Early Sport Specialization

Popular culture pushes the idea that to succeed at sports, children need to know at a very early age what sport they want to commit themselves to for the rest of their lives in order to get that future scholarship or to reach the professional ranks. While there are a few athletes that have benefited from early specialization , there are more studies coming out that show that it doesn't...Read more

Be a Positive Role Model

Most children will say that their role model or idol is someone famous, but it is the people they see everyday that have the biggest influence. A role model is a person whose behaviour or success can be emulated by others, especially young people. This includes, parents, siblings, teachers and even coaches ; each person plays a significant role in the development of that child. Professionalism '...Read more

SIRC at the CASEM Conference!

The SIRC virtual resource centre is on the road this week in Kelowna, BC attending the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine ( CASEM ) conference. It is great talking to the sports medicine community and helping them out with their questions in the area of sport medicine and preventive health interventions. Some of the topics being discussed include: Exercise as a modality for chronic...Read more

International Olympic Day - June 23

Join the hundreds of thousands of people around the world on June 23 to celebrate Olympic Day! Olympic Day is not only a celebration, but an international effort to promote fitness and well-being in sport for everyone across the globe regardless of their age, gender or athletic ability. Due to WWII, the Olympic Games had not been held in 1940 or 1944 so the city of London rose to host the XIV...Read more

Summer Safety

SIRC Newsletter now available online: Summer Safety Summer’s here and we all want to go outside, be active and have some fun in the sun! When temperatures soar and thunder roars, coaches, team managers and event organizers are responsible for the safety and well being of their athletes, participants and spectators. Safety awareness is easy and you can help avoid summer injuries by planning ahead...Read more

Going Gluten-Free

The gluten-free food trend has become more popular and many athletes are questioning whether it's something they should try. The main reason people decide to omit gluten is that they have been diagnosed with celiac disease . Celiac disease is when gluten , a protein found in wheat and other grains, damages the intestines and prevents the body from absorbing essential nutrients. Along with...Read more

We're Your Biggest Fans!

The scenes are common: screaming fans, the broken glass, a mob and the inevitable violence or tragedy; why is it that major sporting events like the Euro2012 championships can provoke such acts of violence ? Fan identification is the commitment, perceived connectedness and emotional involvement a spectator has with a team. Studies say that identification with sports teams is psychologically...Read more

Troubling Tendonitis

What is tendonitis? Tendonitis is a word that is mentioned a lot in the sport industry, but few people really grasp what it is. The word tendonitis means "inflamed tendon." A tendon is a tough band of connective tissue, attached at one end to a muscle and on the other to a bone. It is a common condition in athletes that can cause significant amounts of inflammation, swelling and pain. Why does it...Read more

Soccer Fever!

If there is one event that is capturing the world's attention right now it is the Euro2012 Soccer Championships! Fast, furious and very-very action packed, this game has it all. While watching these elite athletes on the field, it's easy to forget that they were children once, testing out their mettle on their hometown field. What are Small-Sided Games? Small-sided games (SSG) are any games...Read more

Strength Training

SIRC Newsletter now available online: Strength Training Most people think strength training is just for professional athletes or body builders but we all need to understand what strength training is and the role it can have in improving our body and overall health . If you establish training guidelines and follow proper nutritional recommendations, adding regular resistance training in your daily...Read more