Change the Game
Research Project
Launched by MLSE Foundation in partnership with Dr. Simon Darnell, Director of the University of Toronto’s Centre for Sport Policy Studies, the Change the Game research project is an anonymous online survey aimed at understanding sport and play-related access, engagement, and equity issues across Ontario. Between now and November 7, 2023 we hope to survey over 8,000 youth and parents of youth across Ontario. We need your help!
If you are between the ages of 6-29 in Ontario, or a parent/guardian of a young person, please click here to open the consent form and the survey to fill out. The entire process takes under 10 minutes. As a thank you for your time and feedback, anyone who completes the survey will be eligible for a free prize draw that includes tickets to a future home game or a special apparel package with swag from your choice of the Toronto Argos, Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, or Toronto Raptors which is valued at $1,000.
If you are connected to youth in Ontario, please share this page as widely as possible with your networks.
If you are between the ages of 6-29 in Ontario, or a parent/guardian of a young person, please click here to open the consent form and the survey to fill out. The entire process takes under 10 minutes. As a thank you for your time and feedback, anyone who completes the survey will be eligible for a free prize draw that includes tickets to a future home game or a special apparel package with swag from your choice of the Toronto Argos, Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, or Toronto Raptors which is valued at $1,000.
If you are connected to youth in Ontario, please share this page as widely as possible with your networks.
WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO LEARN?
The Change the Game research project hopes to answer three key questions:
1. Access: Do Ontario youth have adequate access to sport opportunities, and why or why not? How does youth sport access differ based on demographic variables?
2. Engagement: Are Ontario youth engaging in sport opportunities, and why or why not? How does youth sport engagement differ based on demographic variables?
3. Equity: How are demographic variables impacting youth sport participation, access, safety and engagement?
1. Access: Do Ontario youth have adequate access to sport opportunities, and why or why not? How does youth sport access differ based on demographic variables?
2. Engagement: Are Ontario youth engaging in sport opportunities, and why or why not? How does youth sport engagement differ based on demographic variables?
3. Equity: How are demographic variables impacting youth sport participation, access, safety and engagement?
WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE?
The feedback shared from participants will provide important information to help improve how youth sport is provided, and address an under-researched aspect of sport equity.
WHO IS LEADING THIS RESEARCH?
The names and titles of all members of the study team are as follows:
Bryan Heal
Social Impact Research Lead
MLSE Community Engagement & Social Impact
Bryan.heal@mlselaunchpad.org
Marika Warner
Director, Research & Evaluation
MLSE Community Engagement & Social Impact
Dr. Simon Darnell
Associate Professor, Sport for Development and Peace
Director, Centre for Sport Policy Studies
University of Toronto
Jackie Robinson
Manager, Research & Evaluation
MLSE LaunchPad
Olu Paynter
Research Coordinator
MLSE LaunchPad/Foundation
Victor Adarquah
Change the Game Research Assistant
University of Toronto
Lauren Gnat
Change the Game Research Assistant
MLSE LaunchPad
Denis Cao Van Truong
Change the Game Research Assistant
MLSE LaunchPad
Vyshnave Sivasankar
Change the Game Research Assistant
MLSE LaunchPad
Bryan Heal
Social Impact Research Lead
MLSE Community Engagement & Social Impact
Bryan.heal@mlselaunchpad.org
Marika Warner
Director, Research & Evaluation
MLSE Community Engagement & Social Impact
Dr. Simon Darnell
Associate Professor, Sport for Development and Peace
Director, Centre for Sport Policy Studies
University of Toronto
Jackie Robinson
Manager, Research & Evaluation
MLSE LaunchPad
Olu Paynter
Research Coordinator
MLSE LaunchPad/Foundation
Victor Adarquah
Change the Game Research Assistant
University of Toronto
Lauren Gnat
Change the Game Research Assistant
MLSE LaunchPad
Denis Cao Van Truong
Change the Game Research Assistant
MLSE LaunchPad
Vyshnave Sivasankar
Change the Game Research Assistant
MLSE LaunchPad
OUR ADVISORY TEAM
The Change the Game research team is privileged to receive the wise, diverse, constructive and ongoing counsel from the following team of advisors:
Simon Darnell, Ph.D.
Academic Advisor & Associate Professor, Sport for Development & Peace
Director, Centre for Sport Policy Studies
University of Toronto
Kendra Kerr
Director, Strategy & Innovation
MLSE Foundation
Richard Norman, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Toronto Metropolitan University
Marcia Morris
Executive Director
Ottawa Sports Council
Farah Bastien
Director, Data Science and Engineering
MLSE
Qua Boissoneau
Manager of Indigenous Education & Engagement
Humber College
Luciano Lombardi
Director, Community Sport
MLSE
Paul Holley
Research Director
Association of Canadian Studies
Simon Darnell, Ph.D.
Academic Advisor & Associate Professor, Sport for Development & Peace
Director, Centre for Sport Policy Studies
University of Toronto
Kendra Kerr
Director, Strategy & Innovation
MLSE Foundation
Richard Norman, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Toronto Metropolitan University
Marcia Morris
Executive Director
Ottawa Sports Council
Farah Bastien
Director, Data Science and Engineering
MLSE
Qua Boissoneau
Manager of Indigenous Education & Engagement
Humber College
Luciano Lombardi
Director, Community Sport
MLSE
Paul Holley
Research Director
Association of Canadian Studies
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Who is funding this research?
A: The MLSE Foundation has invested directly in the Change the Game research project.
Q: Has the project undergone an ethics review?
A: Yes. This project has been reviewed and approved by the Community Research Ethics Board. If you feel you have not been treated according to the descriptions in our information, or your rights as a participant in research have been violated during the course of this project, you may contact the Chair, Community Research Ethics Board, at: Community Research Ethics Office (Canada) Corp. c/o Centre for Community Based Research, 190 Westmount Road North, Waterloo ON N2L 3G5; Email: creo@communitybasedresearch.ca Telephone: 1-888-411- 2736.
Q: What research gap does this project address?
A: Existing sport equity report cards prioritize age and gender data, but present limited insights for deeper understanding of racial, cultural, neighbourhood, and other equity-related lenses.
Q: Why does your definition of youth go up to 29 years old?
A: MLSE Foundation understands that there are many definitions of youth and that different people develop in different ways. As a result, we wanted to ensure a broad range of individuals identifying as youth can be included, and not limit the definition to the age of majority.
Q: What sports are included in this research?
A: Sport inclusion covers a broad range of sports including both team sports like basketball and individuals sports such as a cycling, as well as sports which are played competitively, in community settings, or informally such as at drop-ins. If it is a sport you can play, it counts!
Q: How long will the questionnaire take to fill out?
A: Approximately 8-10 minutes.
Q: Do I have to answer every question on the survey?
A: No. Your participation is 100% voluntary and you can stop at any time. If you are not comfortable answering a question, you may choose not to answer.
Q: What are the benefits of the research?
A: The feedback provided may help generate new knowledge to an under-researched intersection of sport engagement and equity. Key insights and recommendations will be used to inform opportunities for improving access and experiences for youth in Ontario. The results of the research will be publicly available online for organizations, funders and policymakers to access which may help inform and improve the diversity and quality of sport opportunities available in different communities.
Q: Are there any risks I should know about?
A: The risks of involvement in this project are minimal. There is a chance you might feel some emotional discomfort in reflecting on your experiences related to sport, privilege and/or marginalization. You may skip any questions you do not feel comfortable in answering.
Q: Can you tell me more about the prize draw?
A: Everyone who completes the survey will be eligible to be entered in a draw for a grand prize of a ticket and experience package for a future Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC or Toronto Argos home game and/or a special apparel package from your favourite team. At the end of the questionnaire, you will have an opportunity to volunteer your e-mail address for inclusion in a prize draw for interested participants. This is the only time your name and contact will be asked, and it will be deleted directly by the Project Lead identified below upon completion and fulfillment of the prize draw.
Q: Is the information I share confidential?
A: The research team treats all responses to survey questions as confidential. Shared results or reports from the research team will only involve anonymized, aggregated findings that do not include personally identifying information. If you choose to enter additional open-ended feedback, any direct quotes used in reports will be anonymous without participants being able to vet quotes or be individually identified as the source of quotes.
Q: How will the results of the research be shared?
A: The information shared will be analyzed for insights and trends. The aggregate findings will be shared with a diverse range of audiences interested in youth sport access, engagement and equity in Ontario. This includes in reports, academic publication, presentations and online. Aggregate findings will be kept in perpetuity, and key insights will further be made available in a visual dashboard on a web page accessible to the public.
Q: How do I contact the researchers if I have any questions about the project or want to get involved further?
A: Please contact Bryan via email (preferred) at bryan.heal@mlselaunchpad.org.
A: The MLSE Foundation has invested directly in the Change the Game research project.
Q: Has the project undergone an ethics review?
A: Yes. This project has been reviewed and approved by the Community Research Ethics Board. If you feel you have not been treated according to the descriptions in our information, or your rights as a participant in research have been violated during the course of this project, you may contact the Chair, Community Research Ethics Board, at: Community Research Ethics Office (Canada) Corp. c/o Centre for Community Based Research, 190 Westmount Road North, Waterloo ON N2L 3G5; Email: creo@communitybasedresearch.ca Telephone: 1-888-411- 2736.
Q: What research gap does this project address?
A: Existing sport equity report cards prioritize age and gender data, but present limited insights for deeper understanding of racial, cultural, neighbourhood, and other equity-related lenses.
Q: Why does your definition of youth go up to 29 years old?
A: MLSE Foundation understands that there are many definitions of youth and that different people develop in different ways. As a result, we wanted to ensure a broad range of individuals identifying as youth can be included, and not limit the definition to the age of majority.
Q: What sports are included in this research?
A: Sport inclusion covers a broad range of sports including both team sports like basketball and individuals sports such as a cycling, as well as sports which are played competitively, in community settings, or informally such as at drop-ins. If it is a sport you can play, it counts!
Q: How long will the questionnaire take to fill out?
A: Approximately 8-10 minutes.
Q: Do I have to answer every question on the survey?
A: No. Your participation is 100% voluntary and you can stop at any time. If you are not comfortable answering a question, you may choose not to answer.
Q: What are the benefits of the research?
A: The feedback provided may help generate new knowledge to an under-researched intersection of sport engagement and equity. Key insights and recommendations will be used to inform opportunities for improving access and experiences for youth in Ontario. The results of the research will be publicly available online for organizations, funders and policymakers to access which may help inform and improve the diversity and quality of sport opportunities available in different communities.
Q: Are there any risks I should know about?
A: The risks of involvement in this project are minimal. There is a chance you might feel some emotional discomfort in reflecting on your experiences related to sport, privilege and/or marginalization. You may skip any questions you do not feel comfortable in answering.
Q: Can you tell me more about the prize draw?
A: Everyone who completes the survey will be eligible to be entered in a draw for a grand prize of a ticket and experience package for a future Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC or Toronto Argos home game and/or a special apparel package from your favourite team. At the end of the questionnaire, you will have an opportunity to volunteer your e-mail address for inclusion in a prize draw for interested participants. This is the only time your name and contact will be asked, and it will be deleted directly by the Project Lead identified below upon completion and fulfillment of the prize draw.
Q: Is the information I share confidential?
A: The research team treats all responses to survey questions as confidential. Shared results or reports from the research team will only involve anonymized, aggregated findings that do not include personally identifying information. If you choose to enter additional open-ended feedback, any direct quotes used in reports will be anonymous without participants being able to vet quotes or be individually identified as the source of quotes.
Q: How will the results of the research be shared?
A: The information shared will be analyzed for insights and trends. The aggregate findings will be shared with a diverse range of audiences interested in youth sport access, engagement and equity in Ontario. This includes in reports, academic publication, presentations and online. Aggregate findings will be kept in perpetuity, and key insights will further be made available in a visual dashboard on a web page accessible to the public.
Q: How do I contact the researchers if I have any questions about the project or want to get involved further?
A: Please contact Bryan via email (preferred) at bryan.heal@mlselaunchpad.org.