New CAF Sports Strategy – A Game Changer

October 27, 2022 - Defence Stories

After much consultation and several drafts later, the first-ever CAF Sports Strategy was approved by Armed Forces Council in spring 2022 and is now available for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and leaders. This Strategy, produced by Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services’ Personnel Support Programs (PSP) for the CAF, complements other CAF strategies like the Total Health and Wellness Strategy and the Retention Strategy, as well as Balance – The CAF’s Physical Performance Strategy, also produced by PSP and released in 2018.

CAF Sports is more than just a way to stay fit and build physical fitness. It builds mental, social and physical wellbeing. It develops core military attributes such as teamwork, self-discipline, leadership, esprit de corps, perseverance and resilience. It helps CAF members stay operationally ready.

More than 20 thousand CAF personnel participate in local, regional, national and international sport annually. These participants are supported by members of the military community who act as patrons, coaches, team managers, officials and trainers.

The contribution of sport to mental and social wellness cannot be overstated or overvalued.

• 82% have indicated that sport helps to reduce stress
• 70% have indicated the CAF Sports Program fosters teamwork and inclusivity
• 46% have said that sport was a reason to stay in the Canadian Armed Forces

Executing the Strategy will require sustained engagement and effort from the CAF, Commands, Bases, Wings, Units and individuals. At all of these levels, the centre of gravity is leadership. Military leadership sets the expectations, establishes work conditions and creates a work climate and culture that promotes participation in the CAF Sports Program. They are in the best position to identify personnel health and wellness needs and to encourage their personnel to participate. When leadership recognizes the value of sport, the CAF Sports Program is well positioned to function effectively and maximize its impact.

However, a strategy in and of itself is not enough. Strategy is a team sport; a dedicated and sustained commitment and effort from all levels of CAF leadership down to each individual participant and those who support and administer the programs is required to achieve its vision.

Over the next several years, PSP will concentrate on its implementation, focusing on the Strategy’s three pillars: Participation, Development, and Outreach and Engagement.

The CFMWS PSP sports team will continue to work with its partners to go beyond just understanding the contributions to mental, social and physical wellness by further investigating how sport contributes to:

• Developing core military competencies 
• Contributing to global engagement objectives
• Diversity and inclusion
• Transition

In a world where employers and employees are embracing hybrid workplaces, aside from your Friday luncheons, sport is a way to bring people together.

“The friendships forged through sport have helped me through some tough times and the self-confidence gained through my athletic achievements has helped me to weather some of the countless stressors of military life, from career events, to posting locations, deployment stresses, and many more. It has become another pillar of support that I can lean on when times get tough,” says LCol Eric Travis, multi-sport athlete and Team Manager.

The successful execution of the CAF Sports Strategy will help create an environment that promotes, supports and maximizes the impact of sport in the CAF, ultimately contributing to the wellness and readiness of personnel and their ability to undertake missions for the protection of Canada and Canadians.

Now Let’s Get in the Game!

The CAF Sports Strategy is available. (PDF - 28Mb)