Cultural competence in sports psychology
A recent global study shows that sports psychology professionals must prioritize cultural competence beyond a checklist, considering it an ethical duty for effective practice. The research highlights the need to actively develop this competence through learning from mistakes and open conversations, grounding it in personal and professional experiences for meaningful cultural understanding.
Challenges and solutions in parental support for young para-athletes
Parents supporting young para-athletes report challenges including limited local sports options and funding difficulties. Recognizing these hurdles, and understanding their impact, can inform improved support mechanisms for the sports sector like addressing cultural barriers, engaging parents in program development, enhancing access to sports for disabled youth, and refining talent identification pathways for aspiring para-athletes.
Rest and injury
Rest and sleep are key parts of maintaining physical health and recovering from potential injuries. This is true even outside of competition season, a recent study done on preseason rugby athletes found that longer sleep duration during the preseason may assist in enhancing physical qualities including aerobic capacity and body composition.
Machine learning and injury
Injuries are common in sports and can have significant physical, psychological and financial consequences. A recent study found that current machine learning methods can be used to identify athletes at high risk of injury and be helpful to detect the most important injury risk factors.
Sport inclusion
Sport should be an inclusive space for all, which is why it is important that all people feel included regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and beyond. A recent study highlights elevated levels of mistreatment to individuals who identify as a sexual minority and offers important contributions to understanding sexuality, sports-related mistreatment, and adults’…
Foam rolling for recovery
Stretching and getting warmed up plays a key part in athlete recovery and injury prevention. A recent study found favourable effects of foam rolling on performance compared to static stretching, when applied to some muscles such as quadriceps.
Decreased substance use with team sport
Team sports are incredibly effective in creating positive relationships and fostering camaraderie between teammates. A recent study also found that team sport participation was associated with decreased odds of smoking and tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, as well as depression and anxiety.
Attachment styles in athlete psychology
A relatively unexplored area of athlete psychology is the relationship between attachment styles and its relationship to mental health. A recent study dives into the role of attachment relationships to significant others (for example, parents or sports coaches) in influencing psychological needs.
AI for sport development
Despite still being in early stages of development, Artificial Intelligence (AI) advances in scope and capabilities every day. Through this development there are more opportunities to implement it in various avenues of life. A recent study highlights the relevance of AI applications to physical educational technology.
Towards an understanding of the determinants of efficiency in ice hockey
2 articles: Introduction and Context The questions addressed in these articles are related to the fact that ice hockey fascinating because it involves a bimanual task (holding a hockey stick) and both hands have different roles (an asymmetric activity). Is it the preferred or the nonpreferred hand (in a unimanual task like writing or throwing…