Knowledge Nuggets

Have you ever considered the dynamics between gender, settler colonialism, and sport within Indigenous communities? For instance, lacrosse, once a traditional Indigenous practice, was adopted by white settlers, altering its cultural significance. Gendered expectations within settler colonial institutions, like residential schools, have also enforced ideals that impact Indigenous women’s participation in sports like lacrosse. To...

Research on sports injuries often focuses on high performance athletes, potentially overlooking the risks for recreational players. This study on recreational tennis players found that they experience different injury patterns, with most injuries being caused by falls and twists.

Children with intellectual disabilities and developmental conditions often experience difficulties with certain tasks and limited eye contact. Active participation in community activities such as sport has been shown to enhance their overall happiness, indicating the significance of engagement in improving their well-being.

A recent study emphasized the need to rethink current approaches to supporting physical literacy for indigenous youth. Findings from this study highlighted five key themes for supporting physical literacy in indigenous youth, including the importance of engaging in wisdom-sharing, taking a youth-centred approach that uses humility and being mindful of teaching approaches used in programs.

How a coach interacts with athletes can be significant predictor of athletes’ enjoyment and intentions to stay in sport. A study of 202 elite-level artistic swimmers from 22 countries showed that athletes under the guidance of democratic-style coaches reported elevated levels of athletic enjoyment and expressed greater intent to pursue their athletic careers. This finding...

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how crucial sport brands can be in supporting fans’ mental health. This study, involving 770 sport fans, found that being involved with sport brands helps reduce feelings of emptiness and increases well-being.

Does mental toughness make a difference in sport performance? This review dove into research and found that athletes with higher mental toughness consistently perform better, especially in combat and individual sports.

Motor skill training doesn’t just improve performance, it rewires the brain! Athletes develop fewer but stronger brain connections through training, boosting focus and reaction time and giving them a mental edge.

Curious about your muscle type? This study suggests that the number of reps you can do at 80% of your maximum weight (1RM) reveals whether you have more fast-twitch or slow-twitch muscle fibers.

Chronic alcohol misuse causes muscle weakness and atrophy, while problematic drinking impairs muscle function and athletic performance. This study shows that alcohol consumption hinders muscle recovery and function, potentially reducing sport performance, especially in men.