Knowledge Nuggets

Research suggests that sport supplement users are more likely to use prohibited substances to improve performance than non-users. But, a recent study showed that an athlete’s personal morality plays an important role in an athlete’s decision to dope, even if they are a supplement user.

A holistic ecological approach (HEA) to athlete development focuses on thinking beyond solely the confines of a training session, and instead taking into account all the settings, relationships and networks of an athlete’s life. Coaches seeking to implement HEA can try taking into account other stressors in athlete lives (for example, exam schedules), manage training...

Trillions of microorganisms, known as microbiota, live inside our digestive tract and regulate key aspects of health and disease. Recently, a connection between the gut microbiota and physical activity has been discovered. Research now shows that these microorganisms may be leveraged to enhance athlete performance, in particular endurance.

A mastery motivational climate is one in which the success of an athlete is determined by their own perception of skill development and satisfaction. An ego motivational climate emphasizes winning, with success being defined by who is the best. The benefits of a mastery as opposed to ego climate in youth sport include: decreased feelings...

For women and girls, sport participation can come with specific mental health challenges. These can range from perfectionism and body image to performance pressures. When coaches and leaders see each athlete as a person first, they can better support athletes’ health and mental well-being and foster a culture of holistic wellness in sport.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of available research determined that a 30-60 minute afternoon nap has a beneficial impact on physical performance. An afternoon nap also promotes improved cognitive performance and reduces perceived fatigue after sport activity.

Concussion recovery can be a challenging time for athletes. Research shows that many athletes report mental health challenges, such as feelings of anxiety or depression during their recovery. Helping athletes seek mental health care after their concussion may help reduce the burden of concussions and improve their recovery outcomes.

Everyone knows to warm up before competing, but have you heard of “priming” beforehand? Priming is a round of non-tiring exercise that is done the day before or morning of a competition. Research shows priming may improve performance, as well as reduce athlete pre-competition stress.

Decisions made at the national sport level influence participation at the community level. Problems occur when there is misalignment between what is needed for each level and what is decided at the top. Decision-makers should consider how they can generate alignment between all levels in a sports pathway to improve long-term player development.

Parents play an important role in creating positive sports experiences for their children. Through interviews with athletes, researchers have learnt what behaviours children look for from their parents at competitions. Preferred behaviours included having parents show respect to others in sport, focus on their child’s effort rather than outcomes, and provide positive yet realistic post-competition feedback.