth Football league and ERCFA propose to implement a rule amendment that will help to de-normalise smoking for children; children copy behaviour that they see.
- The smoke free side-lines ambition is to support all adults involved in youth football across Hull and East Riding to understand their responsibility as positive role models. It is about promoting a sports club as a healthy and inclusive place, where the wellbeing of all, but particularly children and young people, is a priority.
- Smoke free side-lines means that members and visitors to youth and children’s football are asked to refrain from smoking or vaping on the side-lines and in sight of children at matches and during training. Vaping will be included in the smoke free side-lines initiative to help guard against youth uptake of vaping. Vaping is not recommended for young people. In the UK protection is in place via prohibitions on the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s.
- The campaign will give parents the opportunity to report smoking or vaping on the side-lines or in view of children, to the coaches. Any further concerns by clubs can then be communicated to the league administrator who can offer support.
- All clubs will be issued with leaflets, optional smoking cessation brief advice training, logos and access to information about the initiative on the league website.
