Knowledge Nuggets

Did you know? The idea of “exercise as medicine” took on new “internal” meaning with a publication in the Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Researchers found an association between cardiovascular fitness and beneficial bacteria in the gut. Good gastrointestinal health can help prevent a range of physical and mental health issues.

Blog To be intentional in their approach to delivering a quality youth sport programs, coaches should: 1) utilize a program framework or structure, 2) foster positive relationships with and between youth, 3) integrate both sport and life skills, 4) empower youth engagement and youth voice, and 5) use the power of reflection and evaluation. Learn...

Healthy Habits Start the school year right with good physical activity habits. Regular participation can boost problem solving skills, memory, creativity, focus and attention, and the ability to cope with anxiety.

Did you know? Looking for something new to spice up your workout routine? The newest unconventional workout “flooding” the nation is mermaid swimming classes! “Mermaiding” is a combination of fantasy and fitness, providing a full body workout – while wearing a mermaid tail.

Technology Coaches and athletes often use previous race footage to assess technique and strategy.  Researchers have found a new use for old race footage – assessing climate change. Analysis of television footage from the Tour of Flanders professional bike race shows the same 46 trees blooming earlier than they did 35 years ago.

Blog The concept of marginal gains has caused many teams to chase gains relating to nutrition, physiology, psychology, technology, and strength and conditioning. But what if a marginal gains approach was directed at improving organizational systems as a way to support performance? Learn more in this week’s SIRC blog.

Mental Health Athlete burnout is a common issue, but high-performance coaches can experience burnout, too. Like with athletes, access to social support and mental health resources can help coaches make a full recovery.

Leadership Are your interview practices stuck in a rut? Revamp your processes with sage advice from an expert recruiter about key questions and effective practices to build your candidate pool and ultimately strengthen your team.

Technology Before buying your next pair of running shoes, make sure you’re not falling for a marketing gimmick. Research has shown that highly cushioned running shoes do not reduce impact, or change a runner’s stride.  

Sport Parents In the US, 70% of referees quit within the first three years, primarily due to abuse and harassment from coaches and parents. The worst incidents occur during games where the players are under 8 years old. In Oklahoma, one youth soccer referee is posting videos capturing parental behavior as a strategy to change bad...