Sport Science and Medical Support Services

SportMedBC is responsible for managing the provision of sport science and medical support services to Team BC athletes and coaches based on the approved sports’ plans.

Science and Medicine Program Services Overview

• Functional Screening Program

Athletes will be assessed by a trained practitioner (Physiotherapist / Athletic Therapist)   using a well-established screening protocol.  The functional assessment will identify the athlete’s strengths and weaknesses and any postural or mechanical deficiencies, while providing specific guidelines for preventing injury and enhancing performance.  While it is beyond the scope of these sessions to provide injury treatment or conduct a lengthy medical consultation, the session is useful for providing the coach, and the participating athlete with a definitive plan of action. The coach should be an active participant in the functional screening sessions in order to take action on the findings.  If necessary, athletes will be referred to a local medical practitioner for further treatment and intervention.  Each therapist will spend approximately 45 minutes per athlete. After the assessment, therapists will review key follow-up recommendations with the coach and athlete. Each athlete will take away an individualized action plan.  It is strongly recommended that a Strength and Conditioning Specialist participate with the therapist in a “debriefing” following the functional screening assessment. The strength and conditioning program follow-up may be formulated at that time, and determined on coach and athlete requirements.

• Strength and Conditioning Program

Strength and conditioning specialists may be engaged to provide services to Team BC. All teams accessing this service are advised to have completed functional screening prior to initiation of this service.  Strength and conditioning specialists can work with coaches and athletes to implement training programs that emphasize safe, sport-specific, and effective protocols that will allow athletes to enhance athletic performance. 

• Mental Training Program

Each mental performance consultant will design a program based on their individualized approach to both mental skills training and team development, and the context of the team to which he/she has been engaged.  While each team can access this program prior to the games, note that Team BC will also provide 2 mental performance consultants during the games.  If teams have engaged a mental performance consultant prior to the games and wish to continue with this consultant for the games, teams will be responsible for arranging this service.

• Nutrition Program

A registered dietician is available to be engaged to deliver services to Team BC.

Athletes learn what foods they need to eat to fuel their athletic performance in training and competition, how much to hydrate and when to eat for optimal recovery. Athletes receive practical information that allows them to formulate their own nutrition and hydration plan. As with other programs, it is mandatory for coaches to attend. For nutrition seminars, the parents of all athletes are encouraged to attend as well.  These will be determined in consultation with coaches. Some suggested topics include weight management, planning nutrition for multi-event days, disordered eating and sport nutrition.

• Drug Education Program

The Games drug education program is led by CCES (Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport), through a free on-line forum that all athletes and coaches must complete before attending the Games. In person seminars can be facilitated by a CCES employee on a fee for service basis.  All education components and records of completion will be coordinated by the Team BC Medical Manager.

Sport Science and Medicine Support Services

• Fee for Service Guidelines – Team BC

A menu of managed sport medicine and science support services and fee for service guidelines has been developed for Team BC to assist with program planning. This document outlines fee for service guidelines for programs. 

Note - Practitioner expenses for travel and required resources (handouts, protocol sheets, etc.) are NOT included in the fee schedule. 

SportMedBC Managed Programs

Other Expenses