National Addictions Awareness Week 2019

With 1 in 10 Canadians experiencing substance use disorders, it is likely that a team member or colleague might experience or be affected by the misuse of substances. Unfortunately, stigmatizing language can prevent people from seeking help. Learn more about National Addictions Awareness Week and download the new “Overcoming Stigma Through Language” resource on the…

Physical Activity and Emotional Development

Research from the Université de Montréal found that children with low or no participation in organized sport from ages 6-10 showed higher emotional distress, anxiety, shyness, and social withdrawal at age 12 than those who participated regularly. The authors suggest that emotional skills learned through sport can help youth successfully navigate the transition from primary…

NBA sleep deprivation

Sleep loss reduces physical performance, eye-hand coordination, and attention span. Chronic sleep loss contributes to higher risk for cancer, heart disease, dementia and depression. A recent article from ESPN examines the impacts of competition and travel schedules on the sleep patterns, and ultimately the health, of NBA athletes.

Reframing Quitting

While sport is often used to teach lessons about commitment and overcoming adversity, sometimes it makes more sense to quit.  According to Psychology Today, parents can help their children navigate this decision by helping them assess their goals and motivations, reframing quitting, and encouraging them to explore alternative pursuits.

Deselection in Sport

“Deselection,” or being cut from a team, can have negative emotional, social and physical consequences for athletes. These include loss of friends and social circles, reduced self-esteem, decreased physical activity, and impacts on long-term engagement in sport. Learn how coaches can improve the experience for athletes, and consider alternative participation models, in the SIRCuit.

Athlete Support Providers

Cheering on athletes at the Pan American Games are support providers that have helped the athlete achieve at the highest levels of sport. These VIPs provide emotional, esteem, information and tangible support to reduce stressors and enable the athlete to focus on training and competition. Whether they are a coach, member of the athlete’s integrated…

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is related to numerous motivational, performance, and mental health-related outcomes in sport – both positive and negative. New research examined the influence of parents and coaches on the development of perfectionism among athletes aged 16-19 and discovered that while both coach pressure and parental pressure were positively correlated with perfectionism, only coach pressure predicted…

Contagious Stress

While many professionals look forward to summer as a time for relaxation, for many in the sport sector, work demands are heating up! As stress levels increase, leaders and staff alike can take steps to ensure their stress isn’t “contagious.” These include pinpointing your true stressors, changing your reaction to the workload, creating pockets of…

Unstructured Play

Unstructured play contributes to the mental health of children and youth by promoting positive feelings through experiences of joy, thrill and competence; building children’s resilience through challenging or risky play; and improving healthy relationship by building problem-solving and emotional intelligence. Download an infographic summarizing five key findings relating to unstructured play and mental health.

DADEE program

Fathers have a unique and powerful influence on their children’s physical, social, emotional and mental health. The DADEE program developed by researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia targeted the father-daughter relationship to improve girls’ self-esteem and physical activity. After the program, daughters were more active, had better sport skills, and improved their resilience…