Knowledge Nuggets

New research reported in the Journal of Sport Science examined the impact of a subtle grammatical difference in self-talk. When using second-person self-talk (e.g. you can tolerate the pain, you can keep going), participants completed a 10km cycling time trial significantly quicker, worked harder, yet did not perceive a difference in effort, compared to when...

Delegations from 33 countries will gather in one week for the opening ceremonies of the Parapan American Games. The Games, running from August 23 to September 1, will welcome more than 1,800 athletes competing in 17 sports. Watch SIRC’s daily News Hub and social media platforms for Games-related content! Visit the SIRC website to connect.

In the lastest blog in our #HeadstrongCanada series, SIRC talks to Dr. Andy Marshall, Chief Medical Officer of the Canadian Parapan Am and Paralympic Team, about the importance of clear protocols and proactive concussion prevention and management strategies. Click here to read today’s blog and access the others in the series.

“Don’t Retire Kid” is a new campaign from ESPN, in partnership with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, to address youth dropout from sport. The campaign draws attention to the causes of youth dropout – including early specialization, pressure from parents and coaches, and lack of fun. Practical resources are available from the Aspen Institute and...

Coaches can support positive youth development by intentionally supporting #lifeskills transfer amongst youth athletes. Key strategies include the integration of structured opportunities for athletes to reflect on the transfer process; creating opportunities for athletes to apply life skills in other contexts (e.g. volunteering in the community); and engaging others in supporting the transfer process, such...

Congratulations Team Canada! The Pan American Games closed yesterday, with Team Canada winning 151 medals (35 gold, 64 silver, and 52 bronze), including a number of first-ever Canadian Games medals (e.g. wrestling, golf, triathlon mixed relay, and taekwondo poomsae). Canadian athletes also earned seven qualifications for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Sport fans across the...

Wondering how athletes at the Pan American and Parapan American Games cope with the pressures of social media? Learn how one Olympic team managed their social media use in this SIRC blog by curler Lisa Weagle.

The Pan American Games feature a number of unique sports that aren’t included at the Olympic Games. These include: roller artistic skating, roller speed skating, extreme canoe slalom, racquetball, squash, water ski and wakeboard. Which of these sports did you most enjoy during the Games? Complete our twitter poll!

At the Pan and Parapan Am Games, the service environment an athlete experiences can influence their competitive performance. For event managers, creating a great games experience entails meeting athletes’ basic needs (proper nutrition, good sleeping conditions), ensuring good training facilities for preparation, and providing social activities to alleviate competition stress. Learn more in this SIRC...

Swimming events kick off today at the Pan American Games. In this short video from CBC Sports, Head Coach Ben Titley describes how Swimming Canada is using data analytics and video feedback to support athlete performance, leveraging technology to to assess race plan execution, provide pool-side feedback, and even inform recovery.