PLAY Tools: Observe Physical Literacy, Don’t Just Guess at It

A coach watches a 10-year-old trail behind teammates in the drill line. Is she hesitant because she doesn't understand what to do? Because she lacks confidence? Because her throwing mechanics need work? Or because she prefers to watch others first before attempting something new? Without a structured…

6 Questions to Ask When Evaluating Your Program Quality

Canada has over 30,000 sport and recreation organizations—and dropout rates remain stubbornly high. The uncomfortable question for any program leader: Is your program actually as good as you think it is? Research consistently shows that negative experiences—feeling excluded, unchallenged, or like…

How National Partners Are Using Sport for Life’s New-to-Canada Pathway to Transform Newcomer Sport Participation

Bell Starting Line built its entire methodology around Sport for Life's framework—here's why that matters. 87% of newcomers say participating in activities that make them feel comfortable and welcome increases their sense of belonging in Canada. Yet newcomer youth remain significantly underserved…

100 Boards, 100 Kids, One Day: Canada Skateboard’s First Newcomer Initiative

When 100 newcomer children arrived at a Toronto venue this fall, most had never stood on a skateboard. By the end of the day, they were cruising around a custom-built skate park—and they got to take their boards home. The initiative, a partnership between Canada Skateboard, Sport for Life, and Bell…

Why Girls Stay and Boys Explore: A Gender Gap in Youth Sport Specialization

Episode 51 of "Jouer comme une fille" reveals how gender shapes early specialization—and why the sport system needs to address it differently for girls. When Guylaine Demers and Marc Durand launched their French-language podcast "Jouer comme une fille" (Playing Like a Girl), they had a clear mission:…

Introducing the School Physical Literacy Leader – Level 1 Certification

Empower your educators. Support your students. Build physically active learning across your school. The School Physical Literacy Leader – Level 1 Certification equips educators with the knowledge and tools to create inclusive, movement-rich learning environments that support every child's physical…

Why Coaches Shouldn’t Train Young Athletes Like Olympians

Many youth competitive programs operate on the same model: fixed periodization tied to league schedules, year-round single-sport focus, adult-level training intensity, and competition structured around winning standings. The assumption is that earlier specialization and higher intensity produce better…

Sport for Life Expands Post-secondary Partnership Program with Memorial University

Sport for Life is pleased to announce a new partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland's (MUN) School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, expanding its "Post-secondary Partnership Program" across Canada. This collaboration builds on successful existing partnerships with Acadia University's…

Canadian Youth Leaders Join Global REACH Initiative to Shape the Future of Sport

Sport for Life is proud to announce the Canadian participants in REACH, an international project led by TAFISA (The Association For International Sport for All). Bringing together organizations from 10 nations, REACH empowers young people by expanding their role in leadership and decision-making…

An Introduction to Physical Literacy: A Foundation for Better Programs

Some kids light up during physical activity. Others shrink back, lose confidence, and by age 12, they're done with organized sport forever. The difference? Physical literacy. And most programs aren't building it systematically. The Real Problem Only 39% of children and youth (ages 5-17) in Canada…

Active Kids Adventures: Literacy and Movement in One Story

Here's a common problem in schools and community programs: Early literacy programming and physical activity programming often compete for the same limited time. Teachers and administrators have to choose, and something usually loses. Active Kids Adventures (AKA) is built on a different idea—what…

Beyond Movement Skills: Why Teaching Kids to “Read the Game” Matters

When we think about physical literacy—the combination of skills, confidence, and motivation to stay active for life—most people picture basic movement: throwing, jumping, kicking. But the Canadian Physical Literacy framework identifies something equally important: the cognitive and decision-making…

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