Knowledge Nuggets

Blog June 2nd is National Health and Fitness Day, designed to draw attention to declining rates of physical activity and increasing rates of preventable illness. More than 350 community events are planned across the country to promote the use of local health, recreational, sports and fitness facilities. This week’s blog provides tips for families to...

Infographic If athletic success is 90% mental and 10% physical, we would be well-advised to add a mental training component to all of our athletes’ training plans. This infographic provides an overview of findings from a meta-analytic review of the effects of mindfulness practice on sport performance. Benefits include a higher sense of control, reduced...

Coaching Tip Tracking is a powerful tool to motivate active living. Research shows that people who track their progress are far more likely to reach their goals. Just like a map, tracking helps you figure out where you are and allows you to plot a course to where you want to be.

Injury Prevention Research from the University of Connecticut supports a multi-sport approach for injury prevention. Young athletes who engaged in more than one sport in a given year were more than twice as likely to exhibit good neuromuscular control when performing certain landing skills. Good neuromuscular control when landing can prevent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)...

Video A video based on ParticipACTION’s new Pulse Report shares seven facts about the “pulse” of physical activity in Canada. The report explores Canadians’ thoughts, feelings and motivations as they relate to physical activity and informs what shifts are needed in order to make physical activity a vital part of everyday life in Canada.

Blog While professional teams and leagues have professionals dedicated to maintaining a presence for their fans year-round, most amateur sport organizations have one or two individuals who handle communications and marketing off the sides of their desk. This week’s blog shares tips for strategic communication activities to build strong connections between your organization, fans, key...

Nutrition Many elite and recreational athletes rely on energy from grains containing gluten to maintain energy levels, regulate blood sugar, prevent fatigue, and support recovery. However, as many as 1 in 10 people are gluten insensitive or intolerant. In addition to avoiding unappealing digestive symptoms during training and competition, there may be performance-based reasons to...

Sport Science A new study by researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that an enzyme called FIH (Factor Inhibiting HIF) determines how muscles regulate oxygen consumption. Without the enzyme, muscles more quickly transition to anaerobic metabolism leading to the production of lactic acid and eventually exhaustion and cramping. The finding is of potential significance...

Sport development theories support multisport participation over early specialisation among children; but what does research say? A recent Canadian study that followed children over five years found that by age 15, children who focused on multiple sports when they were 10 years old had a higher likelihood of being engaged in physical activity than those...

International Day Against Homophobia May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia remain significant problems in Canadian sport. One study reported that 65% of participants (heterosexual and lesbian, gay and bisexual) believe homophobia is more common in Canadian sports than the rest of society. Another reported that...