Knowledge Nuggets

Safe, inclusive sport environments help make sport rewarding and enriching for all. The Coaching Association of Canada’s new Safe Sport Training provides decision-makers, coaches, athletes, integrated support team personnel, volunteers and other sport community stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to create those environments by recognizing, addressing and preventing maltreatment in sport. 

SIRC’s Concussion Newsletter offers up-to-date sport concussion resources for athletes, parent, coaches, and sport organizations. In the March edition, learn about the progression of concussion awareness and education in Canada, discover new resources, and read about the success of Western University’s concussion protocol.

During times of change and crisis, having a Board of Directors comprised of skilled and experienced leaders is essential. From the SIRC archives, read about Volleyball Canada’s customized approach to Board recruitment and succession planning, which involved identifying key skills and experience, creating a skills matrix for current board members, and targeted recruitment strategies.

Experts from Brock University agree that getting outside is good for your physical and mental health. Being outside and surrounded by trees, flowers and other plants stimulates physiological responses that have a positive effect on your mental health. Whether you’re strolling with the dog or setting a new 10km best time, get outside!

Check out the Spring SIRCuit! This collection of articles, provides timely and relevant research and insights relating to leadership, athlete development, and high performance sport: The Role of Nutrition in Sub-Concussion Injury Protection Engaging Youth in Evaluation Processes An Official’s Journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Supporting the Psychological Wellbeing of Athletes: What can Coaches...

The way that adolescent athletes deal with teammates’ emotions impacts their own enjoyment and commitment in sport. While competition and comparison among teammates can fuel negative emotions, athletes who compliment and support their teammates can lighten the mood. Learn more in this infographic.

In a great example of the sport community contributing to the fight against COVID-19, hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer modified its production line in Blainville, Quebec to make protective visors for doctors, nurses and first responders.

Data analytics gave the Oakland A’s a competitive advantage…until the Moneyball book and film were released. The use of data analytics has since spread throughout the sport world, negatively impacting the A’s advantage. Researchers from the University of Toronto advise, “If you have a built-in advantage, don’t ever talk about it.”

Cold-water immersion, also known as cryotherapy, has been used to treat injuries, reduce heat illness, and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. Research in the International Journal of Athletic Therapy & Training found cryotherapy reduced an athlete’s perception of soreness but had no effect on muscle performance recovery following a single bout of training.

In the latest SIRCTalks episode, University of Alberta professor Dr. Nick Holt talks about his research on parenting in youth sport. He says, “What I hope through our research is that children…and parents have better experiences in sport, and more people are involved in sport for longer.”