Knowledge Nuggets

Athlete-centered coaching focuses on facilitation and teaching by focusing on the athlete’s humanistic needs. According to research, by using this approach, athletes are empowered through 1) encouragement to discover their full potential; 2) increased independence, self reliance, and control; and 3) prioritization of personal goals over winning, amongst many other things. Coaches should aim to...

Burnout is when an athlete loses interest in a sport they play because of physical and emotional exhaustion. Some signs of burnout in young athletes include loss of motivation, drop in athletic performance, and persistent fatigue. Parents and caregivers can support their children by encouraging a variety of activities and by focusing on what the...

Choking is defined as a decrease in performance that happens in high pressure or anxiety-provoking situations. It often occurs in sports because of internal and external pressures that are present during competitions or big events. Visualization, practicing for pressure, developing a pre-performance routine, and developing a stress mindset can help decrease the chances of choking.

Stretching helps keep your muscles flexible, strong and healthy. Research shows that a lack of stretching puts you at risk for joint pain, strains and muscle damage. Aim to stretch daily or at least three to four times per week.

Low adherence to rehabilitation after a sports injury is a common problem. According to research, there are many person-specific factors that influence adherence including motivation, confidence/self efficacy, coping, social support, coping, and psychological skills. Athletes should find a strategy that works best for them.

Research demonstrates that it’s important for older adults to engage in all four types of exercise including endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility as each one provides its own benefits. Endurance exercises improve the health of your heart and lungs, and strength exercises can help maintain independence and prevent falls. While balance exercises can help prevent...

There are many things that need to be considered when planning a sport event. The Canadian Disability Participation Project has created a module called Training and Managing Disability Sport Event Volunteers: Recommendations and Resources to help any sporting body or sport event manager in training and managing a volunteer workforce. It includes 12 best practice...

Approximately 50% of individuals with spinal cord injuries lack sufficient physical activity. Researchers studied behavior-change interventions and found that providing practical support, individualization, and monitoring had a greater impact on promoting physical activity compared to group-based approaches. By targeting behavior change, using behavior change frameworks, and specific techniques, these interventions effectively encourage physical activity in...

Did you know that imagining yourself performing motor skills can actually improve your performance? In a recent study, participants who combined watching actions with motor imagery achieved faster movement execution times compared to other groups with improvements lasting even after a week. lasted even after a week. These findings can help athletes develop complex motor...

When athletes are mentally tired, it can negatively impact their performance. In a study, mentally fatigued athletes performed worse in endurance tests. However, when they used motivational self-talk during these tests, their performance improved. This means positive self-talk can actually overcome the negative effects of mental fatigue and boost performance.