Knowledge Nuggets

According to research, youth athletes judge the use of nutritional supplements as acceptable when the negative health consequences are low, the coach’s attitude toward the supplement is favourable, and the expectation of short-term success is high. With supplements considered by some to be a gateway to the use of prohibited substances, this has important implications...

Integration of para sport with able-bodied sport is often assumed to be the preferred participation model. But what do para athletes think? Today’s blog disrupts this assumption, calling for more research into the merits and pitfalls of integrated vs. “distinct and separate” sport from the perspective of the athletes.

Today is “Rowan’s Law Day” – commemorated annually on the last Wednesday of September to raise awareness about concussion prevention and management. Learn more about Rowan Stringer and SIRC’s Four Rs of concussion management, then use #RowansLawDay and #HeadstrongCanada online to share how you, your team, or your organization is taking action.

Number 91 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action reads: We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the… [Arctic Winter Games] …to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in...

Are you a coach that will be holding tryouts this fall? Young athletes and their parents may be unfamiliar with the tryout process. By giving specific instructions, referring to all players by name, and using encouraging language, you can ensure all players feel welcome and able to perform to their best ability. For more tips...

September 21-29, 2019 is National Coaches Week – a week to celebrate the tremendous positive impact coaches have on athletes and communities across Canada. To celebrate, online training programs through the Coaching Association of Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program are free – click here for information about accessing the training, and other National Coaches Week...

SIRC’s monthly concussion newsletter is the go-to source for best practices from Canadian and international sport organizations, and recommended resources from Sport Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The September edition shows Hockey Canada’s quest to create a sport-wide culture shift on concussions. “When the information is solid and the approach is consistent from sport to...

Think ransomware attacks only happen to international corporations? In today’s SIRC blog, Natasha Johnstone, Executive Director of Ringette Canada, shares her organization’s experience, and provides tips for how to prevent an attack and how to manage if your computer network is compromised.

Whether in the office or on the field, sport leaders can provide valuable mentoring for young employees or volunteers. According to the Harvard Business Review, leaders can support the future success of young people through four important conversations: how to build resilience; how to influence others; how to job craft; and how to break out...

Media coverage of tennis sensation Bianca Andreescu during the US Open provides insight into what quality coverage of women’s sport should be. Andreescu’s rise was covered with “hype and enthusiasm,” storylines focused on her athleticism and mental toughness, and decisions were made to expand coverage to build on national excitement (in one case pre-empting a...