Climate and sport
The relationship between sport and the environment is important to keep in mind as climate change increasingly affects all areas of life. A recent review highlights the impacts of climate change on organized competitive sport entities.
“It means so much for Canadian tennis”: How Marina Stakusic’s post-BJK Cup claim predicted a rise for tennis in Canada
A Canadian flag draped around her shoulders, a beaming, then-18-year-old Marina Stakusic is flanked by captain Heidi El Tabakh and Gabriela Dabrowski on the hard courts of Estadio de la Cartuja. Just minutes earlier, Leylah Annie Fernandez flung her racquet into the air and was embraced by her jubilant teammates having hit a flawless cross-court…
Creating accessible program information
Sports participation has many social, physical and mental health benefits for children with disabilities. However, many children with disabilities and their families struggle to find relevant information about physical activity programs. To help overcome this barrier to participation, organizations may work to ensure that program information is easily accessible. Some best practices include ensuring that…
Fostering positive relationships between athletes and members of the sport environment
In a study which delved into the perspectives of retired Olympians regarding the factors that influence athlete well-being post-retirement, it was found that athletes can be significantly influenced by a multitude of factors. These encompass the impact of individuals within the sport environment, the dynamics of the coach-athlete relationship, the support team, and the training…
Importance of psychologists during training and competition to address mental health issues
Depressive symptoms appear to be significantly more common among high-performance athletes than in the general population. A recent study investigating the mental health of athletes at the FINA World Championships 2019 revealed that nearly 25% of the participants met the criteria for depression. Additionally, a substantial 45% of the entire athlete sample expressed a desire…
The power of mentoring in sports: Who, what, and how?
Mentorship is a powerful resource with the potential to positively influence the growth and success of people in sport. Mentoring is a relationship where one or multiple mentors (i.e., a senior person in age or experience) provide guidance and support to one or more mentees (i.e., individuals seeking new knowledge and experience) to improve career…
Fostering strong coach-athlete relationships in university sports
University sports’ coach-athlete relationships are complex, with short seasons intensifying the challenge. Based on research findings, coaches should prioritize closeness, encourage trust through vulnerability, clarify commitment expectations, enhance communication, and ensure alignment with their coaching philosophy. Addressing the complexity and power dynamics can help create inclusivity and foster effective and stronger bonds.
The heart and brain axis
Repeated concussions may disrupt the heart-brain axis, causing irregularities in heart activity and long-term health implications. This new insight emphasizes the importance of measures to reduce the occurrence of concussions in sports. Implementing and strictly enforcing safety protocols can contribute to minimizing the risk of head injuries and subsequent cardiac implications.
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, stress, and mental health
Sport can be an escape from life’s stressors. Researchers who investigated the impact of lifetime stress on male athletes’ performance and their willingness to seek mental health help found that sports-related stressors negatively affected their mental health and performance. Athletes also struggled to identify mental health symptoms. This highlights the need for proactive mental health…