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SIRC articles provide evidence-based and actionable insights from sport researchers, athletes, coaches, sport organizations and thought leaders to advance sport in Canada.

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The unanimous choice: How a 12-year-old girl became captain of a boys’ hockey team

There is an assumption in sports that leadership is earned through tenure, skill, and a certain kind of presence—the intangible, ineffable quality that separates the good from the great. But every once in a while, a story emerges that challenges those assumptions and more. In Sarnia, Ontario, a 12-year-old girl named Laylah Stokes did just…

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Showing 1-10 of 18 Results

The hidden currents of Canadian sport: A deep dive with SIRC’s new podcast 

April 14, 2025
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Paula Baker
In the world of sports, we often celebrate the visible: the gold medals, the game-winning goals, the perfect routines executed under the bright lights of competition. But beneath the surface of every athletic performance lies a complex web of forces—psychological,...

Beyond the game: The power of positive psychology in sport

April 2, 2025
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Paula Baker
In the world of elite sports, the focus has traditionally been on performance metrics, rigorous training regimens, and strategies for winning. But what if the secret to sustained success lies not just in physical prowess, but in the mind? Enter...

The Unspoken Battle: How Body Image Shapes Sport Performance

February 19, 2025
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Paula Baker
For athletes, sport is about pushing limits of skill, strength, and endurance. But what happens when the greatest challenge isn’t physical at all? For many, especially young athletes, the most persistent struggle exists in their own minds: body image.  Dr....

Exercise is medicine: Sport contributes to Canadian student well-being and chances of academic success 

April 10, 2024
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Linda Pagani
Only 8% of school age Canadian students meet the recommended daily goal of more than 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Youth mental health problems have doubled over the past 2 decades. As family life represents a primary vehicle for child...

Balancing Act: Navigating weight cutting in sports for athlete well-being  

March 27, 2024
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Kai Harada
Weight cutting in sport sounds harsh because it is. As a U19 national champion wrestler with international experience and a mixed martial artist, I have first-hand experience losing weight in a short amount of time to compete in my desired...

Being Alive and at Risk: Building a Meshwork of Risk and Health Among Young Adults 

February 19, 2024
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Braden McKenzie
Introduction and Context  The research explores the concept of risk in relation to young adults’ participation in diverse sport and leisure environments. Because of the many broad and divergent definitions of risk as well as its all-encompassing and evolving nature...

The impact of COVID-19 on the everyday lives and wellbeing of Atlantic University Sport hockey players 

April 17, 2023
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Cheryl MacDonald
Project summary This exploratory study examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives and wellbeing of Atlantic University Sport (AUS) ice hockey players around the cancellation of competition in the Fall of 2020 and beyond. It was...

The importance of the pelvic floor in returning to physical activity after childbirth

July 20, 2022
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Iris Lesser and Megan Sawatsky
After childbirth, mothers have numerous concerns about their postpartum body and its capacity for returning to physical activity. One of the worries is whether physical activity may negatively affect the pelvic floor after pregnancy and delivery. The pelvic floor is...

The relocation experiences of aboriginal athletes pursuing sport in Euro-Canadian contexts

March 29, 2021
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Amy Blodgett
View the summary of this research here. Project summary Researchers have documented the importance of sport in the lives of Aboriginal people, emphasizing how it can improve health and wellness. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the cultural...

Exploring social support, sport participation, and rural women’s health using Photovoice

November 16, 2020
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Beverly Leipert
Project Summary Research Objectives: Conclusions: See Results Research methods Study participants used the photovoice method which includes picture taking with cameras, recording in log books, and group interviews. Participants first participated in a Research Orientation session, then took relevant photos...

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