The Risk, Injury, Safety, and Equity (RISE) Youth Sport Lab is directed by Dr. Kaleigh Pennock and housed in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies in the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo.
Our research focuses on critically examining the youth sport and recreation experience. Grounded in principles of equity, safety, and community, our work aims to foster athlete well-being, and emphasizes community-oriented partnerships that drive positive changes in youth sport experiences. Learn more about the objectives of the lab.
Check out our research, find opportunities to participate in research, and connect with us!
News
Congrats to Kelly and Mathu on their recent conference presentations!
Congratulations to Kelly Dao and Mathusiga Sivakumar, undergraduate students in the RISE Youth Sport Lab, on their recent conference presentations.
At the Eastern Canadian Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (ECSEPS) in Niagara Falls, Kelly presented original research examining media discourses concerning women athletes and sport-related concussions. This presentation identified key themes regarding the identity, legitimacy, and strength of women as athletes related to their concussion experiences. A great opportunity presenting at a graduate-level conference!
Kelly and Mathusiga presented their work at the Bertha Rosenstadt National Undergraduate Research Conference hosted at the University of Toronto. Kelly presented on the evolution of media narratives for women and sport-related concussions across two time period (2010-2018 and 2019-2025). This work emphasized a shift in the coverage of women’s concussions, from the need to ‘protect’ women from concussions, to ‘heroic’ tales of redemption that underscore problematic narratives concerning gender, injury, and sport ethic. Mathusiga (Mathu) presented on concussion education materials within Ontario sport organizations under Rowan’s law legislation. This work highlighted how existing concussion education materials lack sport-specific contexts or adequate athlete diversity or representation, and as such, may be limited in their effectiveness to support athlete decision making concerning concussion. Incredible work by these two promising scholars, congratulations!
Black Leaders in Sport Day
Dr. Pennock was selected for the Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network (ICSN) Black Leaders in Sport Day. This national event brings together leaders in the community sport sector, along with MPs, Senators and policy leaders, to address systemic inequities in sport, develop leadership pathways, and build sustainable networks of support. Learn more about Black Leaders in Sport Day.
RISE Lab heads to NASSS
The RISE Youth Sport lab presented at the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) annual conference in Vancouver, BC. Pictured is Braeden sharing his work on risk narratives in action sports in Canada. Well done team!
The RISE Youth Sport Lab is supported by:
