Developing physical literacy and delivering quality sport
What We Do
Developing physical literacy and delivering quality sport
Recent Articles
on our blog
Sheldon Kennedy inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
First he became a household name as one of the country’s most talented hockey players, then he pivoted into a new role as an advocate against sexual abuse, maltreatment and bullying. Now Sheldon Kennedy is being recognized with the Order of Sport Award and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of...
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The PL4C-BC project supports Indigenous communities
As the Physical Literacy for Communities - British Columbia (PL4C-BC) initiative rolls out across the province, leaders from Sport for Life have been theorizing the best way to approach and collaborate with Indigenous participants. In 2019 they began work with two Indigenous communities, and word began to travel. When four...
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Colin Higgs and the relentless infusion of inclusion
Colin Higgs’s life was about to change. The Memorial University professor was working in his office in 1979 when there came a knock at the door: three world-class athletes were looking for his help. Still in the early years of his career, he was beginning to develop a reputation for...
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Engage Sport North activates physical literacy initiatives during pandemic
She saw it as an opportunity. Mandi Graham is the executive director of Engage Sport North, an organization that promotes physical literacy across a broad swath of northern B.C. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to isolate at home, she knew her organization would have to innovate in order to...
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Dr. John Cairney explores impact of pandemic on physical literacy delivery
There’s no disputing the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional models of sport and physical activity delivery, but according to Dr. John Cairney that’s not necessarily a bad thing. During a webinar in early June that he delivered in collaboration with Sport for Life that drew nearly 1000...
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Poco Active makes physical literacy a priority by engaging health sector
It was the best idea he’d heard in a long time. Ryan Clark is the executive director of the Poco Sport Alliance, so he’s not a fresh face to sport management. But when his community was selected as part of the Physical Literacy for Communities-British Columbia Initiative (PL4C-BC) in 2018,...
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National Health and Fitness Day gets Canadians moving
Get up, get out, get active! Canadians may still be homebound as part of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that’s not stopping them from getting moving. This year’s seventh annual National Health and Fitness Day (NHFD) has gone virtual, and organizers are challenging everyone to find a fun and safe way...
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Edmonton mobilizes Long-Term Development
Edmonton is committed to providing athletes with a pathway from grassroots to high performance while advancing opportunities for all, as part of the city’s continued efforts to implement long-term development into their everyday operations. A large part of that means investing in sport and recreation facilities. “All of our many...
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The Stages
within the basic Long-Term Development framework
Awareness and First Involvement
To engage in sport and physical activity, individuals must be aware of what opportunities exist for them, and when they...
Train to Train
Athletes enter the Train to Train stage when they have developed proficiency in the athlete development performance components (physical, technical-tactical,...
Active Start
From 0-6 years, boys and girls need to be engaged in daily active play. Through play and movement, they develop...
Train to Compete
Athletes enter the Train to Compete stage when they are proficient in sport-specific Train to Train athlete development components (physical,...
FUNdamentals
In the FUNdamentals stage, participants develop fundamental movement skills in structured and unstructured environments for play. The focus is on...
Train to Win
Athletes in the Train to Win stage are world class competitors who are competing at the highest level of competition...
Learn to Train
Once a wide range of fundamental movement skills have been acquired, participants progress into the Learn to Train stage leading to...
Active for Life
Individuals who have a desire to be physically active are in the Active for Life stage. A participant may choose...