SIRC’s Knowledge Nuggets provide a daily source of insight, leveraging the latest in research findings, promising practices, relevant news and practical resources.
In competitive sports, understanding how to achieve peak performance is crucial. This study found that athletes with perfectionistic traits performed better in a 10K run and a half-marathon, indicating that a drive for perfection can enhance results in distance running.
Despite progress, gender imbalances remain prevalent in many areas of sport, including research. This study shows that 66% of participants were male and only 34% female, highlighting the need for more gender equitable research going forward.
Sports participation offers benefits for all, including those with disabilities, by enhancing functionality and reducing anxiety. This review explores these benefits, emphasizing positive outcomes like socialization, enjoyment, and opportunities to challenge stereotypes among individuals with disabilities.
Mental fatigue is common among many athletes due to the high cognitive demands of sport. Mental fatigue in athletes has been shown to significantly impair both endurance and technical abilities, such as passing and shooting accuracy.
Female athletes in artistic, endurance and combat sports are at higher risk of developing disordered eating and eating disorders than the general population, and new research reveals some interesting sport-specific differences. For example, female endurance athletes engage in more disordered eating attitudes and behaviours than athletes in artistic and combat sports, emphasizing the importance of...
Prioritizing Indigenous voices is key for sports organizations designing coach education. Collaborative design can enhance cultural pride and support coach development by incorporating Indigenous culture and history. Using traditional methods like storytelling and mentoring, collaborative design aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, promoting Indigenous-led education and decolonizing coaching practices.
One major barrier to sport participation is often financial constraints. In high-income countries, children and adolescents from higher socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to participate in organized sports and meet physical activity guidelines than those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
While the mental health benefits of physical activity are well-documented, the specific advantages remain relatively unexplored. A recent review underscores the benefits that non-contact boxing may offer such as significant relief from symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and stress.
Pregnant women have unique health considerations, but they’re significantly underrepresented in sport research. As a result, we’re faced with severe knowledge gaps concerning female-specific cardiovascular physiology and sports performance. Researchers are calling for more inclusive research and sex-specific guidelines to better inform the training and participation policies of pregnant women.
Training load monitoring is crucial in sports for boosting performance and managing injury risk. This study highlights that while the data from these monitors are complex, they are vital for making informed decisions and improving both player performance and overall team success.
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