Knowledge Nuggets

As climate change increasingly affects our world, its impact on sports operations is becoming more evident. This review explores how climate shifts are influencing organized competitive sports, from athlete health and performance in the heat to cities’ suitability for hosting events.

Many high-performance athletes scrutinize their own performances and often aim for perfection. A recent study delved into how perfectionistic athletes view success and failure in sports. Through interviews and season-long diaries, researchers found that an athlete’s ability to deal with failure depended on the type of perfectionism they exhibited.

Diet is important in various aspects of athlete health and well-being. This recent study highlights the role of nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns in maintaining bone health. Researchers found that bone mineral density, microstructure-estimated bone strength, and trabecular and cortical microstructure are positively linked to total protein intake.

Did you know that coaching style can significantly impact athletes’ well-being and their decision to stay in sport? For instance, a study with male soccer players revealed that a controlling coaching style was linked with player burnout. This finding underscores the importance of fostering autonomy-supportive coaching styles to enhance athletes’ wellbeing and mitigate the risk...

Parental involvement is key in aiding youth athlete development and enjoyment. A recent study highlights 4 preferences for parental involvement that aid in enhancing a child’s sporting enjoyment. 1) Show you care about your child’s sport by facilitating and prioritizing participation. 2) Listen and learn from your child to ensure you can engage in informed...

With cannabis use increasing worldwide, there is growing interest in its effects on athletic recovery and performance. THC has been shown to have mixed or negative impacts on exercise performance, however CBD has shown promise in aiding recovery by potentially improving sleep and reducing pain.

Athletes’ body composition results from a mix of genetics, sport demands, diet, and training. Metrics like fat and muscle mass play a significant role in athlete health and performance, influencing factors such as injury risk and recovery.

In sports, there are various measures for athlete psychology, with heart rate variability (HRV) becoming an increasingly popular method of measurement. Different factors such as stress, overtraining, and performance have been found to impact HRV, thus influencing athlete psychology.

Cold weather can impact sports performance, making specific guidelines for competing in cold conditions necessary. This review offers insights on how cold affects the body and provides tips for athletes and coaches to stay healthy and perform well in winter sports.

It can be hard to know when an athlete should retire from sports due to concussions. Researchers have highlighted the importance of having open discussions with athletes who have experienced concussions about the current evidence and risks of continuing to play so that they can make informed decisions about their participation or retirement. These discussions should include...