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Adapted physical activity is a fluid, cross-disciplinary field of professional knowledge and practice that promotes empowered and individualized approaches to physical activity participation, intervention/instruction and related services for people with and without disabilities.

The CHAMPS lab is well-situated to promote personal autonomy and independence in physical activity and leisure pursuits for all people by co-constructing pertinent knowledge and evidence-based teaching and physical activity practices and leisure opportunities with our community partners.  Our research group’s projects revolve around constructs related to self-determination and self-regulation. There are two research lines that constitute our lab’s research program.

Research Lines

1. The first line of our research focuses on questions about self-determination and self-regulation of people with mental health problems. For example, much of this research has explored the physical activity and leisure behaviors of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This central line of the research program explores issues related to development, learning, performance and teaching in a variety of different contexts (e.g., home, community, school, clinic).
2. The second line of research investigates treatment interventions and/or instructional effectiveness in physical activity and leisure programs and settings for all youth, including children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Quantitative, qualitative or mixed research methodologies are used to shed light on the research questions of interest.