Smoke Free Policy

Rationale

Golden Grove Cricket Club recognises that:

  • Environmental (second-hand) tobacco smoke is a health hazard and that non-smokers should be protected from it.

  • Role modelling can have a significant impact upon the junior members of the Club.

  • Smoke free areas make smoking less visible and less socially acceptable.

  • Smoke free areas support smokers who are trying to quit as well as reduce their overall cigarette consumption.

  • Outdoor smoke free areas help to reduce the amount of cigarette butt litter (reducing clean-up costs, fire risk and children’s health risk due to swallowing discarded butts).

  • Smoke free environments are advantageous in attracting new members as well as positively promoting the Club in the community.

  • As a Club with players under 18, we are required to enforce a smoke-free and vape-free area at and within ten (10) metres of a sporting venue during an organised underage sporting event, training or practice session.

Accordingly, the following policy shall apply to all members, administrators, officials, coaches, players, spectators, visitors and other volunteers and/or or staff of the Club.

General

  • Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes and other tobacco products will not be sold, including from vending machines, at any time at or by the Club.

  • Coaches, players, officials and volunteers will refrain from smoking while involved in an official capacity for the Club, on and off the field.

  • No images of Club volunteers, members, officials, coaches and players smoking at Club-related activities are to be placed on social media.

Smoke Free Areas

The Golden Grove Cricket Club requires the following areas of Harper’s Field and any other playing or training venues to be smoke free:

  • All indoor areas

  • All outdoor playing/training areas

  • All spectator areas (standing and seated, covered and uncovered)

  • All canteen, catering and eating and drinking areas

  • From 1 March 2024, smoking and vaping will be banned in all public areas at and within 10 metres of playing and viewing areas during organised under-18 sporting events, including training/practice sessions in preparation for an organised underage sporting event.

Smoke free areas will be signed (where possible) and promoted in Club materials.

Functions

  • Club functions, including social and fundraising events and meetings, held away from Club facilities are to be smoke free wherever possible.

  • If provided, smokers may only smoke at outdoor designated smoking areas and are to dispose of cigarette butts safely before entering facilities.

Non-compliance

All Club Committee members will enforce the smoke free policy; any non-compliance will be handled according to the following process:

  • Explanation of the Club policy to the person/people concerned, including identification of the areas in which smoking is permitted

  • Continued non-compliance with the policy should be handled by at least two Committee members who will use their discretion as to the action taken, which may include asking the person/people to leave the Club facilities or function.

Policy Promotion

The Club will promote the smoke-free policy regularly by:

  • Putting a copy of the policy in Club newsletters and printed member/player information and on the website.

  • Displaying a copy of the policy on the Club web site.

  • Periodic announcements to members at functions.

  • Placing non-smoking signage in prominent locations both indoors and outdoors.

The Club recognises the importance of educating Club members, particularly players, of the benefits of implementing a smoke free policy and will endeavour to provide information to assist this process.

Policy Review

Approved by Golden Grove Cricket Club Committee: November 2025

Next review date: November 2026