Life Skills Blog
A focus on winning at all costs has created sport programs in which building psychological, cognitive, social and emotional skills are largely ignored, yet these are essential ingredients for successful high performance athletes. Today’s blog provides an overview of the development of executive functions and social and emotional learning through sport.
Managing the Risk of Athlete Burnout With or Without Early Specialization
Parents who dream of their children becoming professional athletes, and coaches who believe that single-minded dedication is the only way to reach the top of their sport, have contributed to an increase in early sport specialization. However, there are many researchers, coaches, and athletes who have been pushing back on this trend, citing a range…
Concussion Blog – Ringette
For ringette, putting a values lens on the issue of concussions made decision-making simpler – preventing concussions as much as possible and ensuring athletes recover properly are priorities. When pressure to return to play comes from athletes not wanting to miss out, or parents pushing to have their child back on the ice, clear protocols…
Safe Sport Consultation
To address abuse and harassment in sport, the Coaching Association of Canada is leading a consultation process to explore the creation of a pan Canadian code of conduct and associated sanctions. To complement a series of in-person consultations, an online survey has been launched to increase the reach of the process. To share your thoughts…
Ringette Concussion Blog
With so many stakeholders and sometimes competing priorities, alignment across the sport sector is a challenge. However, preventing and addressing concussion is one issue where alignment is common sense. From the grassroots to the high-performance levels in ringette, organizations are coming together through SIRC’s #HeadstrongCanada campaign. Learn more in today’s SIRC blog.
Innovation Initiative
Wondering if your organization’s new program is effective? Sport Canada’s Innovation Initiative provides funding to deliver and test innovative program approaches to build the evidence base about what works to reduce the barriers to participation, increase physical literacy, support retention in sport, and achieve social goals through sport. The deadline to submit a concept is…
FTPSC WG Women Sport Recommendations
This week a recommendation report from the Federal-Provincial/Territorial (F-P/T) Sport Committee’s Work Group on Women and Girls in Sport was released, aimed at increasing the participation and leadership of women and girls in all aspects of sport. The report outlines an ultimate vision for women and girls in sport, details strategic outcomes that must be…
Coming of Age With Relative Age Research: Origins, Consequences, and Potential Solutions
On October 17, 2018, Relative Age Effects: An International Conference was hosted at York University where leading international scholars gathered to discuss the implications of athletes’ dates of birth on sport, health, and education. This article highlights the history of the phenomenon known as the “relative age effect” as well as its impact on sport,…
Changing the Culture of Hazing in Canada
Allegations emerging in media reports from Toronto’s St. Michael’s College in the fall of 2018 have made hazing top of mind for athletic staff at Canada’s secondary and post-secondary education institutions. Unfortunately, it is not an isolated event. Reports of hazing have emerged from a number of Canadian institutions in the past decade, including Laurentian…
Tips for Inclusive Programs for Persons with Disabilities
December 3, 2018 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme is “Empowering People with Disabilities and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality”. Here in Canada, we have reason to celebrate. The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, is shepherding Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act, through its parliamentary process….