How sport organizations are addressing climate change
Sporting events leave a large carbon footprint between the built infrastructure and emissions from participants and spectators. The International Olympic Committee and around 300 other signatories have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. This past summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham pledged to leave a carbon neutral legacy. Team Canada implemented its…
Built environments and physical activity
Built environments include the layout and design of communities in which people live and work. Research demonstrates that built environments that create physical activity opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, and that also support various types of transportation, are essential in supporting physical activity. A well-designed built environment may include elements such as…
Putting the ‘work’ in ‘teamwork’
A review of team dynamics literature showed that teamwork activities are most successful when individuals are given tasks where their contribution feels essential, while also fostering connection with others. This promotes the most effort among team members, even in the least meaningful tasks.
Beating the winter blues
Are you experiencing anxiety leading up to the winter this year? Consider taking up a winter sport! A recently published study followed nearly 400,000 Swedish cross-country skiers and non-skiers from the general population over a 21-year period. The researchers found that individuals who skied regularly were almost 60% less likely to experience anxiety than non-skiers.
Trauma-informed approaches in sport
Up to 60% of Canadians report having had at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), such as abuse, neglect, or a household disruption. Coaches and program leaders can use a trauma-informed approach to support individuals who have experienced ACEs. This approach can help athletes better regulate their emotions and improve focus, leading to better performance,…
Toward values-based sport
“At the end of the day, it’s about making sure that the sport sector thrives and is united in offering positive sport experiences for all Canadians. For sport to do good, it must be good. For people to realize the benefits, they have to have an opportunity to play. I think that’s what it’s all…
Motivating individuals with intellectual disabilities
Struggling to keep participants with intellectual and developmental disability and autism spectrum disorder engaged in your exercise program? Research suggests the following motivational and verbal encouragement strategies: use of chants and songs, tapping into their imagination (e.g. competing in a race while on the stationary bike or treadmill), and exercising alongside the participant.
P.R.A.I.S.E.
P.R.A.I.S.E. is a tool to help teachers remember the key ingredients for making physical education experiences meaningful and motivational for high school students. The acronym stands for perceived competence, relatedness, autonomy, individuality, social support and enjoyment. Teachers can use these constructs to help increase students’ motivation to participate in physical activity.
Children and youth with autism spectrum disorder
For community sport and recreation programs to be inclusive, they need to be built to support the participation of children and youth on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For this reason, researchers from the Canadian Disability Participation Project partnered with Ausome Ottawa to create A Blueprint for Building Quality Participation in Sport for Children and…
The True Sport Experience: Bringing physical and ethical literacy to life in and out of the classroom
Physical and health education teachers and coaches are experts at helping kids learn new skills. By patiently walking students through each learning step, they build the blocks of learners’ physical literacy. However, sport and recreation experiences aren’t built on physical skills alone. Instead, the experiences are wrapped in life lessons, personal growth and a few…