Stigma and mental health

Negative social attitudes or stereotypes surrounding mental health, also known as stigma, poses a significant barrier to mental health help-seeking among athletes. Research shows that athletes are often reluctant to seek help for mental health because of fears about what others will think. Normalizing discussions around mental health in sport is key to address these…

Reviewing the impact of climate change on sports

As climate change increasingly affects our world, its impact on sports operations is becoming more evident. This review explores how climate shifts are influencing organized competitive sports, from athlete health and performance in the heat to cities’ suitability for hosting events.

The practice environment and athlete learning

The coaching environment influences athlete development. Research shows that for coaches to create effective learning environments for athletes they need to deliberately plan each practice session. To do so, coaches need to know their athlete’s capabilities and needs and should differentiate or individualize practice instead of adopting a “one size fits all” approach.

Scoring for the planet

Football clubs are making significant strides for the planet through innovative initiatives like Pledgeball, which harnesses the collective energy of fans to tackle climate change head-on. An examination of this campaign within a European football club revealed that by strategically aligning climate initiatives with fan identities and leveraging the sport’s distinctive culture, clubs effectively empowered…

Power Balance: The black box of the Canadian sport system

Within the Canadian sport system lies a black box of power imbalance, a black box the Future of Sport in Canada Commission will need the key to address. Our research offers insights into:   cost benefits and savings to a power balanced sport model;  how to build power balance into a system through independence, transparency, and…

Indigenous youth and sport research

For indigenous youth, having access to sport programming centered in culture and community is important. A recent research study centered on indigenous youth and sport showed that they want to be involved in the research process and offer many unique and valuable perspectives. Sport researchers need to consider how they can engage communities in research…

Optimizing gender-specific performance

Optimizing performance in soccer requires collaboration among coaches, physicians, nutritionists, and exercise physiologists to provide tailored recommendations. A recent study offers valuable insights into essential factors, including hydration status and training load structure, crucial for optimizing body composition and health.

Shifting the narrative: Empowering parents and fostering understanding of their roles in the youth sport system

Parents as promoters of positive youth sport experiences  One of the key social agents within the youth sport environment is the parent. They are commonly called upon to facilitate critical components of youth sport participation, such as providing material (registration and travel fees, equipment purchases, volunteerism) and emotional support like encouragement and feedback for athletes…

Minor soccer referees in Quebec to wear body cameras to prevent abuse

To combat escalating abuse from parents and coaches, a minor soccer association plans to equip referees with body cameras aiming to protect young referees and deter aggressive behaviour. In Ontario, a pilot project with referee-worn cameras has shown promise, acting as a visual deterrent against abuse and providing referees with a tool to record incidents.

Reducing Waste in Sport

As we learn more about the environment and look for ways to keep the Earth clean, we look to reduce the waste that we create. No matter who you are in the sport sector, whether it be an athlete, parent, coach, or administrator, changes can be made to reduce environmental footprint. This blog provides information…