Shoulder pain in wheelchair basketball athletes
Athletes that play wheelchair basketball have increased stress on their upper limbs, which can lead to shoulder pain. Although research in this area is limited, research suggests that strengthening exercises can be beneficial in reducing the risk of shoulder injuries. Further research is needed to determine the most optimal exercise type and duration required to…
Mentorship in Para sport: The value of experiential coach learning
Coach mentoring in Para sport In many ways, coaching athletes with and without disabilities is comparable as their training, dedication, and motivation to succeed are the same. However, there are contextual differences that make coaching in the Para sport setting unique. For example, it is important for coaches to have a strong understanding of specialized…
Challenges and solutions in parental support for young para-athletes
Parents supporting young para-athletes report challenges including limited local sports options and funding difficulties. Recognizing these hurdles, and understanding their impact, can inform improved support mechanisms for the sports sector like addressing cultural barriers, engaging parents in program development, enhancing access to sports for disabled youth, and refining talent identification pathways for aspiring para-athletes.
Parenting in parasport
Parents of athletes with disabilities face challenges like limited local sport options and funding, but they also experience benefits like social inclusion and support. Scholars suggest that sport programs should tackle these cultural and environmental barriers and actively involve parents in creating support systems. Additionally, there is a need to enhance talent identification pathways for…
Creating accessible program information
Sports participation has many social, physical and mental health benefits for children with disabilities. However, many children with disabilities and their families struggle to find relevant information about physical activity programs. To help overcome this barrier to participation, organizations may work to ensure that program information is easily accessible. Some best practices include ensuring that…
Advancing disability inclusion in Canada: Introducing the first National Coaching for Para Sport Summit
In May 2023, the National Coaching for Para Sport Summit (NCPS) took place at the Steadward Centre. A collaborative effort between uOttawa, the University of Alberta, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), the summit acknowledged the importance of disability inclusion in coach education and, more importantly, delved into the…
Strategies to Enhance Disability Programming
Through interviews with providers of community-based exercise programs for individuals with disabilities, researchers have developed a comprehensive list of 85 strategies to enhance programs. A user-friendly chart offers actionable methods to improve exercise experiences for people with disabilities, serving as a valuable resource for program providers striving to create more inclusive and effective fitness opportunities.
The history of Para sport in Canada
Canada has long been a leader in sport and recreation for persons with disability, and it is astounding to consider the contributions made in the last century. This is found in every aspect of disability sport including those for persons with intellectual impairment, mobility disabilities, and deafness. But for the purposes of this article, the…
Recommendations and resources for disability sport event managers
There are many things that need to be considered when planning a sport event. The Canadian Disability Participation Project has created a module called Training and Managing Disability Sport Event Volunteers: Recommendations and Resources to help any sporting body or sport event manager in training and managing a volunteer workforce. It includes 12 best practice…
Quality participation in Parasport: A narrative perspective
Project summary The benefits of participation in parasport are widely recognized. In order to achieve these benefits, we need to understand how athletes think about quality experiences in parasport, and how to foster these quality experiences in a parasport context. As such, this study had two main objectives: (1) to explore what quality participation means…