Using motor learning concepts to enhance athlete skill development
Motor learning is the process of acquiring and refining skills, such as movements or strategies, through practice and experience. It is an important concept in sport because it helps coaches create effective training programs to help athletes improve performance. Coaches can use motor learning principles to: Provide effective feedback Design efficient practice plans by using…
Holistic ecological approach to athlete development
A holistic ecological approach (HEA) to athlete development focuses on thinking beyond solely the confines of a training session, and instead taking into account all the settings, relationships and networks of an athlete’s life. Coaches seeking to implement HEA can try taking into account other stressors in athlete lives (for example, exam schedules), manage training…
Microbiota and athletic performance
Trillions of microorganisms, known as microbiota, live inside our digestive tract and regulate key aspects of health and disease. Recently, a connection between the gut microbiota and physical activity has been discovered. Research now shows that these microorganisms may be leveraged to enhance athlete performance, in particular endurance.
How to harness the power of team cohesion in sport
In sport, we often hear athletes and coaches talking about how “united” their team is and the great “chemistry” that they have. Broadly, these terms reflect the concept of cohesion. Cohesion is frequently described as the glue that holds a team together, and as a result, produces positive outcomes for individual athletes (for example, increased…
Cultivating a mastery climate in youth sport
A mastery motivational climate is one in which the success of an athlete is determined by their own perception of skill development and satisfaction. An ego motivational climate emphasizes winning, with success being defined by who is the best. The benefits of a mastery as opposed to ego climate in youth sport include: decreased feelings…
Mental health in sport
For women and girls, sport participation can come with specific mental health challenges. These can range from perfectionism and body image to performance pressures. When coaches and leaders see each athlete as a person first, they can better support athletes’ health and mental well-being and foster a culture of holistic wellness in sport.
Efficacy of napping on sport performance
A systematic review and meta-analysis of available research determined that a 30-60 minute afternoon nap has a beneficial impact on physical performance. An afternoon nap also promotes improved cognitive performance and reduces perceived fatigue after sport activity.
Mental health and concussion
Concussion recovery can be a challenging time for athletes. Research shows that many athletes report mental health challenges, such as feelings of anxiety or depression during their recovery. Helping athletes seek mental health care after their concussion may help reduce the burden of concussions and improve their recovery outcomes.
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…
In addition to warming up, “priming” may help athletes perform
Everyone knows to warm up before competing, but have you heard of “priming” beforehand? Priming is a round of non-tiring exercise that is done the day before or morning of a competition. Research shows priming may improve performance, as well as reduce athlete pre-competition stress.