Knowledge Nuggets

How do we know a female athlete’s energy availability is in a good place? Until recently, menstrual cycle patterns were touted as one of the main indicators of energy availability status in female athletes. So, what has changed? Menstrual cycle patterns remain an important element in understanding energy availability status, with missed menstrual cycles ringing...

While Canadians are used to severe winter weather, 9 of the 10 warmest years on record in Canada have occurred in the last 25 years. This has real world implications for outdoor sport events. For example, even the best triathletes in the world struggled with the extreme heat in Edmonton in July of last year,...

What can public health and rehabilitation learn from elite sport? In this article, researchers identify 22 areas in which sport science research might aid public health, including: exercise prescription, monitoring of fatigue and monitoring of adaptation.

Alexandre Hayward’s successful transfer from national level wheelchair basketball to national level Para cycling is proof of how important it is to have broad development pathways in sport. It’s particularly important in Para sport, where a “scarcity mindset” tends to exist surrounding athletes. Hayward’s experience shows how collaborative coaching across different sports can nurture athlete...

If everyone knows it takes years of practice to develop expertise in sport, why is it that only some athletes will practice with full concentration and effort while others will tend to avoid it? Why do very talented athletes sometimes fail to develop into experts while others, who may be initially less skilled, succeed in moving...

There has long been debate regarding the benefits versus pitfalls of early specialization in sport. A recent study of young basketball players shows that early sport specialization does not provide a physical fitness advantage.

Consistency when it comes to language is important to consider in the context of athlete development. Some terms that are frequently used in sport have blurry or competing meanings, such as what it means to have “talent,” what it means to be “elite,” or what it means to have “character.” Researchers advise being specific with...

Research shows that for every 30 minutes of sport participation an athlete engages in after a concussion, their days to symptom resolution increase by over 8%. More simply, continuing to play after a concussion can lead to a longer recovery. Highlighting the importance of stopping play after a concussion in terms of long-term health and...

Accessibility is a human right. And it’s essential for 1 in 5 Canadians aged 15 or older, who live with at least 1 disability. This blog post explores why accessibility is important and suggests strategies for coaches and sport organizations to prioritize and improve accessibility, specifically involving technology and communications.

Low energy availability (LEA) refers to when an athlete has an insufficient energy intake compared to their energy expenditure. Yet, coaches remain relatively unaware of symptoms and causes of LEA. This review synthesizes findings on LEA from 1986-2021 so that coaches can be better prepared to support athletes.