Issues & Advice

17 of the year’s best pieces from our Do It Better columnist Brad Stulberg. Over the past year, the global wellness industry reached a valuation of 4.2 trillion dollars. For perspective, that’s equal to nearly a third of China’s entire GDP. Though there are no reliable statistics for the size of the performance industry, just listen to the […]

After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan, Russ Sheppard was set up to find a cushy job, start a family, work for 30 years and retire. But, at the time, that lifestyle didn’t appeal to him, so instead he accepted a teaching position in Kuglutkuk, Nanavut – a town on the icy shores of the […]

Tough conversations are in the parenting job description. Your teen gets caught cheating. You and your spouse are separating and it’s time to tell the kids. Your child gets in trouble for bullying. You learn that your middle schooler is investigating porn sites. What makes tough conversations tough? They are hard because you either feel uncomfortable […]

My 15-years old daughter has played team sports for years. Unfortunately, self-esteem/confidence are at an all-time low of 0/10. She is cluttered with negative self-talk, a defeated attitude/mindset/body language. Her coaches said today she is “un-coachable”. She is removed from the competition team. Her coaches ask that she continues with practice, training to build her […]

Helpful tips on how to conduct a positive coach evaluation

Chris Branscome is adamant. The biggest reason kids have stopped playing youth soccer in our region is that it just isn’t fun. Imagine that, the chance to go outside and run around, hang with friends, kick a ball in the fresh air and perhaps develop a lifelong desire to remain fit doesn’t bring enjoyment anymore. […]

Here are 5 tips on how to persevere as a team

Stopping the cycle of disrespect in sports is crucial to creating a fun, safe, and positive experience for all young athletes. As parents, you can hold yourself and your athletes accountable for being respectful, even when emotions are high. As a parent of an athlete, part of your job is to make sure that your […]

“Anything we can do to give kids diversity in physical and physiological ways is a win,” says Steve Smith, PhD. Smith is a professor of clinical psychology at University of California, Santa Barbara and focuses on working with young athletes and parents,

Parental worry and anxiety are normal however, being a sports parent can increase those feelings The worry list for sports parents is long: playing time, bullying, conflicts with coaches or teammates, game-time performance, and injuries.  It’s a parental instinct to want to protect our children. One way we make ourselves feel better is to think about those things […]