Gender equity for masters athletes
Masters athletes are often seen as examples of healthy aging, but research from the Australian Masters Games, drawing over 5000 participants, highlights class and gender inequalities that are leaving some people out. While celebrating the accomplishments of masters athletes, acknowledging varied aging experiences and providing equitable opportunities for everyone to participate are crucial.
Girls only sport spaces
Girls who are part of marginalized groups often miss out on sports, posing a big challenge for inclusion. A recent study found that much of the hesitancy to join sports comes from patriarchal norms and shyness. Promoting girls only sports with female coaches may lead to better rates of sport participation.
Diversifying concussion research
There is a significant gap in race and ethnicity reporting in concussion research. A recent review revealed that out of 854 articles, only 15.5% reported race, 7.6% reported ethnicity, and 84.4% did not report either. To better understand the impact of concussions across diverse populations, researchers should include diverse participants in their studies and accurately…
Inequities impacting youth sport participation
Cost is a significant barrier to sport participation, and the data shows it. A recent study from the US showed that students from affluent families had 3 times higher odds of meeting physical activity recommendations (middle schoolers) and ever participating in sports (high schoolers) than students from the least affluent families. Collaboration, funding, and policy…
Leveling the playing field: Accessibility in youth basketball
This article is part of a series in collaboration with the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport (CHYDS) at Brock University and was presented at the CHYDS’ hosted Youth Sport Summit in April 2024. Most kids who have played basketball have never been on a basketball team. Despite its potential to be one of the…
Embedding EDI in Safe Sport
Every athlete deserves a safe and welcoming environment in sport. And while athletes from equity-owed groups may be more likely to experience harm, a recent study revealed that these athletes often perceive Safe Sport as an unrealistic and unattainable ideal. These findings suggest that integrating principles of equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to safeguarding…
Beyond sports: USask Athletics fostering Indigenous inclusion and empowerment
In 2018, the Saskatoon Residential School Survivor Circle supported the request of the Huskie Cross Country team’s desire to race in orange singlets in honour of Residential School Survivors and the thousands of children who never made it home. This tradition continues today and has evolved to include all visiting athletes choosing to wear orange…
How organized sport can foster and support finding belonging for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Belonging has been understood in many ways across lived experiences and fields of study. The sense of belonging, or lack thereof, can feel different for everyone. Carter (2021) explored 10 dimensions of belonging described by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) finding that “belonging is experienced when people are present, invited, welcomed, known, accepted,…
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…
Anything is Possible: Using Ringette to Support Physical Literacy in the North
Sport is a vital opportunity for communities in the Northwest Territories (NWT) to stay active and social, particularly during the winter months when daylight is limited and temperatures are frigid. Sport offers a reason for people to come together and keep moving. It was for these reasons, plus a desire to better serve Indigenous communities…