Exercising outdoors in Canada: What the research tells us about exercising safely and effectively in extreme heat

Highlights While Canadians are used to severe winter weather, 9 of the 10 warmest years on record in Canada have occurred in the last 25 years. This has real world implications for outdoor sport events. For example, even the best triathletes in the world struggled with the extreme heat in Edmonton in July, with Paula…

How personality relates to athlete development

The development of expertise, defined as the ability to show high level performance with relative consistency, is a complex multi-determined process. In 1993, Ericsson and colleagues proposed that practice is a key piece of this puzzle, based on their seminal studies on the development of expertise among musicians. They argued that in order to develop…

Investing in women’s sports

In 2021, FIFA recently released their first analysis of high performance women’s soccer and the results are still relevant today. The report highlights opportunities that can encourage clubs to invest in their women’s teams. For example, having a written strategy for women’s soccer helps clubs increase revenue, have more facilities for the first team, and…

Female high performance athletes’ long-term health

Showing consideration and compassion for women athletes’ long-term health and goals, both during and after athletes’ careers, is critical in high performance sport. Rather than rely on hindsight in retirement, evidence-based guidance is needed to support women athletes as they progress through their careers so that they can prioritize their health for life. Check out…

Mental health supports for NSOs

You don’t necessarily need a sport-specific mental health strategy or specialized staff to make an impact in the mental health space. Consistently and frequently communicating to athletes, coaches and support staff what mental health supports are available at no cost or subsidized cost, such as Game Plan or Lifeworks, is an accessible place for all…

Alpine sport injuries

Skiing, snowboarding and sledding put the participant at risk for injuries. Proper prevention strategies are key when it comes to avoiding alpine sport-related injuries. Some strategies for keeping safe include wearing properly fitted protective equipment, knowing the alpine responsibility code, looking at the environmental conditions and acknowledging your skill level.

Injury prevention programs in soccer

The FIFA 11+ program was developed in 2011 based on medical research. It consists of a warm-up routine that combines exercises in strength, running, and balance to prevent injuries in soccer players. Despite its current success, research shows that higher program uptake can be achieved by raising injury prevention awareness and promoting protecting players’ overall…

Improving athlete mental health

Mental illness affects 35% of elite athletes, and some challenges—like performance anxiety and identity loss—are unique to the sport environment. In this video, McMaster university researchers discuss strategies like mental health awareness, individualized development programs, and mental health screenings to improve athlete well-being.

How “athlete transfer” is opening new avenues for development in Para sport

This blog is a part of a series created in collaboration with the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Paralympic Athlete Transfer Task Force, spotlighting the opportunities and challenges of Para athlete transfer and multi-sport participation. When Richard Peter retired from wheelchair basketball following a gold-medal performance at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the then-40-year-old didn’t think a second career…

Self-doubt and performance

Overestimating the abilities of other people can cause us to doubt ourselves. A study of competitive runners showed that athletes’ predictions of their performance can vary: overconfident athletes tended to have an inflated view of their ability, while underconfident runners overestimated their competitors. Finding a balance between confidence and doubt can help athletes optimize their…