Making sure there is sport for Every Child.

To address inequalities in youth community sport, our goal is to transform and inspire community youth sport, centering our efforts on girls. RE.sport will change sport knowledge, innovate sport practices, evolve sport access, improve sport participation, and positively change sport experiences for girls in Canada.

Who We Are View Our Research →
Sport for All
Equity in Youth Sport
Breaking Barriers
Inclusive Participation
7-Year Initiative
Girls in Sport
Funded by SSHRC
60+ Researchers
RE.sport
Sport for All
Equity in Youth Sport
Breaking Barriers
Inclusive Participation
7-Year Initiative
Girls in Sport
Funded by SSHRC
60+ Researchers
RE.sport
60+ Academic & community
partners nationwide
7 Year national
research initiative
12+ Active research
projects underway
10+ Partner universities
across Canada

We are reimagining
what youth sport
could look like—
for everyone.

To address inequalities in youth community sport, the overall goal of this Partnership for Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Participation, Access, and Quality Experiences in Youth Sport is to transform and inspire community youth sport, centering our efforts on girls. RE.sport will change sport knowledge, innovate sport practices, evolve sport access, improve sport participation, and positively change sport experiences for girls in Canada.

"Join us as we embark on this path and share with us what a reimagined youth sporting environment looks like to you."

— RE.sport Team
Our Full Story
Research Focus

Four pillars of our work

All Projects →
01 Identities
Intersecting Identities

Documenting how race, gender, disability, class, and Indigeneity shape girls' access to — and exclusion from — community sport across Canada.

02 Data
National Sport Data Collective

Building a national system to track participation, identify trends, and examine outcomes for girls in sport.

03 Programs
Resources & Programs

Developing and assessing supportive resources to improve sport participation that will become national standards.

04 Partnerships
Sustainable Partnerships

Creating an open-access toolkit so organizations can collaborate, engage, and sustain meaningful change in youth sport across Canada.

Phase 1 Research

Active projects

See All 11 Projects →
🥍
Indigenous Youth
Indigenous Girls & Young Women in Sport
💪
Trauma-Informed
Violence-Informed Sport for SGBV Survivors
🏫
Schools
Sport & PA Opportunities in Schools
♿
Disability
Youth Girls Disability Research Scan
🧠
Mental Health
Youth Community Sport Mental Health
👕
Uniforms
Impact of Sport Uniforms on Athletes
🏳️‍⚧️
Trans & Non-binary
Transforming Sport, Affirming Youth
Stay Connected

Join us on the journey

At the end of each month we'll post our latest research, interesting books, podcasts and other tools we've come across in our journey. Come along for the ride so you too can help make the world a better place for children and youth to play.

About ReThinkSport

We are reimagining sport
for every young person in Canada.

A team of 60+ academics, practitioners, sport leaders and community partners across Canada looking at what a reimagined sport, physical activity, movement, and games environment might look like for youth in Canada.

Who We Are

A 7-year national research initiative

We are a team of 60+ academic, practitioner, sport leaders and community partners across Canada who are looking at what a reimagined sport, physical activity, movement, and games environment might look like for youth in Canada.

Together we will reimagine what an equitable, diverse, and inclusive sport environment in Canada might look like through innovative research with a focus on removing barriers and continuing to learn from all the benefits that sport, movement and exercise continue to offer.

Read More →
60+Academic & community partners
7Year research initiative
12+Active research projects
10+Partner universities
Project Objectives

Four pillars guiding our work

This project will study the long-term positive benefits of physical activity participation for youth with an eye to both structured sport and the largely unstudied world of more informal unstructured sports. A new set of tools for tackling the intersectional barriers faced by youth sport, particularly girls' sports in Canada — to understand not just what stops them from playing but why these youth may not have access to sport and exercise — will be developed.

🔍
Intersecting Identities

Document and describe how intersecting identities affect girls' experiences of, or exclusion from, community sport.

📊
National Sport Data Collective

Develop a National Sport Data Collection system to follow sport participation, identify trends, and examine predictors and outcomes for girls.

🏃
Resources & Programs

Develop, deliver, and assess supportive resources to improve sport participation and outcomes. These resources will become standards for sport practices.

🤝
Sustainable Partnerships

Integrate and mobilize knowledge to develop an open-access toolkit for organizations to collaborate, engage and contribute in a sustainable partnership model for researchers and community partner leaders.

Land Acknowledgement

Honouring the land and its peoples

In the spirit of sport, we acknowledge that we gather on the traditional and unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples across the expansive nation of Canada. From coast to coast to coast, these lands have hosted countless sporting events, competitions, and moments of athleticism.

We recognize that many of these activities, from traditional games to modern sports, have deep-rooted histories among Indigenous communities. We pay our respects to the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples whose enduring connection to these lands has shaped the very fabric of our sporting culture. Indigenous athletes, coaches, and leaders have made invaluable contributions to the world of sports, enriching our nation's identity and inspiring future generations.

Just as in sports, where teamwork and respect for one another are fundamental, we understand that acknowledging the traditional territories is a collective effort towards reconciliation. It is our shared responsibility to learn from, listen to, and support Indigenous athletes and communities, fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and safe sporting world.

As we come together through the universality of sport, may we remember that the journey towards reconciliation and unity is as important. With humility, we move forward on this path, appreciating the role of sport in bringing us together and striving for a future where all athletes, regardless of their background, can thrive and reach their full potential.

Our Team

The researchers and
leaders behind the work.

60+ academics, practitioners, and community partners from universities and organizations across Canada united by a shared mission.

Leadership

Directing Team

Dr. Catherine Sabiston
Executive Director & Principal Investigator
Dr. Catherine Sabiston
Dr. Sasha Gollish
Director of Knowledge Translation & Community Engagement
Dr. Sasha Gollish
Vanessa Coulbeck
Director of Research Project Management
Vanessa Coulbeck
Research Team

Researchers

Dr. Leah Ferguson
Dr. Leah Ferguson
University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Sarah Teetzel
Dr. Sarah Teetzel
University of Manitoba
Dr. Jay Scherer
Dr. Jay Scherer
University of Alberta
Dr. Erica Bennett
Dr. Erica Bennett
University of British Columbia
Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst
Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst
York University
Dr. Cathy Van Ingen
Dr. Cathy Van Ingen
Brock University
Dr. Francine Darroch
Dr. Francine Darroch
Carleton University
Dr. Tara-Leigh McHugh
Dr. Tara-Leigh McHugh
University of Alberta
Dr. Joe Baker
Dr. Joe Baker
York University
Dr. Audrey Giles
Dr. Audrey Giles
University of Ottawa
Dr. Corliss Bean
Dr. Corliss Bean
Brock University
Dr. Janelle Joseph
Dr. Janelle Joseph
University of Toronto
Dr. Timothy Chan
Dr. Timothy Chan
University of Toronto
Dr. Corentine Montiel
Dr. Corentine Montiel
Université de Montréal
Dr. François Gallant
Dr. François Gallant
Dalhousie University
Dr. Isabelle Doré
Dr. Isabelle Doré
Université de Montréal
Dr. Ross Murray
Dr. Ross Murray
University of Toronto
Dr. Mathieu Bélanger
Dr. Mathieu Bélanger
Université de Sherbrooke
Dr. Sergio Lara-Bercial
Dr. Sergio Lara-Bercial
Leeds Beckett University
Dr. Nicholas Holt
Dr. Nicholas Holt
UCalgary
Dr. Laura Hallward
Dr. Laura Hallward
Agence Unik
Dr. Diane Mack
Dr. Diane Mack
Brock University
Dr. Madison Vani
Dr. Madison Vani
University of Toronto
Dr. Margo Adam
Dr. Margo Adam
UAlberta
Partners

Community Organizations

MLSE LaunchPad
Canadian Women and Sport
Badminton Canada
Calgary Adapted Hub
Canada Basketball
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
Ever Active Schools
Girls Forward Foundation
Free Play for Kids
Future of Hockey Lab
Global Athlete
ICOACHKIDS
Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA)
Spirit North
The Carnegie Initiative
Curling Canada
Our Research

Phase 1 Research Projects

A 7-year initiative spanning 12+ active projects, bringing together leading experts to drive meaningful change in Canadian youth sport.

Phase 1 — Now Active

Phase 1 Research

In Phase 1 of our national 7-year research initiative, leading experts across Canada specializing in youth sport, race, gender, social class, disability, body image, and Indigeneity are coming together to uncover critical gaps in the current youth sport literature. By examining existing barriers and surfacing missing data, this collaborative work aims to pave the way for a more equitable, inclusive, and empowering sport system for all youth.

As research unfolds, our team is also documenting key insights and recommendations that will be shared through a Delphi study process — inviting feedback from youth, parents, coaches, sport leaders, administrators, and organizations. Together, we'll co-create national guidelines to help shape a stronger, more just youth sport landscape — locally and globally. This phase is led in collaboration with the MLSE Launchpad.

Active Projects

Phase 1 research has commenced

Indigenous Youth

The Participation of Indigenous Girls and Young Women in Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation across What is Now Known as Canada

Trauma-Informed

Investigating the Utility of Trauma- and Violence-Informed Sport for Development in Supporting Youth SGBV Survivors in Canada

Schools

Understanding Sport and Physical Activity Opportunities and Barriers in Schools

Disability

Scan of Youth Girls Disability Research in Canada

Body Image

Girls and Gender-Diverse Youth Experiences with Body Image in and out of Sport

Photovoice

Photovoice Study Exploring Girls and Gender-Diverse Youth Who Identify As Part of An Underserved Group in Sport

Sport Leaders

Re-imagining Sport from Canadian Youth Sport Leaders: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Considerations

Mental Health

Movember: Considerations for Youth Community Sport Mental Health

Delphi Study

A Delphi: Youth Sport Research Recommendations

Trans & Non-binary

Transforming Sport, Affirming Youth: A Call to Action through Transfeminine and Non-binary Experience

Uniforms

Understanding the Impact of Sport Uniforms on Athlete Experiences

Interested in participating in or partnering on our research?

Get in Touch
Active Research

Understanding the impact of
sport uniforms on athlete experiences

We are currently recruiting youth athletes to participate in our national uniform study. Your voice matters.

Take Part

Youth Survey — Now Open

How do sport uniforms affect your experience as an athlete? We want to hear from you. This study explores how uniforms influence participation, body image, and overall sport experiences for youth across Canada.

This study is grounded in one key belief:

What we wear in sport matters.

Uniforms can influence confidence, enjoyment, performance, and inclusion.

Yet, we still know very little about how athletes experience their uniforms.

We're asking for your support to help us reach two key participant groups:

1

Youth athletes (ages 8–18 years)

currently involved in sport

2

Team Canada athletes (aged 18+ years)

current or recently retired (within 8 years)

Uniforms are more than just clothing; they shape how youth see themselves, connect with others, and feel in their bodies.

Canada currently lacks national data on how uniforms impact youths' experiences in sport — from participation to performance. That's why we're launching a project to understand athletes' perspectives on sport uniforms, and we need your voice at the table.

What we know so far:

From the 2024 Canadian Women & Sport Rally Report:

▸ 1 in 5 girls aged 13–18 indicate that uniforms or exercise clothing negatively impact their experience.
▸ Uniform discomfort is linked to body image concerns, gender norms, and lack of personal expression.

Dr. Clare Hanlon, a leader in uniform work globally, has found that when girls have a say in how uniforms look and feel, their confidence, participation, and sense of belonging all increase.

We know even less about boys, and gender diverse youth experiences

Take the Youth Survey →

Join us as we:

Gather voices from youth across Canada

Build evidence to influence change

Rethink how uniforms are designed and chosen

Create tools, training, and design guides for organizations

Be part of the shift.

Together, we can create sport spaces that feel safe, expressive, and inclusive — for every body.

Proposed Timeline

October 2025

Data Input & Survey Checks

Nov 2025 – Feb 2026

Targeted Org. Recruitment Starts

Mar – Aug 2026

Public Recruitment

Mar – Aug 2026

Data Analysis

Mar – Aug 2026

Impact & Initial Findings Planning

October 2025

Data Input & Survey Checks

November 2025 – February 2026

Targeted Org. Recruitment Starts

March – August 2026

Public Recruitment

March – August 2026

Data Analysis

March – August 2026

Impact & Initial Findings Planning

This research is led by the Project RE.sport team at the University of Toronto and is supported by our amazing — and ever-growing — network of dissemination partners.

Girls Forward MLSE Launchpad Canadian Women & Sport
University of Toronto – Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
About the Study

Understanding the Impact of Sport Uniforms on Athlete Experiences

Sport uniforms are a fundamental part of athletic participation — but their design, fit, and style can profoundly affect how athletes feel about themselves and their sport. This research examines the relationship between uniform design and athlete experiences, with particular focus on girls and gender-diverse youth.

This project is part of Phase 1 of the ReThinkSport national research initiative, led in collaboration with the MLSE Launchpad and supported by SSHRC.

Research Project

Guides for School Sport
& Physical Activity

Exploring participation in school-based sport and physical activity, identifying barriers and opportunities within the education system across Canada.

About This Project

Expanding research across Canada

This project explores the participation of youth in school-based sport and physical activity, with a focus on identifying both barriers and opportunities within the education system.

Following the completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 in Ontario, we are now expanding our research across Canada to develop actionable, evidence-based strategies. Phase 2 was commissioned by the Ministry of Education and involved close collaboration with school leaders, boards, and community organizations to better understand the realities facing students and educators.

As we move forward, we continue to engage youth and physical activity leaders to ensure the solutions we develop are grounded in lived experience and can meaningfully improve access, inclusion, and participation across school environments nationwide.

More Study Information →
Key Focus Areas
🏫
School-Based Barriers
Identifying what prevents youth from participating in school sport and PA
📋
Evidence-Based Strategies
Developing actionable solutions informed by research and lived experience
🤝
Ministry Collaboration
Phase 2 commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Education
🇨🇦
National Expansion
Expanding beyond Ontario to all provinces and territories
Get Involved

Partnerships

Innovating the landscape of Canadian community youth sport through multidisciplinary collaboration.

Our Partnership Model

Building change together

This extensive multidisciplinary collaborative partnership will innovate the landscape of Canadian community youth sport by enhancing EDI knowledge, resources, practices, policies, and leadership through impact effects of changed practices resulting from challenged thinking and perception.

New products (e.g., toolkit), employment of HQP, informing policy development (e.g., Canadian Sport Policy), education and learning in EDI practices, cohesion among Canadian leaders in youth sport, and strategies addressing sustainable development goals and truth and reconciliation calls to action.

Looking to partner?

We welcome new community organizations, sport federations, and researchers who share our commitment to equitable youth sport.

Email Us →
🎓
Knowledge & Resources

Enhancing EDI knowledge and developing an open-access toolkit for organizations across Canada

📜
Policy Development

Informing the Canadian Sport Policy and addressing truth and reconciliation calls to action

🌱
Sustainable Development

Strategies addressing sustainable development goals and long-term systemic change in youth sport

Get Involved

National Youth Collective

Youth voices are front and centre in everything we do. Join us as an ambassador, advisor, and changemaker for youth sport in Canada.

Who We Are

Shape the future of youth sport

The youth collective will play a vital role in helping shape the future of youth sport in Canada and ensuring that youth voices are front and centre in everything we do. Collective members serve as youth ambassadors for the project, and offer input to all phases of research and to the board of directors on issues important to youth, while also sharing valuable insight on the issues impacting Canadian youth more broadly.

Apply Here!

As a member, you'll be:

  • →Sharing creative and innovative ideas about the future of youth sport and issues that impact participation
  • →Providing a youth voice while advising the research phases on race, dis(ability), gender, body image, indigeneity, and social class
  • →Providing recommendations to the larger team and serving as an ambassador for ReThinkSport
  • →Connecting with other youth advisor groups across the country and co-creating outreach and knowledge translation campaigns

You should apply if you:

  • ✓Are committed to change in the youth sporting culture in Canada and passionate about sport equity
  • ✓Love connecting with others and working as a team
  • ✓Want to develop skills in creative thinking, advocacy, critical thinking, research, communications, and leadership
  • ✓Have leadership experience or potential and are motivated to be a voice for your peers
  • ✓Are willing to take initiative and represent youth perspectives in discussions and decision-making processes

Not ready for a big commitment?

No problem! Youth Champions share our updates at events and online. Youth Community members stay informed and support our mission without public engagement.

Apply Here
Research

Insights from the Youth Collective

Recruitment and Evaluation

Vanessa Coulbeck, Sasha Gollish, Amy Nesbitt & Catherine M Sabiston — University of Toronto

Background

  • ▸Youth report many benefits to sport engagement, yet participation rates are decreasing — especially for girls in Canada, who drop out during adolescence at rates double to six times those of boys.
  • ▸Including youth in the research aimed at reimagining sport may best foster greater quality participation.
  • ▸Engaging youth through advisory groups is essential to integrating their diverse perspectives into decision-making.
  • ▸Despite growing recognition of youth advisories, evidence-based practices tailored to sport engagement remain scarce.
  • ▸Youth engagement guidelines and practices are needed in sport research.

Study Aims

1

To describe how youth engagement practices were developed and applied in a Canadian youth sport project.

2

To evaluate the youth engagement methods over the first year.

3

To develop a framework and set of recommendations for youth engagement in sport research.

Methods

Guided by evidence-based models including the McCain Model of Youth Engagement. The level of youth involvement is considered "consultation" — actively engaging youth as advisors whose perspectives drive the project's development and impact.

Recruitment used a diversity skills matrix highlighting representation across Canadian geographic regions, varied lived experiences, and a balance of skills including leadership, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.

Evaluation Measures

Public & Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool (PPEET)
Participant Questionnaires
Project Questionnaire
Tracking Youth Contributions
Documenting Challenges & Solutions
Learning Plan (purpose-driven sport & leadership questions)
38
Applicants
8
Selected

Results

The advisory was renamed the Youth Collective by the youth themselves.

To engage those not selected or preferring lighter involvement, a flexible leadership role called Youth Champions was created.

Over 9 months, 5 meetings covered:

→Research objectives & branding
→Study materials & knowledge translation
→Positionality & voice exercises
→Brand blueprinting
→Capacity building with Canadian Women & Sport

Confidence & Skills

"I'm encouraged to contribute ideas and share my perspective... This support helps me refine my skills, engage with my peers, and make an impact."

Community & Space

"I really love having the space to share and collaborate with others around my age... It's great to get to know everyone better."

Leadership & Initiative

"The leaders give lots of opportunities for us to lead and take initiative as well as share our views and opinions."

Discussion

▸Creating supportive spaces for youth fosters meaningful dialogue and authentic input.
▸Intentional onboarding and clear communication (reminder emails, question time) enhance participation and confidence.
▸Recruiting youth with varied backgrounds and sport experiences ensures policies better reflect the full spectrum of needs across communities.
▸Opportunities for youth to co-lead meetings and contribute to decision-making builds skills and ownership, strengthening long-term engagement.
▸Longer meeting times, more frequent check-ins, and clear follow-up plans help maintain momentum and transparency.
▸Collaborative teamwork requires flexible, adaptable processes that respect youth schedules and communication preferences, especially in virtual settings.

5 Core Recommendations

Informing the Youth Engagement in Sport Framework

1

Clarify why youth are involved and how their input will shape outcomes

2

Recruit for diversity in lived and sport experiences

3

Build confidence through onboarding and supportive environments

4

Co-design flexible, inclusive spaces that reflect youth realities

5

Share power and create feedback loops that show their impact

References

  1. Canadian Women & Sport. (2024). Rally report 2024: A call to reimagine sport so all girls can play.
  2. Sanchez, S., Chaiton, M., & others. (2024). A systematic review of theories, models and frameworks used for youth engagement in health research. Health Expectations, 27(1), e13975.
  3. Chan, M., Scott, S. D., Campbell, A., Elliott, S. A., Brooks, H., & Hartling, L. (2021). Research‐ and health‐related youth advisory groups in Canada: an environmental scan with stakeholder interviews. Health Expectations, 24(5), 1763–1779.
  4. Thornton, J. S., & Richards, D. (2023). Learning from 'lived expertise': engaging athletes and patients in sport and exercise medicine research and policy. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(4), 189–190.
  5. Haddad, K., Jacquez, F., & Vaughn, L. (2022). A scoping review of youth advisory structures in the United States: Applications, outcomes, and best practices. American Journal of Community Psychology, 70(3–4), 493–508.
  6. Heffernan, O. S., Herzog, T. M., Schiralli, J. E., Hawke, L. D., Chaim, G., & Henderson, J. L. (2017). Implementation of a youth‐adult partnership model in youth mental health systems research: challenges and successes. Health Expectations, 20(6), 1183–1188.
  7. Anwarzi, D., Tran, N. M. J., Phi, T., & Markoulakis, R. (2025). Promoting diversity in the recruitment of a youth advisory council in the mental health and addictions system. Health Expectations, 28(2), e70208. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70208
  8. Abelson, J., Li, K., Wilson, G., Shields, K., Schneider, C., & Boesveld, S. (2016). Supporting quality public and patient engagement in health system organizations: Development and usability testing of the Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool. Health Expectations, 19(4), 817–827.
  9. Darnay, K., Hawke, L. D., Chaim, G., Henderson, J. L., & INNOVATE Research Team. (2019). INNOVATE Research: Youth Engagement Guidebook for Researchers. Toronto, ON: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Youth Collective members and all the youth who applied to be part of the youth engagement initiative.

Funding

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Grant