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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
Tel: 1-800-CDC-INFO
(1-800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
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Smoke Free Soccer—Coaches Manual
Policy
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Smoking is a serious problem. The
U.S. Surgeon General says that young people who
smoke are risking their health both on and off the
field. Smokers suffer from problems that make it
harder for them to play sports. The long-term health
problems cause by smoking may seem to be in the
distant future, but they're real. Each year, smoking
kills more people than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse,
car crashes, murders, suicides and fire - combined!
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We also know that young people who play strenuous sports like
soccer are less likely to smoke. For these reasons - and many
others - we encourage you to make your team and league SmokeFree
by adopting the following policies:
- SmokeFree kids should
play on SmokeFree fields. Players and coaches should
encourage family members and fans to avoid smoking
at games and practices.
- Refuse tobacco company
advertising or sponsorship of any type.
- Discuss your support
of SmokeFree soccer policies at preseason meetings
of coaches and families.
- Show your support.
Display the SmokeFree Soccer logo on team or league
uniforms and publications.
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The Real Deal About
Tobacco
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Smoking cuts down on fitness. So if you smoke, you're
not going to be able to run as fast or as far as your
smoke-free teammates or opponents!
- Smoking slows down lung growth and makes
it harder to breathe. That can leave you gulping for
air when you need it most!
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Teen smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost
three times as often as teens who don't smoke. Breath
is something an athlete can't afford to be short on!
- Three out of four teens who smoke every
day say they keep smoking because it's really hard to
quit. Do you want to be hooked on nicotine or sports?
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Compared to nonsmokers at rest, the hearts of young
adult smokers beat an extra two or three times per minute.
So in competition, a smoker's body wastes a lot of heartbeats
just trying to keep up with non-smokers!
- Teen smokers produce phlegm (yuck!)
more than twice as often as teens who don't smoke. Ever
try breathing and spitting at the same time?
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Page last updated 02/28/2007