Quality over quantity

Positive experiences, such as belonging and mastery in sports and exercise, have a greater impact on the well-being of adults with physical disabilities than their time spent in sport. This study highlighted the importance of creating inclusive, engaging environments and considering social and environmental factors for holistic well-being enhancement in this population

Mentorship for women coaches

Mentorship in coaching is a process where experienced coaches act as role models and teachers for new coaches to support their personal and professional development. Running mentorship programs for women coaches can be very beneficial. However, it is important to purposefully recruit mentorship participants. Canadian research suggests that programs should consider using flexible recruitment strategies…

Sport and belonging Special Olympics

To better understand belonging through sport in individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Sport and Belonging team interviewed twenty Special Olympics athletes and identified three themes that the athletes spoke to: (1) support from allies, (2) being part of the team, and (3) opportunities to discover and develop interests.

Belonging in marginalized populations

Organized sports can serve as a powerful conduit for fostering feelings of belonging in marginalized populations, such as individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Looking back to go forward: 50 years of Canadian women’s sport

U SPORTS 2020 Swimming Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place, Victoria, BC, February 2020 (Photo: U SPORTS) Looking back over the last 50 years of women’s sport in Canada, it’s amazing how we have progressed to bring equity, stability, and opportunity, not necessarily in all aspects of sport, but certainly in many. For example, 50 years…

Women in sport

In trying to strive to create more inclusive spaces for everyone, one piece that is still missing is equality in sport media representation. With over 90 percent of Canadian sports media coverage being focused on men’s sport the Government of Canada has committed to reaching gender equity in sport. This SIRC article has a collection…

International Day of the Girl

Creating a positive social environment that intentionally fosters a sense of belonging is integral to the retention of girls in sport and physical activity. This resource is designed for coaches who are ready to intentionally support equitable sport.  She Belongs offers practical recommendations to create social connection and better engage girls in the Learn to…

Creating welcoming, equitable spaces for new Canadians in sport

Sport can help to promote physical and mental health, build social connections and support integration into Canadian communities among newcomers to Canada. However, research shows that newcomers face unique barriers to sport participation, including cost, transportation, language, access to information, racism and religious or cultural considerations. In this article, newcomers in participant, parent, and coaching…

Gender inequality in coaching soccer

Recently there has been significant growth in participation rates from women playing football. Given that there has been increased participation, why is it that men still hold around 80% of coaching positions in the European Women’s Football league? This article explores the possible reasons and causes behind the lack of women coaching.

Safe sport for equity-deserving athletes

Research shows that demographic groups including athletes with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+ athletes are disproportionately affected by maltreatment in sport. This is why researchers are advocating for more organizations to become educated on topics like racism, ableism and sexism in their sport, and incorporate them into Safe Sport initiatives.