March Concussion Newsletter

SIRC’s Concussion Newsletter offers up-to-date sport concussion resources for athletes, parent, coaches, and sport organizations. In the March edition, learn about the progression of concussion awareness and education in Canada, discover new resources, and read about the success of Western University’s concussion protocol.

Governance

During times of change and crisis, having a Board of Directors comprised of skilled and experienced leaders is essential. From the SIRC archives, read about Volleyball Canada’s customized approach to Board recruitment and succession planning, which involved identifying key skills and experience, creating a skills matrix for current board members, and targeted recruitment strategies.

An Official’s Journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup

Officials are considered by some to be the unsung heroes of sport, responsible for upholding the rules and intentions of sport. SIRC sat down with Marie-Soleil Beaudoin – Canadian soccer referee and instructor of physiology and biophysics at Dalhousie University – to talk about her journey from the community soccer field to officiating at the…

Engaging Youth in Evaluation Processes

Picture this: it’s the first session of a popular youth sport program at a busy community facility. Dozens of youth are greeting each other, checking out the space, and mingling with coaches on the bleachers. The excitement is palpable as youth move onto the court. Soon the space is filled with the satisfying sounds of…

Spring 2020 SIRCuit

Check out the Spring SIRCuit! This collection of articles, provides timely and relevant research and insights relating to leadership, athlete development, and high performance sport: The Role of Nutrition in Sub-Concussion Injury Protection Engaging Youth in Evaluation Processes An Official’s Journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Supporting the Psychological Wellbeing of Athletes: What can Coaches…

COVID-19

In a great example of the sport community contributing to the fight against COVID-19, hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer modified its production line in Blainville, Quebec to make protective visors for doctors, nurses and first responders.

Innovative Strategies Making Concussion Safety the New Normal

When Canada works in harmony towards the same goal, much can happen in a short time. In March 2018, SIRC launched the “We Are Headstrong” campaign. Since that time we’ve seen signs of progress in the attitudes of Canadians toward concussions, and we’ve witnessed significant system changes too. At the 2020 Canadian Sport for Life…

IWD 2020

March 8th is International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, #EachforEqual, highlights the importance of individual action to influence broader social change. The Government of Canada set a target to achieve gender parity in sport at every level by 2035. Consider how you can challenge stereotypes, fight bias, and improve opportunities for girls and women, as participants…

Concussion Awareness in Community Sport

Alignment among grassroots clubs across Canada can be challenging. The Ottawa Sport Council and Sport Manitoba are both addressing concussion awareness at the community sport level. For these mostly volunteer-run organizations, having access to evidence-informed concussion resources is helping to inform coaches and protect athletes.

CPRA Concussion Webinar

In partnership with the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, SIRC will be delivering a free webinar on February 25, 2020 at 12:00PM ET. Click here to register for Concussion Management: Best practices and lessons from the Canadian sport and recreation system.