The Role of Nutrition in Sub-Concussion Injury Protection
This is the second article in a two-part series about the links between nutrition and sport-related concussion. The first article focused on the role of nutrition in concussion recovery. This article focuses on the potential for nutrition to contribute to sub-concussion injury protection. Repetitive sub-concussive injuries are the result of repetitive impacts on the head…
Supporting the Psychological Wellbeing of Athletes: What Can Coaches do?
There has recently been an increasing number of athletes bravely coming forward to share their stories about the psychological distress and associated mental health challenges they experienced during their athletic careers (e.g., Michael Phelps, Gracie Gold, and Demar Derozan). Athletes are not immune to experiencing psychological distress and rates of mental illness among athletes are…
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…
Teammates’ Emotions
The way that adolescent athletes deal with teammates’ emotions impacts their own enjoyment and commitment in sport. While competition and comparison among teammates can fuel negative emotions, athletes who compliment and support their teammates can lighten the mood. Learn more in this infographic.
Cryotherapy
Cold-water immersion, also known as cryotherapy, has been used to treat injuries, reduce heat illness, and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. Research in the International Journal of Athletic Therapy & Training found cryotherapy reduced an athlete’s perception of soreness but had no effect on muscle performance recovery following a single bout of training.
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…
10,000 Hour Rule
The “10,000-hour rule” – the notion that 10,000 hours of practice are needed to become an expert in any domain (including sport) – is based on a 1993 study of violinists. But new research replicating the 1993 study could not verify the results. The amount of practice accumulated did not correspond to skill level.
She Belongs
Creating a positive social environment that intentionally fosters a sense of belonging is integral to the retention of girls in sport and physical activity. Canadian Women & Sport’s new She Belongs resource offers practical recommendations for coaches and program leaders focused on building a positive culture, creating an inclusive and safe environment, connecting girls with…
Nutrition Month
March is Nutrition Month. The benefits of proper nutrition for athlete training and performance are well established, however, the role of nutrition is often overlooked as a support for sport concussion recovery. Learn about the importance of hydration, omega 3 fatty acids, creatine, polyphenols and vitamins to concussion recovery in the SIRCuit.
Healthy Sleep Hygiene
Research clearly demonstrates the negative effects of sleep deprivation on athletic performance, including reduced reaction time, accuracy, submaximal strength, and endurance. Cognitive functions such as judgment and decision-making also suffer. Check out this infographic for tips on healthy sleep hygiene.