How 2 sports came together to enhance player development in the North

From February 23 to April 4, 2021, in Hay River, Northwest Territories, 7 minor hockey goalies traded in their hockey sticks for table tennis rackets. In an exciting collaboration between Table Tennis North, Table Tennis Canada, Hockey NWT, Hockey North, Hay River Minor Hockey and the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC), the goalies participated in a 6‑week table…

You-CAN: Peers help youth athletes with concussions through education and social support

Highlights The number of concussions reported among Canadian youth has increased annually by 10.3% between 2004 and 2015.  Many concussions go unreported by youth due to their lack of knowledge, thinking it won’t make a difference, believing their friends will treat them differently and a lack of self-efficacy.  Improved concussion reporting and health outcomes may happen by understanding that social networks strongly influenced youth, exploring new ways of enabling youth to help each other learn about concussion and supporting recovery after…

Concussion in Para athletes: One size doesn’t fit all

Highlights Despite increasing research in sport-related concussion in general, a gap exists in knowledge about concussion in Para athletes. The Concussion in Para Sport (CIPS) Group developed a position statement addressing necessary modifications for concussion assessment, management and return to sport. As with all concussions, education and prevention are key. And when a concussion does…

Concussion Awareness Week

This week is Canada’s inaugural Concussion Awareness Week, an opportunity to increase concussion awareness by providing information and encouraging action across Canada. To honour Concussion Awareness Week, the Fall 2021 edition of the SIRCuit dives into topics and issues at the forefront of concussion research and education in sport—from concussion risk and management for girls…

Is technology a coach’s ally or Achilles’ heel? 4 questions to ask

Over a coffee, we recently reminisced about different sporting environments we’ve worked in and how many times we’ve seen expensive technological solutions sit in a corner, collecting dust. Perhaps you can relate to the pattern. A new technology hits the market, and a few marquee teams or athletes adopt it. You truly believe that the…

Data-driven decision-making: Easy as 1, 2, 3

In 2017, The Economist boldly published that data, not oil, was the world’s most valuable resource (Parkins, 2017). Sport organizations produce more data than most organizations, ranging from athlete training and performance tracking to business-related information, such as memberships and participation data (Hayduk, 2020). National and provincial/territorial sport organizations (NSOs and PTSOs) are producing and…

Practice pays off

Becoming a Paralympian requires skill, dedication, resiliency, and a lot of practice. A recent study found that Paralympic athletes averaged over 6,400 hours of training during their careers.

Individualized training

An individualized approach to training and development is important for creating effective training programs for Para athletes. Research shows that Para athletes’ developmental pathways and training preferences will vary based on their previous sport experiences, personal preferences, and impairment type.

Para sport research

The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Paralympian Search Program provides an important platform for research on quality Para sport experiences, patterns in Para athlete development trajectories, and the engagement of underserved populations, such as girls and women, in the Para sport system. Learn more.  

Summer 2021 SIRCuit

The Summer 2021 SIRCuit is now available!  The SIRCuit is designed to highlight important research and insights to advance the Canadian sport system. With the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo on the horizon and the winter Games in Beijing just around the corner, this edition of the SIRCuit dives into issues and trends that will…