Happy New Year from SIRC!

2015 has been an exciting “Year of Sport”! We’ve been fortunate to see Canada and Canadian athletes excel on the sporting stage both at home and internationally. From hosting hugely successful international events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup to the Pan and ParaPan American Games to our athletes’ successes on the field of play, our nation continues to build a strong reputation in sport around...Read more
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sporting event
National championship
international competition
Olympics
Canada
new year
sport
Athlete
High Performance
elite athlete

Happy Holidays from SIRC!

The holidays are a time for friends, family, and the spirit of giving. Whether we are at school, work, or play we should remember to keep up our healthy eating and exercise habits. Studies have shown that more than half of all weight gained throughout the year occurs during the holiday season, so our healthy habits built during the year become even more important this time of year. Stay active...Read more
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holidays
winter sports
ski
snowshoe
tobogganing
dogsledding
Nutrition
healthy eating
Exercise
Physical Activity
Fitness
family

IIHF U-20 World Junior Hockey Championship – Developing Talented Young Athletes

A holiday tradition is almost upon us, as the 2016 IIHF U-20 World Junior Hockey Championship (WJHC) will be held in Helsinki, Finland this coming December 26-January 5, 2016. The event has a long and illustrious history, as it was first officially held in 1977. Thanks to the success of hockey worldwide, the tournament has grown to feature 10 countries competing for gold, silver, and bronze. The...Read more
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junior hockey
World Championship
gold medal
national pride
Sport Specialization
Injuries
sport sampling
transferable skills
youth
Athlete
Athlete Development
Talent Development

CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COACH PERCEPTION OF TEAM COHESION

SIRC is pleased to be working together with Sport Canada to share current research on topics informing policy and promoting quality sport programming. This week we are sharing highlights of a recent article examining CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COACH PERCEPTION OF TEAM COHESION . Coaches’ Perceptions of Team Cohesion in Paralympic Sport. Falcão, W.R., Bloom, G.A., & Loughead, T.M. (2015). Adapted...Read more
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Paralympics
Athletes
athletes with a disability
team cohesion
Coach
Coaching
Social Psychology

The Diabetic Athlete

More than 382 million people worldwide, and 10 million Canadians, are living with Diabetes Mellitus, more commonly known as diabetes . There are three different types of the chronic disease, but most athletes seem to have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin for the body, and Type 2 is when the cells in the body fail to respond to insulin...Read more
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diabetes
Blood Glucose
Athlete
Training
Blood Sugar
Competition
Nutrition
Exercise
Sleep
food
sport
parent

You Are What You Eat- The Importance of Post-Training Nutrition

Many athletes focus on the technical and conditioning aspects of their sporting experience, yet nutrition is an equally important part of athletic success. Post-training nutrition is especially critical, as it helps the body recover and recharge. Timing is also important; studies show that food consumed within 30 minutes of exercising will have a significant effect on glycogen stores and muscle...Read more
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Nutrition
Athlete
Body
muscle recovery
food
Exercise
meals
snacks
Post-Exercise
Training
Recovery

Getting Physical! Engaging Seniors in Sports

Whether you are young or old, sports are an incredible way to strengthen friendships, meet new people, and to stay healthy. There are many physical and mental health benefits of active aging and lifelong sport participation. Statistics Canada shows that young Canadians between the ages of 15-19 are participating in sport at a 54% rate, whereas only 17% of seniors are engaged. Why is there such a...Read more
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sport
participation
seniors
Masters Athletes
Competition
Athlete
Role Models

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPING ATHLETES.

SIRC is pleased to be working together with Sport Canada to share current research on topics informing policy and promoting quality sport programming. This week we are sharing highlights of a recent article examining COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPING ATHLETES . The influence of community on athletic development: an integrated case study. Balish, S., & Côté, J. (2014). Qualitative Research...Read more
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Community
sport
Social Environment
Athlete
Athlete Development

OLYMPIC MEDAL-WINNING COACH LEADERSHIP

SIRC is pleased to be working together with Sport Canada to share current research on topics informing policy and promoting quality sport programming. This week we are sharing highlights of a recent article examining OLYMPIC MEDAL-WINNING COACH LEADERSHIP . Olympic Medal-Winning Leadership. Din, C., Paskevich, D., Gabriele, T., Werthner, P., Arnold, R., & Vella, S. (2015). International...Read more
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Coach
Coaching
Leadership
High Performance
elite athlete

9th Annual Sport Canada Research Initiative (SCRI) Conference – Engaging Sport Leaders, Policy Analysts and Researchers

Conference Background In 2005, as part of the Sport Canada Research Initiative (SCRI), Sport Canada launched a joint initiative with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) called the Sport Participation Research Initiative (SPRI) . Sport Canada funds the initiative to better evidence the benefits of, and barriers to, quality sport participation with the aim of...Read more
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SIRC
Sport Canada Research Initiative Conference
sport
research
participation