Knowledge Nuggets

Ultramarathons – 50 miles, 100 miles, or longer – test an athlete’s body and mind. These races offer extreme challenges, from pain in muscles and joints, to gastrointestinal distress, to blisters, chafing, mental fatigue and dehydration. Learn how an athlete must learn to navigate these challenges in this video.

New research about sport organization resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic suggests adaptability, a clear sense of purpose or identity, strong networks, and good timing have contributed to success during this turbulent time.

Today is World Health Day, a global initiative to create awareness around important health issues. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, and other health conditions. While physical distancing measures are necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, finding strategies to maintain and improve health –...

Research about the community sport experiences of second-generation African Canadian girls identifies several challenges to participation. Tips to support participation include all-female spaces, providing concurrent programming for younger siblings, and engaging multicultural health navigators to build trusting relationships with families. 

An investigation by CBC Sports of key positions in Canadian university athletics departments revealed only 10% were held by BIPOC individuals. Other research has demonstrated the underrepresentation of BIPOC student-athletes in every sport and team. Learn about anti-racism efforts at the University of Toronto.

Children of families with low socio-economic status face often barriers to developing the motor skills needed to enjoy and engage in physical activity and sport throughout life (e.g., limited access to sport equipment at home, reduced parental support, and fewer financial resources). To address motor skill inequalities, targeted interventions should consider developmentally appropriate activities to...

Verbal feedback from a coach during practice can direct an athlete’s focus internally (on body movements) or externally (on the intended movement effect). Research participants instructed to focus externally (e.g. “accelerate the dart” or “hit the target”) outperformed peers who were instructed to focus internally (e.g. “accelerate the forearm” or “hand to target”).

Can standardized drills designed to measure strength, speed and explosiveness predict success in complex sports such as football? Analysis from sport scientists at the University of Rhode Island found the NFL Scouting Combine can predict only 20-25 percent of a player’s future success, and fails to capture intangible traits such as leadership, drive and “mental...

A CBC Sports investigation revealed that nearly $8 million has been stolen from dozens of sports leagues and associations across Canada in the last decade, almost all of it by someone inside the organization. Learn how sport organizations can reduce their risk to fraud in the SIRC blog.

According to the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, children and youth (5–17 years) should limit recreational screen time to 2 hours per day and efforts should be made to interrupt extended periods of sitting. Check out this infographic for tips on creating a family media plan that includes screen-free family meals and the use “device baskets.”