High school coach vs. the club coach

Organized sports played among youth participants are usually in the form of club sports or school athletic teams. It is also likely that those who participate in club sports are also members of their high school teams . Having the opportunity to represent your school at a city or provincial championship engenders a sense of school pride while creating a lasting bond among schoolmates. Clubs...Read more

Hurling - The Fastest Game on Grass

Take a little bit of field hockey fundamentals, the ball carrying and throws of lacrosse, the physicality of rugby, with a sprinkle of hockey and soccer for good measure and you’ve got the Irish national sport of hurling (Camogie in the women’s league). Commonly known as the fastest game on grass, hurling is a designated game of the Gaelic Athletic Association and has been a part of Irish history...Read more

Mindset: Mental Strategies to perform at your best

Elite athletes have an exceptional ability to rise to the occasion when called upon to perform. Whether it is making that big shot to win the game or making a dazzling pass that scores the winning goal, most coaches want their best player to have the ball when the game is on the line. But how do they build the confidence, concentration and instincts among their top athletes to pull off such feats...Read more

Entering the Positive World of Yoga

By Jessica Price Algonquin Sport Business Management student Yoga is an ancient tradition that focuses on breathing, simple mediation, and body posture. Today, yoga has become increasing popular because people use it as a means to good health and relaxation. With heart disease on the rise, and stress being one of the major contributors it is no wonder people are attracted to the holistic view of...Read more

Coaching styles in youth sports

Youth coaches commit a lot of time and effort planning practice drills and game strategies to help develop and prepare their teams for competitions. Most coaches at this level are usually either former athletes themselves or have learned through watching other coaches. Without any formal training, they may be unfamiliar with different coaching styles which can lead them to train their young...Read more

The Runner’s Tummy

Experiencing physical activity by training to compete or exercising to improve our health are two ways to enhance quality of life. As you are going about your routine, stomach cramps can sometimes cause discomfort and cut short your workout. Runner’s tummy or gastrointestinal (GI) issues can hinder your ability to perform or achieve your activity goals. It can also be very embarrassing to the...Read more

Active Recovery

Recovery is paramount to attaining peak performance and minimizing the chances of overtraining. For athletes who carry out repeated bouts of high intensity workouts, the ability to recover between the repetitions and the days between these sessions can improve performance. Being able to recover quickly allows the athlete to apply more stress during training and to do so more frequently during the...Read more

Summer Safety: Preventing Heat Illness

Heat illness is a broad term that encompasses several conditions, ranging from mild heat cramps to heat stroke. Heat illness is typically caused by a combination of hot environment, strenuous exercise, inadequate adaptation to the heat, age, hydration levels and/or a poor choice of clothing. It’s always a risk in summer sports, particularly football and running. Many factors can contribute to a...Read more

Active mothers = Active kids

Being physically active has many benefits such as controlling risk factors for heart disease , managing stress and generally improving our quality of life. In recent years, childhood obesity , a key predictor of obesity in adulthood continues to increase. This health issue has garnered a significant amount of attention from the Canadian government and health care officials and the attention is...Read more

2014 Commonwealth Games

July 23, 2014 marks the official opening of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland . The Commonwealth Games are a tradition that started in in Hamilton, Ontario in 1930 where 11 countries had 400 athletes take part in 6 sports and 59 events. Since its inception, the Games have been held every four years (except in 1942 and 1946 because of WWII), and has grown into the third largest multi-...Read more