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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 bounce-back illusion: Why real postpartum bodies deserve the spotlight

Let’s begin with a familiar image. A woman, newly postpartum, stands in her living room. Her baby is nestled in a sling across her chest, and she’s attempting something between a squat and a stretch while simultaneously rescuing a plush giraffe from under the couch. She is not wearing Lululemon. She has not “bounced back.”…

Mothers
Women and Girls
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Showing 1-10 of 12 Results
Gender Equity
Girls and Women
Team Culture

The unanimous choice: How a 12-year-old girl became captain of a boys’ hockey team
April 14, 2025
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Paula Baker and Jennifer Coletti
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...
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Coaching
Health and Wellbeing
High Performance
Mental Health
Team Culture

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...
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Capacity Building
Governance
Leadership
Team Culture

Superstars or a super-team? Building capacity to play like a championship team
January 8, 2025
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Taylor Matthews
What makes a winning team? Is it raw talent, star power, or an overflowing budget? Think again. The most successful teams—on the field or in the office—don’t just rely on superstars. They thrive on balance, leadership, and a collective drive...
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Program Design and Evaluation
Safe Sport
Sport Integrity
Sport Participation
Team Culture

Does Culture Really Count in Sport?
December 4, 2024
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Jennifer Walinga
For the past several years, the word culture has become a familiar buzzword across Canadian sport. Headlines about “Hockey Canada’s toxic culture”, a “culture crisis at Gymnastics Canada”, and “the culture of abuse and discrimination” in several national sport organizations...
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Athlete Development
Coaching
Mental Health
Sport Integrity
Team Culture

The evolving role of coaches in athlete mental health
October 21, 2024
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Heather Wheeler
A coach’s influence  In recent years, the mental health of athletes has garnered significant attention, both on and off the global stage. With young athletes and parents talking more openly about mental health, coaches are now finding themselves at the...
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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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Athlete Development
Coaching
Sport Participation Research Initiative
Team Culture

Effects of a learning game through understanding strategy on tactical skills and performance in team sports
July 10, 2023
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Luc
Project summary   Teaching and learning tactical skills in team sport is essential to improve performances (Grehaigne & Godbout, 2014). Player’s understanding of the game is a good indication of the learning of these skills (Memmert & Perl, 2005). Unfortunately,...
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Children and Youth
Life Skills
Program Design and Evaluation
Sport for Development
Sport for Social Development
Team Culture

A culture change is coming in youth sport: How sport organizations can incorporate Sport for Development strategies
April 24, 2023
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Bryan Heal, Marika Warner, Luciano Lombardi
Highlights: This article draws on recent insights from the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Foundation’s Change the Culture, Change the Game report, offering practical recommendations for sport organizations and administrations looking to advance a more positive culture for youth in...
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High Performance
Maltreatment
Safe Sport
Team Culture

“I feel (un)safe when…”: What athletes have to say about high performance culture
July 25, 2022
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Eric MacIntosh, Shannon Kerwin and Alison Doherty
Highlights In this article, researchers present their findings about Canadian high performance athletes’ perspectives on safe and unsafe sport environments, as well as recommendations for changes Athletes identified coach behaviour, teammate or fellow athlete behaviour, lack of resources and an...
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Abuse-Free Sport
Coaching
High Performance
Leadership
Mental Health
Team Culture

Building a culture of excellence in high performance sport
July 19, 2021
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SIRC with Own the Podium
Highlights In sport, culture can determine a team’s focus and how members communicate and deal with conflict. Culture also establishes norms of acceptable behaviour and directly influences functioning and performance. Own the Podium, alongside partners the Canadian Paralympic Committee and...
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