When we take care of our bodies, we take care of our minds. This intersection highlights why it’s so important to create equitable opportunities in sport and recreation spaces: because physical activity enhances physical, mental, and emotional health.
As the days get longer and warmer, and COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, there are more chances for us to get out and get moving. There are also more chances for sport and recreation leaders to encourage people to participate in physical activity programs.
This Mental Health Week, the Physical Activity for Health Collaborative invites sport leaders, coaches, educators, and recreation leaders to utilize the EverybodyMoves Resource Hub. The Hub offers a collection of resources to help leaders and decision-makers create equitable, safe, and accessible sport facilities and spaces for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. When physical activity is accessible and inclusive, mental well-being becomes more balanced for everyone.
Physical health and mental health are very closely related, with research showing that physical activity helps relieve stress. Moving and exercising helps the body release endorphins and other chemicals that help reduce the feeling of pain and boosts mood.
When we encourage movement, we encourage mental wellness. When we encourage mental wellness, we encourage healthy living on a holistic level for everyone.
Featured Resources
We Belong: A How-To Guide aims to provide recreational leaders, coaches, educators and facilitators practical tools to help newcomer youth feel welcomed and included in physical activity settings. Developed by PHE Canada.
Good Practices for Creating Gender-Equitable Boards in Sport
Canadian Women & Sport (formerly The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity -CAAWS), supports and champions Sport Canada’s objective of achieving gender equity in sport at all levels by 2035. CAAWS believes it begins at the top: ensuring gender-equitable boards of directors. This resource provides sport leaders with information including a checklist and tips on how to create gender-equitable boards.
PlanH provides a guide to support local governments as they build healthy communities throughout the province. Social connectedness makes people feel included and like they belong, which in turn encourages them to keep participating in recreation, sports, as well as other community activities that make them active and healthy.
Inclusive Physical Literacy Webinar
This webinar delivered by Andrea Carey of OneAbility introduced the concept of inclusive Physical Literacy, including how to offer inclusive programming and how to plan intentionally for inclusive programming and how to provide a supportive and welcoming environment for a person with a disability.
Jeremy Walia has been playing in his local hockey association for five years and has built friendships with many of the kids in his division. After much deliberation and support from his coach, he decides to come out to them as gay. Although most of them are supportive, Jeremy notices a few that are uncomfortable, including one of his oldest friends, Thomas Chen. After a game one day, Thomas approaches Jeremy and asks if he could go to a separate change room. Jeremy is hurt and disappointed, and asks his coach for help. His coach is concerned but doesn’t know how to respond to the situation.
Sports can be an extremely intimidating space for people who identify as LGBTQI2S+ because it is often considered to be a traditionally masculine activity. This stereotype tends to stigmatize women and girls and people who are LGBTQIA2S+. According to a recent study by UBC and the McCreary Centre Society, BC teens who identify as bisexual, lesbian and gay are less than half as likely to join coached sports than straight youth.
Moreover, youth who don’t participate in sports are less likely to be physically active as adults, which can impact their physical and mental health in the long-run. For instance, If a girl doesn’t participate in sports by 10 years of age, there’s a 90% chance she will not be physically active as an adult.
Experts recommend anti-homophobia measures to counter the discrimination and bullying that many players face, both within youth and adult sports. The good news is that many sports organizations have already come together to combat homophobia, such as NHL’s partnership with the You Can Play Project, to ensure all athletes feel safe.
For organizations that are seeking resources to improve gender equity in sport and recreation, EverybodyMoves is excited to offer a multitude of tools, tips, and guidelines. Whether you’re involved in organized sport, or run a drop-in program at the community centre, we all deserve a safe space to play and thrive!
With the help of viaSport’s 2SLGBTQ+ Coach guide, Jeremy’s coach is able to better understand the shame and stigma that Jeremy was facing, as well as the stereotypes and fears that Thomas had learned. During the next practice session, the coach held a team meeting and communicated expectations around inclusion and diversity. The coach took time for questions and told everyone that he is available for support.
Resources
EverybodyMoves Hub also offers a wide range of resources specifically focused on LGBTQIA2S+ and physical activity. Check out the ones highlighted below.
Gender Equality Policy from Right to Play
This policy and checklist created by Right to Play explicitly supports gender equality and the principles expressed in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
#LevelTheField
#LevelTheField is a province-wide movement that is working to create a more inclusive sport culture in BC by targeting under-represented groups, such as women and girls, persons with disabilities and those who identify with the LGBTQI2S community. You can sign up to follow the campaign at viaSport.
#ElleBouge #SheMoves Campaign
The #ElleBouge awareness campaign, developed by the Alberta Francophone Sport Federation (FSFA), aims to make women aware of physical activity and its benefits. #ElleBouge is a campaign that aims to encourage women to be more physically active. It is one of the first of its kind to be presented in Canada and both in French and English.
This campaign showcases Francophone women of different sizes, ages, backgrounds and with different sports abilities, who have overcome their fear of being judged and found their own way of doing physical activity
Why Use Appropriate Pronouns for Transgender People
The City of Vancouver created an introductory video on why using appropriate pronouns for transgender people is integral to creating an inclusive and safe environment for all.
“Hearing that glass ceiling break that moment you realize: why not ME? I can do this.” Donnie Rosa shares her story about overcoming gender inequities within sport and recreation and explains her responsibility as a leader to remove barriers to participation.
We dive deep into the discrimination experienced by women, girls and people identifying as LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/ questioning, intersex, asexual, two spirited plus).
Donnie is the BC Recreation and Parks Association’s President-Elect, and she is the General Manager for Vancouver Park and Recreation.
Listen on SoundCloud, Spotify, and iTunes.
Show Notes:
The Balance is recorded and produced by BCAHL’s Communications Manager on the traditional, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Episode Links:
- Vancouver Park Board Trans, Gender Diverse and Two-Spirit Inclusion and Resources
- March Madness
- National Collegiate Athletic Association Title IX & March Madness
- Justine Blainey
- Billy Jean King Battle of the Sexes Film
- BCRPA Creating Safe and Welcoming Spaces
- National Women’s Hockey League Transgender Player Policy
“Often programs are not designed to meet the needs of girls and women; they are underrepresented as participants and leaders.” Terri Temelini, Program Manager at Canadian Women and Sport, explores gender inequities within sport and recreation with an intersectional lens.
Terri breaks down the idea of belonging, confidence, and “perfection” in sports, and how this impacts girls and people identifying as non-binary.
Listen on SoundCloud, Spotify, and iTunes.
Show Notes:
The Balance is recorded and produced by BCAHL’s Communications Manager on the traditional, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Episode Links:
- Rally Report
- Shireen Ahmed
- Jen Kish:
- Kimberlé Crenshaw:
Canadian Women and Sport Resources