Knowledge Nuggets

In 1980, Terry Fox ran 5,374 kilometers, completing close to a marathon a day for 143 days, to raise funds for cancer research. Terry’s legacy lives on across Canada and around the work through community Terry Fox Runs and Terry Fox School Runs, being held on September 15th and 26th respectively. Click here for run...

Music is often used as a dissociative strategy to draw attention away from the body’s physiological responses to exercise such as an increased heart rate or sore muscles. While listening to fast tempo, motivational music during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions, new research from the University of British Columbia showed participants exhibited higher heart rates...

Approximately twenty years after introducing its first concussion prevention and awareness program, Hockey Canada says it’s a very different sport landscape now. Changing norms and attitudes have helped increase appreciation for the risks and consequences of concussion, creating an environment that’s far more accepting of strong protocols and policies. Read more in this week’s SIRC...

Healthy school lunches provide children with essential vitamins and minerals for healthy growth and development, and the energy and nutrients they need throughout the day for learning and active play. Health Canada recommends engaging children in planning their meals to make it more likely that they eat and enjoy their food. Looking for tips? Check...

Bianca Andreescu made history on Saturday as the first Canadian tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles championship. Her success is attributed, in part, to her mental toughness. Learn how athletes manage stress and stay focused through goal setting, self-talk, imagery and arousal control in this article from The Conversation.

“Deselection,” or being cut from a team, can have negative emotional, social and physical consequences for athletes. These include loss of friends and social circles, reduced self-esteem, decreased physical activity, and impacts on long-term engagement in sport. Learn how coaches can improve the experience for athletes, and consider alternative participation models, in the SIRCuit.

Are you a teacher looking for new ideas to activate your students during class, recess or after school; or a coach looking to refresh your practices? The Playworks Game Library and Active for Life Activity Database let you search activities by age, skill, group size, and more!

With varsity teams stepping onto fields across Canada, the risk of hazing is undeniable. However, research indicates that coaches can be the largest influence in changing the culture of hazing when they are actively engaged in educating and working with team leaders to introduce alternative orientations. Learn more in the SIRCuit.

Congratulations Team Canada! The Parapan American Games closed on Sunday, with Team Canada capturing a total of 60 medals (17 gold, 21 silver, and 22 bronze), and qualifications for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games for the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams. Congratulations to all 151 members of the Canadian Parapan American Team – click...

Positive experiences in sport provide a foundation for participation, regardless of whether athletes are participating in community sport programs or competing at the Parapan American Games. The Quality Parasport Participation Framework identifies six “building blocks” of positive sport participation: autonomy, belonging, challenge, engagement, mastery and meaning. Learn more in the SIRC blog.