SIRC articles provide evidence-based and actionable insights from sport researchers, athletes, coaches, sport organizations and thought leaders to advance sport in Canada.
Superstars or a super-team? Building capacity to play like a championship team
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 that turns a group of individuals into an unstoppable force. Take the 1972 Miami Dolphins,…
By Mathieu Bélanger, Ph.D. and François Gallant, Ph.D. Images created by Michaël Garcia
It turns out that what we thought was evidence-based… was not. You heard it loud and clear many times before; we should encourage children to engage in a large variety of sports and avoid falling into the trap of early...
A Canadian flag draped around her shoulders, a beaming, then-18-year-old Marina Stakusic is flanked by captain Heidi El Tabakh and Gabriela Dabrowski on the hard courts of Estadio de la Cartuja. Just minutes earlier, Leylah Annie Fernandez flung her racquet...
Overview To achieve excellence, athletes must dedicate themselves not only to honing their physical fitness, but also to mastering the intricacies of their psychological skills. While extensive research has probed into the psychological attributes, states, and competencies of elite athletes,...
Mentorship is a powerful resource with the potential to positively influence the growth and success of people in sport. Mentoring is a relationship where one or multiple mentors (i.e., a senior person in age or experience) provide guidance and support...
In the halls of BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Scott Ramsay witnessed a disconcerting pattern: children with concussions were being referred to the hospital too late, their symptoms already complex and challenging to manage. For Ramsay, a former professional hockey...
As the calendar turns to a new year, the doors of opportunity swing wide open, especially within the Canadian sport sector. Teams are actively seeking the right individuals to fuel their ambitious objectives, aiming to build momentum in the months...
As we bid farewell to another transformative year in the realm of sports, the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) takes a moment to reflect on the most impactful and thought-provoking blog articles that have resonated with our readers. In 2023,...
Dr. Diane M. Culver, Dr. Timothy Konoval, Siobhan Rourke, Sydney Graper, and Rabia Ozturk Kizilkaya
In May 2023, the National Coaching for Para Sport Summit (NCPS) took place at the Steadward Centre. A collaborative effort between uOttawa, the University of Alberta, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), the summit...
Tennis is more than a sport; it’s a gateway to empowerment and inclusivity. Its appeal lies in the rhythm of the game, the strategy, and the ability to bond communities through a shared passion. However, accessing tennis hasn’t always been...
U SPORTS 2020 Swimming Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place, Victoria, BC, February 2020 (Photo: U SPORTS) Looking back over the last 50 years of women’s sport in Canada, it’s amazing how we have progressed to bring equity, stability, and opportunity,...
