Knowledge Nuggets

Choking is defined as a decrease in performance that happens in high pressure or anxiety-provoking situations. It often occurs in sports because of internal and external pressures that are present during competitions or big events. Visualization, practicing for pressure, developing a pre-performance routine, and developing a stress mindset can help decrease the chances of choking.

Stretching helps keep your muscles flexible, strong and healthy. Research shows that a lack of stretching puts you at risk for joint pain, strains and muscle damage. Aim to stretch daily or at least three to four times per week.

Low adherence to rehabilitation after a sports injury is a common problem. According to research, there are many person-specific factors that influence adherence including motivation, confidence/self efficacy, coping, social support, coping, and psychological skills. Athletes should find a strategy that works best for them.

Grit is defined as the combination of perseverance and passion that helps one overcome challenge. According to research, sport participation in childhood can lead to higher levels of grit in adulthood. Grit can be beneficial for stress, setbacks, failures, and helplessness, making it an important tool for wellbeing.

Teammates play an important role in supporting athletes’ mental health. Researchers found that many elite athletes feel most comfortable discussing topics related to mental health with their teammates, as they have often had similar experiences. Creating athlete support networks within teams or organizations may help reduce the stigma around mental health and help athletes openly...

As new research around concussions in sport is published, best practices must adjust to reflect new findings. To that end, a new Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport has been published. The statement includes an updated return to sport strategy and new and updated tools to support the identification and management of concussions for athletes...

New research highlights the importance for sport organizations to recognize the link between athletes’ body image, mental health, and performance. Researchers piloted a new intervention called Body Confident Coaching that showed increased coaches’ ability to address body image concerns and reduced fat phobia and gendered beliefs. The study emphasizes the need for resources to support...

We know the relationship between coaches and athletes is vital in sport as athletes depend on their coaches for guidance and support. One method to cultivate successful relationships is to use The 3+1Cs model. Research shows athletes with coach relationships with high levels of closeness, commitment, complementarity, and co-orientation achieve better performance and overall outcomes.

How involved are you in your child’s sport? Researchers found that when parents attend practices and games, their children are less likely to drop out and attribute more value to sport. A key factor however is that encouragement needs to be positive and supportive rather than feeling like a source of pressure for the child.

Joining new groups whether it be in school, work, or sport can cause individuals to feel uncreative or nervous. These feelings can arise in athletes when switching to new sports or just to new teams. In this SIRC blog we discuss the importance of athlete onboarding and provide effective strategies for bringing athletes into your...