Knowledge Nuggets

In recent years, the sporting community has gotten better at spotting and treating sports-related concussions, however there remain many questions surrounding preventive measures. Exploring whether neck size or strength correlates with reduced concussion risk has found that formal neck strengthening programs show promise in reducing risk, particularly among amateur athletes.

While many popular protein sources for athletes exist such as red meats and chicken, there is a growing need for more ecological sources of protein. Insect-based protein could be a game-changer in athletes’ nutrition, offering a potential alternative to traditional supplements.

Children and youth in rural areas move around and play sports differently depending on their grade, gender, and family income. This study found disparities in sport participation and activity levels, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to promote physical activity and health equity among rural youth.

This study showed that female athletes exhibited more positive attitudes towards seeking help and held higher expectations regarding counseling compared to male athletes. These findings shed light on potential gender-related disparities in the perception of mental health support in sport, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to adapt to the diverse needs of athletes.

In Indigenous cultures, the state of the environment is highly valued as it is often regarded as interconnected with human health. Poor environmental conditions, as seen today, is negatively impacting occupational participation, which is participation in everyday activities, for indigenous peoples. Because of this, indigenous peoples are limited in what physical activities or sports they...

For indigenous youth, having access to sport programming centered in culture and community is important. A recent research study centered on indigenous youth and sport showed that they want to be involved in the research process and offer many unique and valuable perspectives. Sport researchers need to consider how they can engage communities in research...

In a study that delved into the perspectives of retired Olympians regarding the factors that influence athlete well-being post-retirement, participants highlighted the critical role of coaches, support staff, and others in the training environment. This finding underscores the importance of fostering positive relationships to enhance psychological safety and well-being after retiring from sport.

Many trans athletes report negative experiences in sport. A contributing factor is a lack of sport policies addressing trans inclusion. Accordingly, researchers have highlighted the need for sport organizations to develop inclusive policies that are created and updated based on research.

Increasing the visibility of girls and women in program advertising can help demonstrate that your organization is inclusive. Research shows that it is important that imagery includes girls and women of different backgrounds and body shapes and sizes to help ensure that all women and girls can picture themselves participating in your sport.

The language used by coaches plays a significant role in fostering inclusive environments for 2SLGBTQI athletes. As a coach, some ways to make the language you use more inclusive include using athletes’ preferred pronouns and avoiding the use of gendered language, for example, by saying “hello everyone” rather than “hello guys.”