Knowledge Nuggets

Capturing the innovative ideas and energy generated during retreats and planning sessions once staff and volunteers are back in their daily routines can be difficult. Documenting insights in vivid ways, findings ways to reactivate “aha” moments, and holding people accountable for tasks and associated deadlines can help sport leaders turn insight into execution.

Infographic Consumption of carbohydrates both before and during competition is a nutritional strategy commonly recommended to soccer players to maintain energy stores and avoid declines in physical and skilled performance. However, carbohydrate consumption at the beginning of the inactive half-time break in soccer and similar sports can peak blood glucose levels and negatively impact second...

Nutrition Finding inspired ideas to fuel active kids can be a challenge. Young athletes needs carbohydrates to fuel them through the day, and protein or healthy fat when participating in intense activities longer than 1.5 hours. Here are some healthy after school and pre-game snacks for active kids.

Teaching moment Findings from a recent Canadian study confirm the importance of early intervention to develop habits that support life-long participation in sport and physical activity. Research results indicate that children that were inactive during childhood were less likely to be active during adolescence.

  SIRC Blog Endurance athletes need to persevere through pain in training and competition. According to Kent University’s Samuele Marcora “our mind is what dictates our physical limits”. Fortunately, perception of effort can be manipulated with the use of three mental skills: goal-setting, motivation, and self-talk.  

Infographic Do you ever wonder about the value of small surfaces or fields for children’s sport? This infographic based on data captured by the NHL’s data analytics division, indicates that young athletes playing on a cross-ice surface touched the puck more often, attempted more passes, and took twice the number of shots as kids who...

Best Practice A first in Commonwealth Games history, the Queensland Government led the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan that articulates a commitment to delivering genuine and meaningful outcomes for Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Plan is designed to create a lasting legacy from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games through employment and training...

Nutrition Caffeine is one of the most popular performance enhancing supplements among athletes. However, based on findings from a Dublin City University-led study, it’s recommended that athletes who regularly consume caffeine reduce their consumption in the lead-up to a big performance if they want to receive the performance enhancing benefits of a caffeine supplement.

Leadership Many assume that “workaholics” – those who toil long hours and constantly think about work – are at higher risk for poor health. However, findings from a recent study suggest satisfaction and engagement were better predictors of health than the number of hours worked. Managers should intervene with staff who seem unhappy – employees...

Blog Sport for development involves tapping into what sport can do “intentionally” to address a range of community priorities, including community building, reduced youth criminal behavior, health promotion, Indigenous youth engagement, economic revitalization, newcomer settlement, inclusion and the improvement of quality of life for past and current members of Canada’s military.