2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

Canada to host the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup!
by Michele Walker, SIRC

It was officially announced today that Canada will be hosting the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and now six cities across the nation will start the preparations to host this massive soccer event. Seven cities are actually currently on the list as hosts, and one of them will need to be dropped following the site evaluation visits. They are Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Moncton. This announcement also means that Canada will now host the 2014 Women's Under-20 World Cup as a test event.

The announcement was actually expected after Zimbabwe, the only other country vying to host the quadrennial event, pulled out just a few days ago citing that they did not have the bandwidth to hold this tournament to the standards expected. But still, Canada had to wait until the evaluation was completed before FIFA , the world governing body of football (soccer), could award the event to the Canadian Soccer Association.

Held every four years, the first Women's World Cup tournament was held in 1991 (in China), 61 years after the Men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. The current format for women has 16 teams but the 2015 tournament will see the field expand to 24 competing nations – truly a testament to the global popularity of the women’s game. As host, Canadians, old and new, will benefit from the legacy the sport will leave behind, both from a venue and participation standpoint.

Canada successfully and previously hosted the inaugural Women's Under-20 World Cup in 2002, as well as the Men's Under-17 World Cup (in 1987) and the Men's Under-20 World Cup (in 2007).

Contact SIRC for more information on this topic!

Photo Credit: Beata Tyrala

International Women's Day is for Sports Too!

The 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day was officially yesterday. It is THE day to celebrate the political, social and economic advancements of women. The new millennium has seen a significant change and attitude shift in both women's (and men’s) thoughts about women's equity and liberation.

There has also been significant progress in the world of sport. One hundred years ago it would have been hard to believe that by the last quarter of the 20th century, in sports such as tennis and figure skating that women would rival or surprisingly even exceed their male counterparts in fame, status and recognition. While the level of performance and participation definitely can vary by country, continent and sport, there is no doubt that there is a much broader acceptance of women in sport throughout the world today.

In the early years, women athletes participated in sports under enormous difficulties, usually without proper equipment or uniforms, sufficient access to facilities, or monetary support. Many terminated their involvement in sports when they assumed family responsibilities. Now, in Canada for the past 30 years, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) has lead the way in ensuring that Canadian women have all the same sport and fitness opportunities afforded to Canadian men. They provide vast and valuable insight into sport and physical activity experiences and opportunities for woman – young and old.

Whether it be in high performance sport, or every day fitness and recreation, women now know they have the right to choose, the right to compete, the right to participate, the right to lead, and the right to openly celebrate their success and their empowerment.

For more information on girls and women in sport, please contact SIRC.

Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence Celebrates Women in Sport

On Sunday, April 3, 2011 the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) in Victoria, British Columbia is hosting the 2011 Celebration of Women in Sport (WinS) gala, honouring the best females in sport, with a focus on inspiring the next sporting generation. In its third year, this event also promotes why sport is important in the lives of girls and women in all stages of sport development. This year, WinS has added four annual awards to the program that will be presented to an outstanding athlete, coach, sport builder and volunteer as part of the event!

Victoria is well known for its strong sporting community. By hosting this event, PISE continues to promote opportunities in sport for local businesses, and volunteers in the Greater Victoria community.

Keynote speaker for the gala will be World Champion and four-time Olympic Medalist, long track speed skater Kristina Groves. A native of Ottawa, Groves, will be joined by other special guests that will include schools, sport academies, local sport organizations, National team members, Island Olympians and Paralympians and Greater Victoria Sport Hall of Fame inductees. An exceptional feature of this event is the inclusion of young up and coming female athletes who are given complimentary tickets to attend, so that their opportunity to be inspired by the great female role models also present, is not limited by financial restrictions.

Nominees for the Inaugural Women in Sport Awards can be found on the CAAWS website.

For more information on women and girls in sport contact SIRC!

Soccer ... Football. Potato ... Tomato!

Soccer ... Football, no matter what you call it, it’s the most popular sport played on this planet earth.

The International Federation of Association Football (aka Fédération Internationale de Football Association) commonly referred to as FIFA, hopes that the sixth edition of the Women’s World Cup currently going on in Germany, will continue to boost the popularity of women playing the sport somewhere, anywhere, close to the men’s version. Contested every four years, the first Women's World Cup tournament, named the Women's World Championship, was held in 1991 (with 12 teams), 61 years after the men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. The women’s tournament currently consists of 16 teams that compete over a course of four weeks, where the men’s tourney has 32 teams at the start line.

Despite Team Canada’s current standings in the 2011 tournament, and knowing that they didn’t play to their full potential to get them out of their Group, they did have that momentous opener against Germany in front of the sold-out hometown crowd of close to 74,000. Still say women’s football isn’t popular? And what about the true grit and determination of Canadian striker Christine Sinclair who had her nose broken only to come out and score Canada’s only goal of that game on a free kick, making her the first woman to score against Germany (the two-time defending champions) at a World Cup for almost 900 minutes of play?

In Canada, there was a surge in youth participation for girls throughout the 1980s, and by 1995 Canada had qualified for the Women’s World Cup tournament. Great sporting opportunities for youth continues to show that with these opportunities comes advancement, especially in the area of women’s sport. But it takes time. With Canada hosting the 2015 Women’s World Cup, just imagine what this event will do for women’s football participation in Canada.
For more information on soccer contact SIRC!

Additional Resource:
Canadian Soccer Association

Strength Training

SIRC Newsletter now available online: Strength Training

Most people think strength training is just for professional athletes or body builders but we all need to understand what strength training is and the role it can have in improving our body and overall health . If you establish training guidelines and follow proper nutritional recommendations, adding regular resistance training in your daily schedule will have a considerable influence at any stage of development.

Read More:  http://www.sirc.ca/newsletters/june12/index.html

Diversity in Sport

SIRC Newsletter now available online: Diversity in Sport

The Canadian sport community has the opportunity to embrace our uniquely diverse population and actively strive for a multicultural and socially inclusive environment. Proactive sport organizations adopt a broad view of diversity and value it to its fullest extent. Ideally, this means going beyond merely removing barriers to participation but working towards ensuring that all participants are valued and respected.

Read more:  http://www.sirc.ca/newsletters/mid-mar13/index.html

Why should women try powerlifting?

If someone said to you that they knew something you could do that would be empowering, challenging, engaging and would change your body composition - would you consider it? Powerlifting, often confused with Olympic lifting, is an individualized sport in which competitors attempt to lift as much weight as possible for one repetition in the squat, bench press, and deadlift. For women, powerlifting is currently a niche sport but one that is growing.

Many women are under the impression that lifting weights will make you bulk up when in fact women don't have the testosterone to get the big muscles. Building muscle isn't easy and you won't turn into a she-hulk if you squat your own body weight, what you will end up with is stronger legs and great backside! The way you train will play a significant role in your success - if you adhere to a balanced program of lunges, dead lifts, squats, pull ups, push ups and presses you will get stronger, not bigger.

Weight training can:

• reduce stress and is good for your heart.
• make you stronger and reduces your risk of osteoporosis.
• help you lose weight. According to one study, adding just two sessions per week of heavy lifting can reduce your body fat by three percent without cutting calories.
• strengthen bones and stabilize joints which reduces the risk of injury.
• increase your metabolism. When you put on more lean mass, your body requires more energy which in turn allows you to burn more calories during the day without exercise.

What many women notice when they start lifting is the positive community surrounding them. When people go for a personal best (lifting more weight than they have previously) there is a lot of support from other lifters, sometimes cheering you on trying you psych you up for the lift. Having people root for you and celebrate with you for having achieved something you may not have thought possible a month or two ago can be an amazing and addicting experience.

Throwing around some heavy weight can also do wonders for your self-esteem. If you feel physically strong, chances are it will increase your confidence in your ability to tackle new challenges in and outside the gym.

Whether you have just beat a personal best or you're just starting to see and feel the difference in the strength of your own body, one of the best things lifting does is to turn your attention away from just getting "skinny" and empowers you to create a strong new body that's all your own.

References from the SIRC Collection:

1. Haines J, Thrine A, Titlebaum P, Daprano C. Women and Weight Training: Education and Demonstration Make a Difference. Applied Research In Coaching & Athletics Annual. May 2008;23:237-254.
2. KOLBER M, CORRAO M. SHOULDER JOINT AND MUSCLE CHARACTERISTICS AMONG HEALTHY FEMALE RECREATIONAL WEIGHT TRAINING PARTICIPANTS. Journal Of Strength & Conditioning Research (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). January 2011;25(1):231-241.
3. Lifting Weights Attacks Unhealthy Belly Fat in Women. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter. June 2006;24(4):8.
4. Nasim H. THE EFFECT OF SHORT-TERM WEIGHT-BEARING EXERCISE ON BONE MASS DENSITY IN OBESE AND THIN YOUNG GIRLS. / EFEKTI KRATKOTRAJNOG VJEŽBANJA SA DODATNIM TEGOVIMA NA KOŠTANU MASU KOD PRETILIH I MRŠAVIH DJEVOJAKA. Sport Scientific & Practical Aspects. December 2010;7(2):11-16.
5. Seguin R, Economos C, Palombo R, Hyatt R, Kuder J, Nelson M. Strength Training and Older Women: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Factors Related to Exercise Adherence. Journal Of Aging & Physical Activity. April 2010;18(2):201-218.
6. Shepherd J. Why are you weight-ing?. Ultra-Fit Magazine. August 2013;23(7):4.

Getting the Job Done: Female Coaches in Sport

From the recreational level all the way up to high performance athletes, more girls and women are participating in sport than ever before. However, the number of female coaches seen on the playing field has not followed the same trend and it’s not for a lack of talent. Female coaches, or those with the potential, are an untapped resource in the sporting community.

Dawn Smyth and Carla Nicholls are both outstanding examples of the opportunities and success that female coaches can experience in sport. Dawn Smyth is the Manager of Coach Education and Development at Basketball Canada. She’s coached both men and women’s CCAA teams, and stayed involved with the CCAA through their Female Apprentice Coach Program. Carla Nicholls works for Athletics Canada as a National Event Group Coach and National Olympic Development Coach. Carla was responsible for launching Athletics Canada’s Women in Coaching Program, and creating their Olympic Development Program.

How did each of these women become a success story? 

Mentoring - Elite coaches involved with their sports were able to help cultivate their coaching skills and guide them to opportunities that would allow them to grow and progress.

Variety of Experiences - Dawn and Carla used a combination of their own athlete training, along with coaching experience from different levels of sport, and even some officiating to mold their coaching personas and learning.

Athlete Focus - Both women cited seeing the success and goals of the athletes come to fruition as huge motivation for what they do. This motivation fuels their desire to create programs that aid their athletes and also drives a need for continued learning.

There are various programs that are currently being promoted in Canadian sport that help women develop and achieve their goals. Opportunities and resources exist for women to become quality coaches, all it takes is for those women to choose to start coaching.

References Available from the SIRC Collection:

1. Blom L, Abrell L, Wilson M, Lape J, Halbrook M, Judge L. Working with Male Athletes: The Experiences of U.S. Female Head Coaches. ICHPER -- SD Journal Of Research In Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport & Dance. Summer2011 2011;6(1):54-61. 
2. Cooper M, Hunt K, Camille P. O. Women in Coaching: Exploring Female Athletes' Interest in the Profession. Chronicle Of Kinesiology & Physical Education In Higher Education. May 2007;18(2):8-19.
3. Kidd B. Where are the female coaches? / Où sont les entraîneures?. Canadian Journal For Women In Coaching. February 2013;13(1):1-10. 
4. Kilty K. Women in Coaching. Sport Psychologist. June 2006;20(2):222-234. Norman L. Developing female coaches: strategies from women themselves. Asia-Pacific Journal Of Health, Sport & Physical Education. December 2012;3(3):227-238. 
5. Reade I, Rodgers W, Norman L. The Under-Representation of Women in Coaching: A Comparison of Male and Female Canadian Coaches at Low and High Levels of Coaching. International Journal Of Sports Science & Coaching. December 2009;4(4):505-520. 
6. Richman R. Title IX: The Trojan Horse in the Struggle for Female Athletic Coaches to Attain Equal Opportunities in Intercollegiate Sports. Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal. March 2011;10(2):376-413.