What we can all learn from Canadian Girls Baseball: A leader in girls-only sport
In the realm of youth sports, Canadian Girls Baseball (CGB) stands out as a game-changer. This organization is breaking new ground by creating a welcoming space where girls can thrive in a sport traditionally dominated by boys. Through their innovative approach and supportive community, CGB is showing that when girls are given the opportunity, they…
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…
Four strategies to support girls through sport-based mentorship
Sport has the potential to foster girls’ healthy development, leading to outcomes such as enhanced self-esteem, physical health, and mental well-being. Sport can reduce adverse health outcomes for girls, such as depression (Canadian Women & Sport, 2022; Eime et al., 2013). Yet in Canada, girls are dropping out of sport at alarming rates, with recent…
Rural children and their communities leading the way toward the enhancement of sports and recreation
View the summary of this research here. The purpose of the study was to engage rural preadolescent children in the development of research questions that are relevant and meaningful to exploring their participation and commitment to sport and other recreational activities. The three objectives were 1) To understand the children’s experience in participation of sport,…
Development and Evaluation of the Coaching for Life Skills Training Program for High School Coaches
Project summary The research project occurred in two sequential phases. In the phase one study, the purpose was to develop the Coaching for Life Skills training program and evaluate its pilot implementation. This first study was qualitative in nature and explored what coaches believed they experienced during their participation in the training program. Findings demonstrated…
Developing leadership behaviours in athletesÂ
Project summary This project developed, implemented, and evaluated the effect of a season-long athlete leadership development program. The participants included 66 female varsity athletes who participated in four leadership workshops throughout their competitive sport season, approximately one hour in duration. All of the participants completed inventories measuring leadership behaviours, cohesion, communication, and peer-motivational climate. Overall,…
Exploring the life skills transfer process from sport to life
Project summary In recent years, researchers and practitioners have paid increasing attention to understanding how the life skills (e.g., leadership, emotional regulation) learned in sport can transfer and be applied beyond sport. The overall purpose of this project was to develop a grounded theory to explain how athletes apply in life the skills they learned…
The implementation of a sport-based, trauma-sensitive, youth development program in a national community organization
Project summary Community organizations can adopt sport-based, trauma-sensitive, youth development programming to support underserved youth who face high risk of traumatic exposure. These programs involve leaders who create safe environments, recognize and respond to youth’s trauma-related distress, and promote youth’s healing and resilience-building. In partnership with BGC Canada, a national non-profit community organization that serves…
A culture change is coming in youth sport: How sport organizations can incorporate Sport for Development strategies
Highlights: This article draws on recent insights from the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Foundation’s Change the Culture, Change the Game report, offering practical recommendations for sport organizations and administrations looking to advance a more positive culture for youth in sport The authors make the case for all sport environments to incorporate a Sport For…
In-season mental health management
In the middle of an academic year and a busy sport season, student-athletes may find it difficult to cope with the demands on their time and pressure to perform. One way that student-athletes can work to maintain their mental health is to look for positives. In other words, identify the good that things that can…