Knowledge Nuggets

Research on role clarity highlights 4 characteristics that help to identify how well athletes understand their roles on a team. Coaches can help athletes to understand their role by ensuring they know (1) the scope of their responsibilities, (2) the necessary behaviours to fulfil their role, (3) how coaches will evaluate role performance, and (4) the...

“Organizations need to be dealing not just with the ‘now’ but to start to think about future-proofing themselves. Asking, what are you doing now? Not for next week, but to prepare for the next 3-5 years?” says Michael Naraine, an Associate Professor of Sport Management at Brock University. To him, future-proofing is dependent on good...

Parents of athletes with disabilities face challenges like limited local sport options and funding, but they also experience benefits like social inclusion and support. Scholars suggest that sport programs should tackle these cultural and environmental barriers and actively involve parents in creating support systems. Additionally, there is a need to enhance talent identification pathways for...

Groupthink is when members of a group allow their desire for cohesion to override their motivation to critically consider alternative courses of action. Sports teams and organizations are vulnerable to conformity because of a strong desire to belong and fit in. To avoid groupthink, encourage diversity on your team, create an enviroment where athletes feel...

Adolescence is an important period of physical growth and the development of one’s relationship with food. Researchers assert that those providing nutritional advice to adolescent athletes should emphasize sustainable long-term health and avoid a focus on body composition, which can contribute to the development of disordered eating practices or low energy availability. Adolescent athletes need...

Sleep hygiene is an important aspect of recovery and includes behaviours that promote improved quantity and quality of sleep. Sleep is especially important for athletic performance and inadequate sleep can hinder an athlete’s ability to recover from training or injuries. Some sleep strategies that can be used to help improve sleep hygiene include maintaining a...

A team’s success depends on how well each athlete understands and performs their role. To create a sustainable winning culture, coaches must give each team member, from starters to bench players, a set of behaviours that can become personally meaningful. Learn more about how to establish and communicate role expectations in the SIRC blog.

A review of team dynamics literature showed that teamwork activities are most successful when individuals are given tasks where their contribution feels essential, while also fostering connection with others. This promotes the most effort among team members, even in the least meaningful tasks.

For women coaches of colour, increasing self-confidence is a priority throughout professional development. Relationship-building with the team they mentor, continuous professional skill development, and speaking up about their shared experiences with like-minded individuals are integral to this process. Providing opportunities for women coaches of colour to learn from others through mentorship can build confidence and...

While long-term athlete development frameworks are meant for any age, adults report a lack of programming tailored to adult development. By emphasizing adult programming (for example, adult hockey or figure-skating programs targeted at those who did not learn how to skate as a child), organizations can bring more people into the game, grow their membership...