SIRC at the CS4L National Summit: Governance!

SIRC hosted the "Governance and CS4L" session at the CS4L Summit today. Good governance is critical to the success of a sport organization. This session talked about how CS4L‐LTAD can be integrated into the Governance of a sport organization and where to find practical governance templates and resources that can be downloaded and modified for use. Panelists shared insights, including lessons...Read more

SIRC at the CS4L National Summit

In support of the Canadian Sport for Life ( CS4L ) movement SIRC is hosting an interactive Resource Centre at the National Summit (Wed & Thursday, Feb 1 & 2, 2012) and the World LTAD Symposium (Friday, February 3, 2012) in Gatineau, QC. Among the resources we are making available: In print: Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) from over 30 National Sport Organizations SIRC Newsletters on...Read more

The Power and Peril of Social Media

It is no longer a question of why should an organization use social media , but how should they use it. With social media the possibilities are endless. Social media allows for a sense of community and increases the speed for feedback and results. Organizations can have direct communication with their customers or members, coaches can send out training schedules and tips to their athletes,...Read more

2012 NHL All-Star Weekend

As the NHL season takes a break, the City of Ottawa is catching All-Star Fever! The 2012 All-Star Weekend Celebration kicked off yesterday in Ottawa with a parade of the NHL Trophies escorted by future NHL hopefuls, Timbits hockey players, down the Rideau Canal Skateway. Fans lined the canal, on the ice and on the banks, just to catch a glimpse of Lord Stanley’s Cup. Beyond the obvious highs of...Read more

Growing into Biathlon

/*--> */ The word biathlon is of Greek origin and means "two tests". The sport of biathlon combines the two sports of skiing and shooting . Athletes must complete a cross country ski race stopping throughout the course to shoot at a series of targets. The sport is challenging both physically and mentally. It is not just about being the fastest skier, athletes must control their body and relax...Read more

Beyond the Finish Line: A Walk Through the Mixed Zone

Photo courtesy Polakoff Communications Once an athlete gets to a certain level, there become many more obligations and expectations of them beyond their performance on the field of play. Walking through the Media Mixed Zone at a major sporting competition is just one of those responsibilities. The Mixed Zone is designed to permit the broadcast and print media to “mix” with athletes for the...Read more

The Achilles Heel of the Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is the large fibrous tissue that connects the heel to the muscles of the lower leg. Named after Achilles , the ancient Greek hero of the Trojan War who was invulnerable except for one spot on his heel, it is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body, so that it can connect with the most powerful muscle group in the body - the calf muscles (plantaris, gastrocnemius and...Read more

Mountain Sickness Can Happen to Anyone

It is not uncommon for members of national sports team to go on mountain training camps at high altitudes, but trips to the mountains can also include holiday excursions and recreational charges up the inclines. Whether it is for training or for pleasure, any altitude activity should be approached with the proper safety knowledge. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is an illness that can affect...Read more

Guidelines for Media Guides

Photo credit: Michele Walker Media guid e s produced by sports teams, organizations and committees serve as valuable resources to members of the media. Despite the fact that there is so much information now on the internet about most teams and sports, a sports related press kit serves as an accurate and factual resource tool for members of the media as it is produced directly by the organization...Read more

Is the Sky Always Going to be the Limit?

Year after year, games after games, championship after championship, athletes continue to set world records and all-time best results. But can athletic human performance continue to improve indefinitely? One might contemplate that the time will come when athletes will no longer be faster, higher and stronger. A ccording to a South Korean study of athletics and swimming in the International...Read more