In 2021, MLSE Foundation launched the Change the Game Campaign and its namesake research project - the largest demographic profile of youth sport in Canada. The 2024 report shares key insights alongside a playbook for change following the third and final chapter of a Return to Play trilogy that has engaged over the 25,000 youth over the past three years in the province of Ontario, Canada.
In collaboration with Dr. Simon Darnell, Director of the University of Toronto Centre for Sport Policy Studies, and an Advisory team of sport industry, research, and community-based experts, an online survey of youth (aged 6-29) and their parents/guardians was conducted. The purpose of the study was to better understand the current state of youth sport and Sport For Development offerings in Ontario and to explore consistent themes of access, engagement, and equity alongside a 2023 sub-focus on safe spaces and environments for the diversity of youth in sport.
Research
How We give
We use a mixed-methods approach to measure outcomes in all our programs and services, and we continuously iterate and improve based on evaluation results.
Our program cycles allow us to rapidly incorporate evaluation findings to ensure an ascending standard of excellence. Our research team also conducts large-scale studies in partnership with academic collaborators.
Change The Game 2024 Report:
Growing the game means changing the Game
For all questions, study info, and collaboration interest, please email Bryan Heal, Social Impact Research Lead, at bryan.heal@mlselaunchpad.org
PAST RESEARCH PROJECTS
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Increasing physical literacy in youth: A two-week Sport for Development program for children aged 6-10
This paper presents initial evidence that an intentionally designed two-week SFD day camp program successfully increased PL among youth facing barriers in a North American urban context, and explores the methodology used to teach and evaluate PL at a community-based SFD facility.
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A study protocol for a 2-year longitudinal study of positive youth development at an urban sport for development facility
This paper outlines the study protocol measuring impact of an urban Sport for Development facility on positive youth development in youth facing barriers.
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CHANGE THE GAME RESEARCH STUDY. A STUDY FOCUSED ON YOUTH SPORT ACCESS, ENGAGEMENT, AND EQUITY FACTORS IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC
Between March-May of 2021, MLSE Foundation and the University of Toronto engaged almost 7000 youth to understand sport and play-related access, barriers, and equity factors in the wake of the pandemic. Participants were representatively diverse according to race, geography, age, gender, ability and income, and the results were clear.
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Physical Literacy
As part of our two-year research study, we invited MLSE LaunchPad members between the ages of 6 and 12 to help us determine the impact of Sports For Development programs on physical activity and physical literacy.
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Sport for Development
We invited MLSE LaunchPad members ages 18 to 29 to help us determine the impact of this integrated employment training and sport program on employment outcomes.
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CHANGE THE GAME 2.0 RESEARCH STUDY: CHANGE THE CULTURE, CHANGE THE GAME
This report provides fresh insights on who has been able to return to play, the quality of their experience and, more profoundly, explores issues of culture, belonging and wellness, reinforced by two years of data and the perspectives of thousands of youth.