The 2020-2021 HPDP program has been modified to accommodate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The two main goals of the HPDP for this season are:
- Launch a valuable program for the athletes to be eligible for Quest for Gold funding for the 2020-2021 season. The Quest for Gold funding program has not been launched for this season, but the Ministry 4as assured sports organizations that it will occur.
- Prepare our HP athletes with the very limited options we have to eventually go back to full training and competing.
This year’s program will be four Zoom sessions, one hour each, that will be mandatory for all athletes who wish to apply for Quest for Gold funding. We understand that this is short notice, and those with major scheduling issues are encouraged to contact the program coordinator.
Short biographies of the session presenters can be found below.
The cost of the program this year is $50.00, with financial support from the OFA to ensure that athletes who wish to participate are still able to do so despite some difficult times.
Please register for the 2020-2021 HPDP Program using THIS FORM
Session #1
Dr. Cristina Leonardelli presents “Together, but 6 feet apart”: mental health and coping during isolation
Sunday March 7th, 2021, 10:00am – 11:00am
Given the ever-changing training and competition environments during the pandemic, this workshop will cover various strategies on how to cope with challenges you may face while preparing for sport in abnormal circumstances (i.e. being isolated from training facilities, coaches, and teammates)
Session #2
Dr, Nader Abdelkader presents “Fencing Injuries & biomechanics
Wednesday March 10th, 2021, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
This session will discuss fencing biomechanics, and common fencing injuries, The audience will have a chance to talking about their injuries, and learn the latest sports science about fencing.
Session #3
Dr. Cristina Leonardelli presents “Train your brain”: developing your mental skills for sport
Saturday March 13th, 2021, 10:00am – 11:00am
This workshop is an introduction to mental performance and mental skills training to set yourself up for success when return to sport is possible.
Session #4
Dr. Nader Abdelkader presents: “Return to fencing, safely” – INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP
Wednesday March 17th, 2021, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
This session will demonstrate on how to prepare to go back to fencing training after lock down. The purpose is to prevent injuries, and learn how to prepare your body after de-conditioning. This interactive workshop will demonstrate how to work out at home using minimal equipment. This workshop will teach athletes fundamental athletic movements, mobility drills, and stability exercises! Bring mats, weights, bands, skipping ropes, and get ready to get your sweat on! ~60 minutes
Dr. Cristina Leonardelli
Dr. Cristina Leonardelli is a sports chiropractor and mental performance consultant.
She graduated from McMaster University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, where she played varsity soccer for five years. She then went on to the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, and is currently completing a post-graduate fellowship program in chiropractic sports sciences. This specialty program led her to complete a Masters in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa in the field of applied sports psychology, where she completed a number of coursework and practical internship requirements. Upon graduation from her Masters, she earned the qualifications to become a mental performance consultant through the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA).
Dr. Leonardelli currently resides in Ottawa, ON where she works in private practice at a multidisciplinary healthcare clinic. She has been involved in various levels of sport from the club level to the international stage, including the Nepean Raiders Jr. A hockey team, as the medical coordinator for the Eastern Ontario region of OPDL provincial youth soccer league, with the Mont Cascades Ski Racing Club, and for the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. She was the lead therapist for Atletico Ottawa of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) during their inaugural season in 2020, and most recently, she has worked with Canada Soccer Women’s National Team for the She Believes Cup in 2021. She has also been involved as part of the core medical team at numerous international and multisport events, including the Toronto Triathlon Festival, Ontario Winter Games 2018, the U19 Women’s World Lacrosse Championships, PanAm Senior Fencing Championships, Ottawa Race Weekend, and the FIE GrandPrix de Sabre.
Outside of the clinic and the sidelines, Dr. Leonardelli continues to play soccer with a local women’s soccer team, and enjoys spending time outdoors exploring Ottawa and Gatineau with her husband Dave and their dog, a Yorkshire terrier named Moose.
Dr. Nader Abdelkader
Dr. Nader Abdelkader holds a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from the University of Manitoba where he was also competing at the national fencing circuit. During his athletic career, his appreciation for sports medicine sparked interest having sustained several sports injuries himself. Combining his passions for health sciences and sports, he further pursued his academics at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. He is currently completing his post graduate fellowship from the Royal College of Chiropractors of Sports Sciences.
Dr. Abdelkader’s clinical practice includes proficient diagnoses of the neuromusculoskeletal system, manual-therapy, and rehabilitative exercises prescribed specifically to each of his patient’s needs.
Dr. Abdelkader is currently conducting various scientific research in the area of dynamic balance assessments in the athletic populations. During his academia, he’s had experience in internships and placements at various hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area, and other specialized sports medicine clinics involved in advanced therapeutics and surgical consultations.
Dr. Abdelkader focuses in the area of lunging biomechanics, fencing and racket sport injuries, and sports performance and conditioning. He is currently chairing both the Medical & Health committee for the Ontario Fencing Association, as well as the Sports Medicine committee for the Canadian Fencing Federation. He is currently the lead medical consultant of the Canadian national fencing team. Notably, he was part of the medical team for the 2019 Canada Cup Squash (a Professional Squash Association event), Fencing PANAM and World Championships 2018-19, and Toronto 2015 Pan-Am Games.
