SIRC articles provide evidence-based and actionable insights from sport researchers, athletes, coaches, sport organizations and thought leaders to advance sport in Canada.
Introduction Adolescence is a pivotal stage marked by increased vulnerability to the development of body image concerns, disordered eating, and eating disorders. For adolescents involved in sport, where they may face pressure to conform to a certain body type to progress and achieve success, the risk may be even more pronounced. Consider some of the…
Masters athletes, typically aged 35 and above (although different sports have different entry ages into masters sport), often surpass the peak performance years of their sport. Despite this, Masters athletes participate in rule-governed, organized sport activities that require formal registration...
It all started with a simple idea: a banner with the words, “You are loved.” Nestled in the heart of Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador, a subtle transformation is taking place. Danielle LeDrew, a teacher fueled by boundless enthusiasm at...
This week, the Invictus Games returned to Canada, with an incredible 8 days of adaptive sports that bring together service members and veterans from across the globe. This isn’t just another sporting event. The Invictus Games are an international sport...
For Masters athletes, the finish line isn’t a signal to stop, it’s an invitation to continue, proving that age isn’t the end of the race but just another part in the journey of sport. Staying active throughout life is essential...
Introduction There’s no point in writing on this blog that sport and physical activity are beneficial on a social, physical, cognitive and even societal level, because you and I, who work in the field, are convinced of this. What may...
Highlights The engagement and retention of adult sport participants is often overlooked within sport systems and organizations that focus predominantly on youth Despite coaches playing a key role in Masters sport, there are no clearly identified pathways into Masters coaching...
After 2020 surprised us all with a global pandemic, many of us looked to 2021 with hope for a gradual return to our pre-pandemic “normal.” And with the widespread rollout and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines across the country, the activities...
Bradley Young, Scott Rathwell, and Bettina Callary
Paradoxically, Masters sport is equally celebrated and ignored. Masters athletes are celebrated because they are motivated, goal-oriented, and determined to thrive at ages when sport participation has traditionally waned – they defeat stereotypes and allow us to rethink possibilities. Yet...
Project Summary Sport involvement in Canada drops precipitously as we age. Recent Canadian data indicate that participation rates are highest in young Canadians, with 54% between the ages of 15 and 19 taking part in sporting activity. By age 55,...
Project Summary This research explored the use of sport-based video games (or ‘exergames’) in activity programs for older persons. In recent years, games like ‘Wii Bowling’ for the Nintendo Wii gaming system have become popular in seniors’ centres in Canada,...
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