Accessible communications and technologies in sport for people with disabilities
Accessibility is a human right. And it’s essential for 1 in 5 Canadians aged 15 or older, who live with at least 1 disability. This blog post explores why accessibility is important and suggests strategies for coaches and sport organizations to prioritize and improve accessibility, specifically involving technology and communications.
Promoting outdoor recreation for youth
Because natural environments have natural rules with real and immediate consequences, they offer youth maximal opportunities for mastery of new skills. Evidence demonstrates that outdoor recreation not only improves youth wellbeing but may also enhance the likelihood of participation in outdoor activities.
What coaches need to know about low energy availability
Low energy availability (LEA) refers to when an athlete has an insufficient energy intake compared to their energy expenditure. Yet, coaches remain relatively unaware of symptoms and causes of LEA. This review synthesizes findings on LEA from 1986-2021 so that coaches can be better prepared to support athletes.
Canadian Para Nordic skiers on multi-sport and athlete transfer
Robbi Weldon, Christina Picton and Cindy Ouellet have a collective 10 Paralympic appearances between them. All 3 women are multi-sport athletes from childhood and all 3 have represented Canada in Para nordic skiing. On the surface, their experiences with the Canadian Para sport system may seem similar. But what their stories show is that there…
Demographics of Canadian strength and conditioning coaches
New research on Canadian strength and conditioning coaches has shed light on demographics. The study found that the mean age of coaches was 34 years. 77.% of participants were male and 90.7% did not identify as a visible minority. This demographic data can inform future targeted recruitment and mentoring within the field.
Challenges and opportunities of dual sport participation
Not many athletes can claim both summer and winter Paralympian status. Liam Hickey is one of those rare athletes. He represented Canada at the 2016 Paralympics in wheelchair basketball and the 2018 and 2022 Paralympics in Para ice hockey. Ultimately, financial pressure and time constraints compelled him to focus solely on Para ice hockey. The…
Cultivating a mastery climate in youth sport
A mastery motivational climate is one in which the success of an athlete is determined by their own perception of skill development and satisfaction. An ego motivational climate emphasizes winning, with success being defined by who is the best. The benefits of a mastery as opposed to ego climate in youth sport include: decreased feelings…
Beyond food as fuel: Exploring women athletes’ relationship with food
Athletes’ relationship with food can be complicated. This is especially true for women in sport, who tend to have higher rates of disordered eating. The role of sport participation in athletes’ relationship with food is not straightforward. Some studies suggest that sport participation itself can make disordered eating more likely. Other research highlights the many…
Safe sport jobs increase as Canadian sport sector responds to community
Safe sport and safeguarding in sport have become top priorities for the Canadian sport sector. Prevalence studies have revealed that athletes across different levels of sport frequently experience maltreatment (Alexander et coll., 2011; Vertommen et coll., 2016; US Center for SafeSport, 2021; Willson et coll., 2022). Equity deserving athletes experience more harm in sport (Burdsey,…
Assessments in physical education
Physical education (PE) can play an important role in promoting activity and lifelong sport participation amongst youth. However, there is debate regarding how teachers should best assess students in PE. This study explores students’ attitudes towards different areas related to assessment in PE, including curriculum, grading, teachers, and fitness testing.