Athlete-Centered Coaching

Athlete-centered coaching focuses on facilitation and teaching by focusing on the athlete’s humanistic needs. According to research, by using this approach, athletes are empowered through 1) encouragement to discover their full potential; 2) increased independence, self reliance, and control; and 3) prioritization of personal goals over winning, amongst many other things. Coaches should aim to…

Sport for Development and Peace in Canada over the last 50 years

Introduction  Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) refers to the organization and mobilization of sport to meet non-sport goals of international development, such as health promotion, gender empowerment, education, and peace building and conflict resolution. The overall field or sector of SDP has grown significantly in the past 50 years, shaped in particular by the…

Burnout in Young Athletes

Burnout is when an athlete loses interest in a sport they play because of physical and emotional exhaustion. Some signs of burnout in young athletes include loss of motivation, drop in athletic performance, and persistent fatigue. Parents and caregivers can support their children by encouraging a variety of activities and by focusing on what the…

Choking Under Pressure

Choking is defined as a decrease in performance that happens in high pressure or anxiety-provoking situations. It often occurs in sports because of internal and external pressures that are present during competitions or big events. Visualization, practicing for pressure, developing a pre-performance routine, and developing a stress mindset can help decrease the chances of choking.

The Importance of Stretching

Stretching helps keep your muscles flexible, strong and healthy. Research shows that a lack of stretching puts you at risk for joint pain, strains and muscle damage. Aim to stretch daily or at least three to four times per week.

Adherence to Sports Injury Rehabilitation

Low adherence to rehabilitation after a sports injury is a common problem. According to research, there are many person-specific factors that influence adherence including motivation, confidence/self efficacy, coping, social support, coping, and psychological skills. Athletes should find a strategy that works best for them.

Multiple Types of Exercise for Older Adults

Research demonstrates that it’s important for older adults to engage in all four types of exercise including endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility as each one provides its own benefits. Endurance exercises improve the health of your heart and lungs, and strength exercises can help maintain independence and prevent falls. While balance exercises can help prevent…

Recommendations and resources for disability sport event managers

There are many things that need to be considered when planning a sport event. The Canadian Disability Participation Project has created a module called Training and Managing Disability Sport Event Volunteers: Recommendations and Resources to help any sporting body or sport event manager in training and managing a volunteer workforce. It includes 12 best practice…

Increasing Physical Activity in People With Spinal Cord Injury

Approximately 50% of individuals with spinal cord injuries lack sufficient physical activity. Researchers studied behavior-change interventions and found that providing practical support, individualization, and monitoring had a greater impact on promoting physical activity compared to group-based approaches. By targeting behavior change, using behavior change frameworks, and specific techniques, these interventions effectively encourage physical activity in…

Motor Learning Without Physical Practice

Did you know that imagining yourself performing motor skills can actually improve your performance? In a recent study, participants who combined watching actions with motor imagery achieved faster movement execution times compared to other groups with improvements lasting even after a week. lasted even after a week. These findings can help athletes develop complex motor…