Knowledge Nuggets

Wondering how you can help your team “work smart” (being productive, not just busy) during this time of video and conference call overload? Learn how to use an intentional approach to managing internal communication in the SIRC blog.

Researchers have long-studied the subtle biases that can influence home-court advantage, including a spirited crowd, less travel fatigue, familiar surroundings, and even altitude. New findings from Simon Fraser University now add a referee bias to the home-court advantage research. The analysis from the scores of 100,000 NCAA basketball games revealed the referees favoured the home...

Transformational leadership is a relational process through which leaders develop others and their performance through inspiration and empowerment. In the latest edition of the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching, the University of Calgary’s Cari Din shares how she is integrating transformational behaviours into her online leadership, including individualized consideration, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, and...

Engaging in regular physical activity can reduce the risk of viral infection, but exercising too much – either too hard or for too long – can have the opposite effect. To optimize your immune function, follow this simple yet evidence-based rule of thumb: Limit physical activity to 60 minutes or less at an average heart...

“It is conflicting to be so passionate about the environment and sport at the same time, when some days they work very well together and others they are at odds.” In the SIRC blog, the Canada Games Council sits down with two former Canada Games athletes – pro snowboarder Craig McMorris and Olympic steeplechaser Geneviève...

Match manipulation is a deliberate and coordinated effort to influence elements of a sporting contest – from the outcome of the game, as well as elements within it (coin toss, first team to score, point spread, etc.). What better way to stack the odds in your favour when there are potentially thousands of dollars –...

Research finds elite NHL and collegiate hockey players often begin playing sports around 4 years of age, but only specialize in hockey at, on average, age 14. Experts suggest that because hockey requires players to master a wide variety of physical movements, there is a benefit to training in multiple sports at a young age...

Thinking of developing a new program or initiative? Before you start, research suggests completing a “capacity audit” to identify any gaps in available resources. The audit could include human resources (e.g., number of volunteers, level of expertise among executive members), financial resources (e.g., availability and stability of funds), existing relationships (e.g., quality of partnerships), planning (e.g., alignment with...

In a survey of Gymnastics Canada members and stakeholders, 100% felt adding the True Sport Principles to the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) courses would be an effective strategy to provide coaches with education and training to deliver quality sport experiences. This supported the creation of a new e-Learning course developed to reflect Gymnastics Canada’s...

Canadian athletes have embraced Plato’s contention that “necessity is the mother of invention” during the COVID-19 pandemic, being creative with their training plans and tapping into the physical and mental resources needed to stay at the top of their game. In the SIRCuit, athletes, team leaders, and top medical experts explore the challenges and silver...