Notice Board

The Sports Science Association of Alberta (SSAA) provides funding opportunities for applied sport research through the Sport Science Grant Program. The areas to which this grant applies include exercise physiology, biomechanics, psychology, motor control, nutrition and medical aspects aimed at the prevention and rehabilitation of sport injuries and must be directed to Alberta‐based sports.

Eligibility & Limitation
A project’s primary investigator must be a Faculty member of a recognized Alberta Government Comprehensive Academic and Research Institution.

Applicants must be able to hold a research spending account at the host institution in which the intended project is to be carried out and must have access to an acceptable academic research ethics board that can approve research with human participants.

Grants are awarded to individual grantees and are tenable at the institution in which the applicants hold primary appointment at the time of application.

Applicants cannot be the primary investigator on more than one project proposal per year.

Projects investigating general health, wellness or fitness questions not directly related to sport science associated with Alberta based sports are not eligible for support under this program.

Applicants who have not submitted a final report from a previously funded project are ineligible for further funding.

Funding Parameters

The SSAA favours projects that are below $6,000.00. Projects that exceed this limit may still be considered contingent on annual government funding.  Projects are given a 3‐year funding period with all uncommitted funds returned to the SSAA after the termination date. Project extension may be granted with proper justification and is under the discretion of the SSAA.

Research must be applied in nature and have relevance to the development of amateur sport in Alberta and have a clearly defined link to Alberta athletes, coaches or sport organizations.

All applicants are sent a Notice of Decision indicating whether or not their project was approved in April. Funds are provided directly to the host institution in June.

Conditions

Part of the funds can be used to purchase minor equipment and for general operating expenses specified in the budget proposal, including salaries for technicians, graduate and summer students. Salaries are set in accordance with host institution policies. Minor equipment purchased with grant funds is the property of the institution at which the grant was held.  Funds are not intended to support expenses related to computer hardware, entertainment, lodging or conferences attendance.  Part of the funds can be used for vehicle travel within the province for the purpose of data collection provided it is deemed reasonable by the SSAA. Mileage rate is set at 0.52 per kilometre.

All funding is contingent upon a successful review by the SSAA and approval by the host institution’s research ethics board (REB).  Applicants must adhere to their host institution’s general guidelines for  conducting research.

Reporting

Upon project completion, the grantee shall submit a structured abstract describing the results of their study to the SSAA. The annual deadline for structured abstract submission is normally March 16.  Structured abstracts are posted on Sports Medicine Council of Alberta (SMCA) website and published annually in the Fall issue of the SMCA’s Pulse Magazine.

Restrictions

Applications for funding research outside of Alberta will not be considered.  The use of funds to pay the salary of the applicant(s) is not permitted.

Project Proposal Application

Submission deadline: February 16, 2016

The project proposal must include the following section headings:

I. PROJECT TITLE
II. PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR AND CO‐INVESTIGATOR(S)
III. PROJECT LOCATION
IV. RATIONALE FOR PROJECT
V. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS(ES)
VI. IMPLICATIONS AND RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH TO SPORT IN ALBERTA
VII. METHODOLOGY
‐ Subjects and Research Ethics Board Procedures
- Experimental Design
‐ Procedures (Measurement Protocols) including description of statistical or data analysis
VIII. PROJECT TIMELINE
IX. BUDGET
‐ Outline financial allocations
‐ Explanation of contingency funding if appropriate
X. REFERENCES

Typical length of application is approximately 3 to 5 pages, single spaced. Applications are to be submitted electronically (Microsoft WORD) to: Mr. Stephane Simard, University of Lethbridge SSAA Representative, s.simard@uleth.ca.