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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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FUN MAPS: Rethinking the joy of sport

For many, sport is synonymous with fun. Its why children sign up for soccer leagues, join hockey teams, and try out for rowing clubs. But what exactly makes sport fun? And how can coaches and program leaders ensure that fun isn’t just an afterthought, but a core component of the sport experience?  Dr. Erin Sharpe,…

Coaching
Health & Lifestyle
Recreation
School Sport
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Showing 1-10 of 17 Results
Children and Youth
Girls and Women
Health and Wellbeing
Mental Health
Safe Sport Environments
Training Factors

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....
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Abuse-Free Sport
Coaching
Mental Health
Safe Sport
Safe Sport Environments
Sport Participation

Creating safe spaces in recreational sport: A mental health perspective
October 21, 2024
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Jordan Sutcliffe
Sports are often celebrated for their physical benefits, but they also play a crucial role in mental health. Participation in sports can improve mood, stress relief, and foster a sense of belonging (Bruner et al., 2018; Panza et al., 2020)....
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Mental Health
Officials and Referees
Safe Sport Environments

NoRefNoGame: The mental health costs of referee abuse in sports
October 21, 2024
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Teddy Katz
A leading sport administrator, with over 3 decades of experience working with some of the biggest sport bodies in the country, says the kind of abuse faced by referees at all levels of sport in Canada has reached a “crisis”...
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Children and Youth
Coaching
Concussion
Safe Sport Environments

The state of coaching sport: Landmark report reveals new insights and data
July 15, 2024
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Eric McLoughlin
This article is part of a series in collaboration with the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport (CHYDS) at Brock University and was presented at the CHYDS’ hosted Youth Sport Summit in April 2024. Coaching is the backbone of sport,...
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Mental Health
Safe Sport
Safe Sport Environments

Suffering in silence: Men’s and boys’ mental health are still overlooked in sport
April 17, 2024
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Michael Kehler and Gabriel Knott-Fayle
For men and boys, caring about sport typically conjures images of passionate competition and fighting for the win. This understanding of care leaves little room for self-care, health and safety, and emotional vulnerability — topics that are fraught with risks for boys...
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Indigenous
Safe Sport Environments
Sport Participation Research Initiative

A better way to do sport? Exploring the Indigenous Engagement Program’s* impact on cultural awareness and safety, Indigenous cultural inclusion, and reciprocity among U SPORTS teams 
February 12, 2024
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Nickolas Kosmenko
*Note that the Indigenous Engagement Program was previously called the Front Runner Project, but we are no longer using the latter name.  Introduction and Context Equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts are becoming commonplace among sport organizations.  It is not uncommon,...
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Abuse-Free Sport
Community Sport
Governance
Maltreatment
Officials and Referees
Safe Sport
Safe Sport Environments
Sport Participation Research Initiative

Rink Rage: Spectator Violence in Minor Hockey in Canada
October 24, 2023
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Curtis Fogel
Project Summary This study examines the prevalence, causes, and responses to parental violence, aggression, and abuse in minor hockey in Canada. It draws on 122 semi-structured, qualitative interviews with minor hockey stakeholders across Canada, and the textual analysis of media...
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Physical Health
Safe Sport
Safe Sport Environments

Saving sport collectively from poor air quality: Lessons learned from South Korea
August 30, 2023
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Eun Jung
“City of Ottawa, recreational outdoor programs & leagues are cancelled today, June 7 due to poor air quality in the Ottawa region.”  Canada is in the midst of a record-breaking year for wildfires, which directly impacts air quality. Accordingly, multiple...
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Abuse-Free Sport
Capacity Building
Coaching
High Performance
Maltreatment
Safe Sport
Safe Sport Environments
Sport Integrity
Team Culture

The challenges of shifting to a safer sport culture: High performance coach and administrator perspectives
August 21, 2023
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Eric MacIntosh, Shannon Kerwin and Alison Doherty
Highlights High performance coaches and administrators are key stewards of a shift to safer sport In our research, coaches and administrators identified 6 challenges to culture change in high performance sport: Sport is inherently unsafe Turbulent, unstable sport environment Lack...
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Concussion
Research to Practice
Safe Sport Environments

Best practices in Concussion in Sport: Updates from the Amsterdam International Consensus Statement
August 21, 2023
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Kathryn Schneider
Highlights:  Concussion is a brain injury and is among the most common injuries in contact and collision sport.  Published in June 2023, the Amsterdam Consensus Statement summarizes the latest research in concussion as of the 6th International Conference on Concussion...
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