Knowledge Nuggets

For students, a blog writing assignment can enhance learning of course concepts through opportunities to self-reflect and put the research into their own words. Blogs are also an important tool for delivering evidence-based research and information to sport stakeholders. In the SIRC blog, discover three steps that instructors can use to integrate blog writing into...

Does age of entry into sport influence girls’ future sport participation? A new study suggests that girls who begin participating in sports from the ages of 6 to 9 have higher retention rates than those who begin participating later in life. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted retention strategies and supportive sport environments for adolescent girls...

Compared to early specializers, youth who participate in multiple sports early in their development often experience fewer injuries, enhanced movement skills and a greater likelihood of long-term sports participation. But in Canada’s North, sport participation opportunities for youth can be few and far between. Discover how table tennis and hockey came together to enhance player...

While often overlooked, students and volunteers can be great human resources for conducting evaluations in sport. To harness these resources, partnerships between sport organizations and researchers in university-based settings are a good place to start. Researchers can collaborate with sport organizations to build capacity in students and volunteers, while leveraging the diverse experiences and knowledge...

Did you know that some athletes are at a higher risk of sustaining a concussion than others? Recent research found that female soccer players are 1.8 times more likely to sustain a concussion than male soccer players. Coaches can work with female athletes on risk reduction strategies, such as proper heading techniques in soccer, to help reduce...

While many of us are familiar with physical literacy (the motivation, confidence, competence, and knowledge to be physically active for life), ethical literacy (the ability to collect and evaluate information, reflect on one’s own moral values and take responsibility for one’s actions) may be a new concept. When physical literacy and ethical literacy are learned...

The SIRC Team wishes everyone an active and safe holiday season. Our office will be closed December 24, 2021 – January 4, 2022. The online job postings and daily news service will operate on a reduced holiday schedule.

After an Indigenous teen was the target of racist comments at a minor hockey game in 2019, Hockey Nova Scotia acted quickly. Sixteen months later, Hockey Nova Scotia released its final report and recommendations from the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force. The report outlines 12 recommendations for making minor hockey more accessible and inclusive.

Referees and sport officials play an important role in improving concussion safety by calling for injury assessments. Researchers have found that when referees and officials feel confident in their concussion knowledge and supported by sport stakeholders, they are more likely to call for an injury assessment. These findings highlight the importance of improving concussion education...

The Safe Sport journey involves a cultural change in sport. Such a change can challenge traditionally accepted assumptions and practices, such as having coaches share hotel rooms with athletes to save costs or using exercise as punishment. For sport leaders, understanding the process of change and associated emotions (i.e., denial, resistance, exploration, commitment) is important...