If you work in sport and you think this article doesn’t apply to you, you’re wrong. Every coach, sport psychologist, and other practitioner in the field has, had, and/or will have an LGBTQ+ athlete under your guidance and care. Whether they choose to be visible or not is entirely their business and it’s not your job to say otherwise. However, it is your job to ensure that the space you are providing to practice and participate in sport is built around an inclusive, safe, accessible, and empowering climate for all your athletes.
Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
By Dirk Smith, M.Sc, SDL (He/Him) My recent article on the four the four pillars of athletic development talks about how building successful athletes and a team are rooted in the different skills and competencies of mental, physical, tactical, and technical conditioning within sport. During my time with the soccer team, as the team’s strength … Continue reading Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
There are many “performance” sports in which the sport itself built upon the measure of success based on judgement from a panel of professionals with in depth knowledge of the sport and its rules. These sports, such as ice skating, gymnastics, cheerleading, dancing, and others often attract an audience who come to see the show … Continue reading Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
Emotional Regulation Strategies for Endurance Sport Athletes
Endurance sports are some of the most challenging and brutal physical activities that humans can take part in. Yet, for these same reasons they also endure as one of the most popular challenges that people take on. From the elite level all the way to the beginner, endurance sports include events like marathon running, open … Continue reading Emotional Regulation Strategies for Endurance Sport Athletes
Participation. Inclusion. Personal Best? Four Considerations in Developing Athletes within Inclusive Sports
By Dirk Smith, MSc, CSCS, SDL (He/Him) The Gay Games are built upon three tenants, participation, inclusion and personal best. Inclusive grassroots sport has evolved from this established foundation and has made great strides in creating a sport space is built upon participation and inclusion but clubs and teams are often lacking in the athletic … Continue reading Participation. Inclusion. Personal Best? Four Considerations in Developing Athletes within Inclusive Sports