Anti-racism on campus

An investigation by CBC Sports of key positions in Canadian university athletics departments revealed only 10% were held by BIPOC individuals. Other research has demonstrated the underrepresentation of BIPOC student-athletes in every sport and team. Learn about anti-racism efforts at the University of Toronto.

Tackling Racism on Campus

George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Regis Korchinski-Paquet and D’Andre Campbell are names of Black men and women who were killed this past year. Their tragic deaths sparked a global conversation about anti-Black racism, police brutality, white supremacy and the systemic challenges that Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) face every day. Within the…

Student-Athlete Health

Alcohol misuse represents an important mental health issue for student-athletes – even moderate consumption can have negatively impact athletic and academic performance. Research has shown an athlete’s perception of their coach’s approval of alcohol use was strongly associated with drinking behaviour.

CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) is designed to facilitate the transition of student-athletes into coaching roles. Now in its 15th year, the program builds the coaching skills and confidence of student-athletes, and enhances the leadership skills of mentor coaches. Learn about the 2019-20 season apprentice/mentor duos, and access the…

Deselection in Sport

“Deselection,” or being cut from a team, can have negative emotional, social and physical consequences for athletes. These include loss of friends and social circles, reduced self-esteem, decreased physical activity, and impacts on long-term engagement in sport. Learn how coaches can improve the experience for athletes, and consider alternative participation models, in the SIRCuit.

Varsity Sport Hazing

With varsity teams stepping onto fields across Canada, the risk of hazing is undeniable. However, research indicates that coaches can be the largest influence in changing the culture of hazing when they are actively engaged in educating and working with team leaders to introduce alternative orientations. Learn more in the SIRCuit.

Volleyball Swing Volumes

Overuse injuries are common in volleyball. Research reported in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy discovered that women collegiate volleyball athletes performed twice as many overhead swings, serves, and hits during practice, compared to volumes during games (with both games and practices lasting approximately 2 hours). This has important implications for managing training, especially…

Developing Executive Functions and Social Emotional Learning Through Sport

This blog was adapted from a SIRCuit article written by Dr. Vicki Harber. For the full article, click here. Within Canada, there is some concern that an ethos of “winning at all costs” has infiltrated youth sport, degrading the quality of the sport experience resulting in reduced participation (Brenner, 2016) and increased injury (Jayanthi et…

Managing the Risk of Athlete Burnout With or Without Early Specialization

Parents who dream of their children becoming professional athletes, and coaches who believe that single-minded dedication is the only way to reach the top of their sport, have contributed to an increase in early sport specialization. However, there are many researchers, coaches, and athletes who have been pushing back on this trend, citing a range…

Hazing Policy

Most university and college athletic departments have policies that directly prohibit hazing practices. However, research revealed that hazing-related policy was often buried in broader codes of conduct or addressed in harassment and abuse policies, or that policies were poorly implemented and enforced. Creating hazing-specific policy can help organizations address and prevent hazing. Learn more in…