Community Sport
Community sport plays a vital role in bringing people together, promoting physical health, and fostering social connections. Explore resources that support local programs, and encourage participation across all ages and abilities.
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Top 10 resources
- Policy Framework for Recreation in Canada
- Long Term Athlete Development Model
- SIRCuit Article: Leveling the playing field: Accessibility in youth basketball
- SIRC Article: Schools play a key role in supporting youth physical activity
- SIRCuit Article: Taking Action: Community Sport Organizations and Social Responsibility
- SCRI Panel: Trending topics in youth sport
- SIRCuit Article Building Capacity in Community Sport Organizations
- SIRCuit Article: Giving Due Deliberation to Masters Athletes: The Time has Come
- Power of Sport: The True Sport Report 2022
- SCRI Keynote: Punching above our weight – The balance is better journey of culture change in New Zealand Aotearoa
Featured resource
Patti Millar, University of Windsor
Featured resource
SIRC and Queen's University
Featured resource
University of Sherbrooke and SIRC
Quick Facts
What is community sport?
Community sport refers to organized physical activities that take place within a local community and are accessible to people of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds. These activities are typically non-competitive or recreational and are designed to promote health, social interaction, and community engagement.
They are often organized by local clubs, schools, recreational centers, or community groups and can include a wide range of activities such as youth soccer leagues, adult basketball games, swimming lessons, and fitness classes. The focus is on participation, enjoyment, and fostering a sense of belonging within the community.
What are the benefits of participating in community sport?
The benefits that contribute to individual well-being, social cohesion, and overall community health include:
- Physical Health: Can improve cardiovascular health, enhances strength and endurance, and helps in maintaining a healthy weight.
- Mental Health: Can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and provide an opportunity for social interaction, which can improve mental well-being.
- Social Inclusion: Can foster a sense of belonging and inclusion by bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, building relationships and strengthening community bonds.
- Skill Development: Helps individuals develop physical skills, teamwork, leadership, and discipline, which can be beneficial in other areas of life.
- Youth Development: For young people, it can offer an outlet for energy, teaching important life skills, and providing positive role models.
- Community Engagement: Events and activities encourage volunteerism, local pride, and community spirit, contributing to a more connected and supportive community.
- Economic Benefits: Can boost local economies by attracting visitors, creating jobs, and promoting local businesses through events and activities.
How does community sport support youth development?
It plays a vital role in youth development by providing a structured environment for learning teamwork, discipline, leadership, and resilience. It also promotes healthy lifestyles and positive social interactions. Through regular participation, young people gain valuable life skills, build self-esteem, and develop a strong sense of community, which contributes to their overall growth and future success.
What is the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model?
The Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) framework is designed to guide the development of athletes from early childhood through to adulthood. It outlines specific stages to optimize training, competition, and recovery according to the age and development of the athlete. The stages are:
- Active Start
- FUNdamentals
- Learn to Train
- Train to Train
- Train to Compete
- Train to Win
- Active for Life
The LTAD ensures that athletes develop their skills and physical abilities at the appropriate pace, reducing the risk of burnout and injury. By emphasizing age-appropriate development and long-term progression, the LTAD model supports sustainable growth and peak performance in sports.
Video Resources
Multiculturalism and physical culture: The case of the GTA
- Centre for Sport Policy Studies and SIRC
- 2014
SCRI Michelle Dionne – Sociocultural Barriers to Women’s Participation in Sport (Part 1)
- Toronto Metropolitan University and SIRC
- 2011
SIRC Talks: Monitoring Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend Their Habits with Mathieu Bélanger
- University of Sherbrooke and SIRC
- 2019
Michele K Donnelly
- University of Southern California and SIRC
- 2013
SCRI: Infrastructure & Expertise A model to investigate effective training through LTAD (Part 2)
- Brock University and SIRC
- 2011
Psychosocial constructs influencing parental support for youth with a physical impairment’s sport participation
- Queen's University and SIRC
- 2014
Knowledge Nuggets
knowledge nuggets
Perfectionistic traits and distance running
In competitive sports, understanding how to achieve peak performance is crucial. This study found that athletes with perfectionistic traits performed better in a 10K run
In competitive sports, understanding how to achieve peak performance is crucial. This study found that athletes with perfectionistic traits performed better in a 10K run and a half-marathon, indicating that a drive for perfection can enhance results in distance running.
knowledge nuggets
Benefits of sport in individuals with disabilities
Sports participation offers benefits for all, including those with disabilities, by enhancing functionality and reducing anxiety. This review explores these benefits, emphasizing positive outcomes like
Sports participation offers benefits for all, including those with disabilities, by enhancing functionality and reducing anxiety. This review explores these benefits, emphasizing positive outcomes like socialization, enjoyment, and opportunities to challenge stereotypes among individuals with disabilities.
knowledge nuggets
Mental fatigue and sport performance
Mental fatigue is common among many athletes due to the high cognitive demands of sport. Mental fatigue in athletes has been shown to significantly impair
Mental fatigue is common among many athletes due to the high cognitive demands of sport. Mental fatigue in athletes has been shown to significantly impair both endurance and technical abilities, such as passing and shooting accuracy.
knowledge nuggets
Socioeconomic background and sport participation
One major barrier to sport participation is often financial constraints. In high-income countries, children and adolescents from higher socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to participate
One major barrier to sport participation is often financial constraints. In high-income countries, children and adolescents from higher socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to participate in organized sports and meet physical activity guidelines than those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
knowledge nuggets
Non-contact boxing and mental health
While the mental health benefits of physical activity are well-documented, the specific advantages remain relatively unexplored. A recent review underscores the benefits that non-contact boxing
While the mental health benefits of physical activity are well-documented, the specific advantages remain relatively unexplored. A recent review underscores the benefits that non-contact boxing may offer such as significant relief from symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and stress.
knowledge nuggets
Training load and sport performance
Training load monitoring is crucial in sports for boosting performance and managing injury risk. This study highlights that while the data from these monitors are
Training load monitoring is crucial in sports for boosting performance and managing injury risk. This study highlights that while the data from these monitors are complex, they are vital for making informed decisions and improving both player performance and overall team success.
knowledge nuggets
Communities’ responses to sport inclusion in the Olympic Games
The inclusion of sports like skateboarding, BMX freestyle, and sport climbing in the Olympics has sparked mixed reactions within their communities. This study explores how
The inclusion of sports like skateboarding, BMX freestyle, and sport climbing in the Olympics has sparked mixed reactions within their communities. This study explores how these athletes and enthusiasts feel about joining the Olympic fold. It reveals concerns about losing their sports’ unique identities and traditions, especially as the emphasis shifts towards competition.
knowledge nuggets
Non-elite sport for mental health literacy
Organized sports have been increasingly used as a platform to promote mental health. This study found that sport-based interventions in non-elite sports, had moderate to
Organized sports have been increasingly used as a platform to promote mental health. This study found that sport-based interventions in non-elite sports, had moderate to strong positive effects on mental health literacy, including reduced stigma and increased knowledge.
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