Knowledge Nuggets

Osteoporosis is the breakdown of bones, which can lead to an increased risk of injury. Research shows that regular exercise can promote bone strength, which can help with the prevention and management of osteoporosis. Activities that promote bone strength include moderate-intensity weight-bearing exercises such as jogging and resistance training exercises such as deadlifts and leg...

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...

Growing up many youth athletes goals and aspirations are to be professional or high performance athletes later in life. This fixation on wanting to be high performance often leads them to want to specialize in sport as early as possible. However, a recent study suggests that to maximize athletic development youth under 12 should avoid...

Motor learning is the process of acquiring and refining new skills like movements and strategy through practice. By understanding the principles of motor learning, coaches can create an environment where athletes can learn and develop their skills more effectively. This SIRC blog gives a brief explanation of 2 motor learning concepts and provides examples on...

As we grow older our daily routines and activities change to meet how we feel both physically and mentally. A common activity that is engaged in less with age is sport and overall physical activity, as it can be hard to move in ways that we used to be able to. However, a recent study...