Blog
Excellence Takes Time
It has been suggested that a minimum of 10 years of practice (sometimes stated as 10,000 hours) is needed for expert performers in any field to reach the elite level (Ericsson, Charness, Feltovich, & Hoffman, 2006). Other evidence indicates that elite athletes...
Sex and the Athlete
Does abstinence really improve performance? To have sex or not to have sex; that is the question. We've all heard the myth that for athletes to perform well, abstinence the night before competition is a must. The theory goes, sexual frustration leads to increased...
Five Ways to be a Great Sports Parent
Is there anything better than watching your child run or skate around with a smile on their face? Kids will tell you the number one reason for playing a sport is fun. Seeing your child find enjoyment while playing sports is extremely rewarding for parents. However,...
Feeling sore after a workout? Could it be an injury?
Everyone’s experienced that post workout feeling of “Wow! Definitely got a good workout in today”. Or maybe you have experienced DOMS or “delayed onset muscle soreness” where your extremely sore and tight for a couple days after a rigorous workout. How can you tell if...
Mom, Dad and Me…and a Healthy Lifestyle
It really is alarming; nearly 31% of Canadian children and youth 5-19 years of age are overweight or obese. And if the trend continues, we’re going to end up with an adult epidemic of obesity. It’s no secret that we have a physical activity deficit in our country. So,...
Growth Spurts
My wife and I recently purchased our 12-year-old son a new pair of shoes and new pants only to discover a month later, he’s complaining that he can’t make them fit!! Geesh. Funny too, is that he liked a girl in school but she grew taller than him; a deal breaker...
The Dreaded Side Stitch
Most runners know all too well the discomfort of the notorious side stitch. There's nothing worse than that sharp pain "under the ribs" creeping up out of no where to ruin what would otherwise be a perfectly great run. The current term used to describe this side-ache...
The Warm Up – Let’s Stretch…Or Not
Growing up, I always lived by the concept of ‘make sure you stretch before exercising, you don’t want to hurt yourself’. I’m sure we all agree that stretching has been a mainstay of the warm up routine for decades. Instinctively, it seems a good thing to do; it...
Hydration for Young Athletes
It’s encouraging to see the cultural shift towards ensuring our young athletes have water bottles with them at every practice and game. Parents are filling up water bottles and coaches are now taking time out during practices for the ‘water break’. Is this...