Sport and recreation bring people together, support wellbeing and encourage active lifestyles. But spending time outdoors can also mean increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
SunSmart Sport and Recreation helps clubs, associations, recreation providers and event organisers reduce UV exposure and make sun protection part of everyday activities. By embedding sun safety into planning, policies and daily routines, organisations can help protect players, coaches, staff, volunteers and spectators from the long-term risks of UV damage and skin cancer.
Get started by choosing the area that best matches what you need.
Why sun protection in sport matters
Outdoor sport often means extended time in the sun, when UV levels can be high.
- UV damage occurs year-round, even on cloudy days
- UV exposure builds up over time
- Reflective surfaces such as water, sand and synthetic turf can increase UV exposure
- Players, volunteers, staff and spectators can all be affected
- Sporting organisations have a duty of care to protect their community and provide a safe environment
Every year in Australia, an estimated 200 melanomas and 34,000 other skin cancers are caused by UV exposure in the workplace.
Skin cancer is largely preventable.
Making sun safety part of everyday operations helps protect your sporting community, reduce skin cancer risk and create safer environments.
Did you know? A tennis player may receive over 9 times the safe daily UV dose in a single hour on court.
Communicate
Build a SunSmart culture
Sun safety works best when it is visible, consistent and supported throughout an organisation. Regular communication helps make sun protection a normal part of training, competition, events and everyday club life.
Creating a SunSmart environment starts with leadership.
When club boards, executives and facility managers prioritise sun safety, it sends a clear message that protecting people from UV exposure is part of providing a safe and supportive environment.
Leaders can:
endorse a sun protection policy
include sun safety in organisational planning
allocate responsibility for sun protection actions
support coaches, officials, volunteers and staff to model sun safety
communicate sun safety expectations throughout the season
review sun protection practices regularly
Resource:
Coaches, officials and volunteers are influential role models.
When they promote and demonstrate SunSmart behaviours, participants are more likely to adopt them as part of their routine.
They can support sun safety by:
encouraging sunscreen use before and during outdoor activities
reminding participants to use shade during breaks
supporting sun-safe clothing and hat options where suitable
adjusting activities where possible to reduce peak UV exposure
modelling sun-safe behaviours themselves
Simple, regular reminders help people know when and how to protect themselves from UV exposure.
Share SunSmart messages through:
club newsletters
registration packs
websites
social media channels
event promotions
competition-day announcements
venue signage
coach and volunteer briefings
Resources:
Creating a SunSmart environment starts with leadership.
When club boards, executives and facility managers prioritise sun safety, it sends a clear message that protecting people from UV exposure is part of providing a safe and supportive environment.
Leaders can:
endorse a sun protection policy
include sun safety in organisational planning
allocate responsibility for sun protection actions
support coaches, officials, volunteers and staff to model sun safety
communicate sun safety expectations throughout the season
review sun protection practices regularly
Resource:
Coaches, officials and volunteers are influential role models.
When they promote and demonstrate SunSmart behaviours, participants are more likely to adopt them as part of their routine.
They can support sun safety by:
encouraging sunscreen use before and during outdoor activities
reminding participants to use shade during breaks
supporting sun-safe clothing and hat options where suitable
adjusting activities where possible to reduce peak UV exposure
modelling sun-safe behaviours themselves
Simple, regular reminders help people know when and how to protect themselves from UV exposure.
Share SunSmart messages through:
club newsletters
registration packs
websites
social media channels
event promotions
competition-day announcements
venue signage
coach and volunteer briefings
Resources:
Implement
Put SunSmart practices into action
Making your organisation SunSmart does not need to be complicated.
A few practical changes to planning, communication, education and policy can help reduce UV exposure for everyone involved.
Use these steps to get started:
Sport and recreation organisations play an important role in providing a safe environment for participants, workers, volunteers, officials, members and spectators. Understanding UV risks and implementing appropriate control measures can help meet duty of care and, where relevant, work health and safety obligations.
Under work health and safety laws, employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe environment and minimise health risks, including protecting paid workers, players and volunteers from harmful UV exposure.
Resource:
A clear policy helps embed sun protection into everyday operations and provides practical guidance for staff, volunteers, participants and families.
A policy can help ensure a consistent approach across training, competition events and facilities.
Resource:
Understanding your current position is the first step to improvement.
A checklist can help identify what is working well, where gaps exist, and what can be improved.
Resource:
Turn your checklist findings into a practical, achievable plan.
An action plan can help your organisation:
set goals
allocate responsibilities
establish timeframes
monitor progress
Resource:
Events provide an important opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to sun safety and reduce UV exposure for participants, officials, volunteers and spectators.
When planning outdoor activities, consider:
checking expected UV levels
scheduling activities outside peak UV times where possible
providing or promoting shade
encouraging sun-safe clothing and hats
making sunscreen available
including sun safety messages in event communications
planning shaded rest areas and spectator spaces
Resource:
Education helps build understanding, encourage behaviour change and support consistent action.
Consider:
coach and volunteer briefings
staff inductions
newsletter and social media reminders
posters and signage at venues
online learning resources resources
regular seasonal reminders
Resource:
Sport and recreation organisations play an important role in providing a safe environment for participants, workers, volunteers, officials, members and spectators. Understanding UV risks and implementing appropriate control measures can help meet duty of care and, where relevant, work health and safety obligations.
Under work health and safety laws, employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe environment and minimise health risks, including protecting paid workers, players and volunteers from harmful UV exposure.
Resource:
A clear policy helps embed sun protection into everyday operations and provides practical guidance for staff, volunteers, participants and families.
A policy can help ensure a consistent approach across training, competition events and facilities.
Resource:
Understanding your current position is the first step to improvement.
A checklist can help identify what is working well, where gaps exist, and what can be improved.
Resource:
Turn your checklist findings into a practical, achievable plan.
An action plan can help your organisation:
set goals
allocate responsibilities
establish timeframes
monitor progress
Resource:
Events provide an important opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to sun safety and reduce UV exposure for participants, officials, volunteers and spectators.
When planning outdoor activities, consider:
checking expected UV levels
scheduling activities outside peak UV times where possible
providing or promoting shade
encouraging sun-safe clothing and hats
making sunscreen available
including sun safety messages in event communications
planning shaded rest areas and spectator spaces
Resource:
Education helps build understanding, encourage behaviour change and support consistent action.
Consider:
coach and volunteer briefings
staff inductions
newsletter and social media reminders
posters and signage at venues
online learning resources resources
regular seasonal reminders
Resource:
Learn from others
SunSmart Sports and Recreation in action
Many organisations are already taking practical steps to reduce UV exposure and create safer outdoor environments.
- Best-practice guidance
The Australian Institute of Sport’s Sun Safe Sports Position Statement provides evidence-based guidance for sporting organisations seeking best-practice approaches to sun protection. - Sun safety in action
Coming soon
SunSmart Sports and Recreation Resources
Looking for templates, posters, communication materials and practical tools?
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