Mom’s got game
“Being younger in an all-women’s league has shown me that you can play hockey and be a mom. It wasn’t ever in my mind that I couldn’t do both. Seeing others do it helped relieve some of the pressures of motherhood.” Learn more about women’s’ experiences returning to sport after childbirth and tips for creating…
She belongs
A positive social environment has a big impact on girls’ sport participation. For many girls, a sense of social belonging enhances their performance. Girls are also motivated to stay in sport to make friends and be part of a team. Knowing this can help coaches keep girls engaged in sport.
Hallmarks of a quality masters sport experience
Research on the experiences of Masters athletes identifies eight “Hallmarks of a Quality Masters Sport Experience“. These include intellectual stimulation, testing and assessing oneself, quality relationships, and feeling validated.
Getting over ‘mom guilt’
Olympic bronze medalist and former world champion mountain biker Catharine Pendrel gave birth to her first child, Dara, 6 months before she represented Canada in Tokyo for her fourth Olympic Games. In the lead up to the Games, Pendrel discovered that she’s actually a better parent when she makes time for physical activity. “It felt…
Military family support
As sport professionals, part of our support for military personnel often includes considering types of sport programming that may promote physical and mental recovery following service-related illness and injury. But military families are often overlooked. Integrating military family programming and support into sport program delivery is one way to support the healing and recovery of…
Family-friendly golf
Golf offers health benefits and opportunities for social connection, but the time commitment and cost of lessons, practice and memberships can be a barrier for moms with busy family schedules. Flexible opportunities, such as family-friendly events or playing fewer than 18 holes, can make golf more accessible to women.
Sport for newcomers
Sport participation can help welcome newcomers to their new country. Sport administrators can create more inclusive and welcoming programs by involving newcomers in program planning and implementation. Partnering with community organizations that have experience supporting newcomers can also be helpful.
The active mom
Kids don’t have to be the only ones getting active during their organized sport activities. Training sessions provide an ideal time for moms to get active too! Creating opportunities for parents to engage in individual or group exercise during their children’s sport practices is one way sport programs can enhance sport moms’ physical and mental…
Warm-up tips
Do you like to stretch before going for a run? Research shows that short durations of dynamic stretching (up to 4 minutes) are the most beneficial for running performance if there are no further warm-up activities after stretching. Static stretching, on the other hand, has no effect on performance but can reduce acute injuries by…
From one mom to another: Tips for being active after welcoming a new baby
Becoming a mother is an exciting milestone in a woman’s life. Once you welcome home a baby, nothing is ever the same again. While the transition to motherhood comes with many ups and downs, engaging in physical activity is a great way for new moms to protect their physical and mental health. For more information,…