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Understanding the capacity of national sport organizations (NSOs) for gender equity: Recommendations for NSO Leaders and Policy Directors

Sport is spelled out in white chalk with the O being turned into the male gender symbol and the T turned into the female gender symbol.

As leaders of amateur sport in Canada, national sport organizations (NSOs) are tasked with addressing gender equity and increased engagement of women and girls. NSO leaders may focus their efforts through new policies, initiatives or programs, but their ability to successfully develop and implement these new ideas is dependent on their organization’s capacity to do…

Ski like a girl: Researchers reveal hidden histories of women in Nordic sport

A woman with long brown hair, a red toque, yellow jacket and burgandy tights, cross country skis in the woods.

From a U of A varsity ski club to the Canadian Birkebeiner and the Olympics, women have always been part of the landscape of winter sport. When Lyndsay Conrad dove into her archival research on early 20th-century ski history in Alberta, she found women were missing in the standard narratives, yet leap out in old…

Building women leadership through sport

Engaging in sports can empower women to become better leaders. Beyond physical benefits, sports foster teamwork, communication, and resilience, translating into effective leadership qualities. Athletic experiences empower women to navigate professional challenges with confidence, challenging societal norms and inspiring leadership development.

Addressing gender inequities in Canadian university coaching

Over the last 50 years, significant progress has been made in access and opportunities for girls and women to participate at all levels of sport in Canada. Despite this progress, the number of women in coaching remains alarmingly low (Banwell et al., 2019; Burton, 2019; Serpell et al., 2023). This is particularly true in the…

Cost of living and women’s sport participation

Amidst the cost of living crisis, women and girls encounter barriers to sports participation. Research from Women in Sport shows a widening gender activity gap, with 35% reducing activity due to financial constraints. Urgent action is needed to address economic, societal, and facility challenges for equitable access to the lifelong benefits of sport.

The role of social support for female Olympic athletes

Social support has been widely recognized as a crucial aspect of an athlete’s career. Researchers from the University of Toronto conducted a study focusing on the unique challenges faced by female Olympic athletes and the role of social support. In their research, the authors provide valuable insights into how coaches, teammates, family, friends, and sports…

Building capacity for female leaders

Women are often underrepresented in leadership roles in sports. As such, there is a need to build organizational capacity for women leaders. Researchers suggest that some best practices for organizations include creating family-friendly activities that encourage women to become more involved in an organization and partnering with external organizations to bring new women and girls…

A roadmap for investing in Canadian women’s professional sport

The Canadian women’s professional sport market is estimated to be worth $150-200 million currently, and is significantly underdeveloped. Meanwhile, fan interest in women’s pro sports has never been higher. New research from Canadian Women & Sport presents an exciting roadmap for investing in women’s professional sport in Canada.

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