Physical Education Glossary Flashcards

Flashcards containing vocabulary terms and definitions from the Physical Education Glossary Lecture Notes.

Aerobic activity

Any sustained exercise that stimulates and strengthens the heart and lungs, thereby improving the body’s use of oxygen.

Aerobic capacity

The maximum rate at which the body or an individual muscle can take up and use oxygen from the air; also known as maximal oxygen consumption (uptake) or VO2max.

Agility

The ability to change body position quickly and to control one’s physical movements.

Anaerobic activity

Any short-duration exercise that is powered primarily by metabolic pathways that do not use oxygen.

Artistic gymnastics

A discipline in which gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, which may include the balance beam, vault, bars, and floor.

Balance

The ability to keep an upright posture while stationary or moving.

Balance and control skills

The ability to control the movement of the body while stationary or moving.

Base of support

An area defined by the parts of the body and any assistive devices, such as canes or crutches, that are in contact with the support surface.

Biomechanical principles

Principles related to the study of physical forces. An understanding of biomechanical principles can help one move efficiently and avoid injury.

Body composition

All of the tissues that together make up the body: bone, muscle, skin, fat, and body organs.

Body systems

Groups of organs that work together to accomplish a specific physical or biological task.

Cardiovascular

The heart, blood vessels, and blood, which provide oxygen and nutrients to the body.

Digestive

The organs and glands that are responsible for ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food.

Endocrine

The glands that produce hormones that regulate various body systems, including but not limited to metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, reproduction, sleep, and mood.

Immune

The system that protects against infections and other foreign substances, cells, and tissues.

Muscular

The skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles that support movement and help maintain posture and circulate blood, among other functions.

Nervous

A complex communication system that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.

Reproductive

The organs and glands in the body that aid in procreation.

Respiratory

The airways and passages that bring air, including oxygen, from outside the body into the lungs.

Skeletal

The framework of the body, consisting of bones and connective tissues that protect and support the body tissues and internal organs.

Borg rating

The measurement of intensity of physical activity based on exertion.

Cardiorespiratory endurance

The efficiency of the body’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels to send fuel and oxygen to the body’s tissues, most often during extended periods of moderate- to-vigorous activity.

Competency

One’s ability, skill, and knowledge to perform a task.

Complex motor activities

Activities that involve more than one skill.

Complex motor skills

Skills that are made up of two or more skills.

Complex movement sequences

Movements that require a combination of motor skills.

Components of health-related fitness

Aspects of physical fitness that help one stay healthy.

Components of skill-related fitness

Aspects of physical fitness that help one perform well in sports and other activities that require certain physical skills.

Coordination

The ability to use one’s senses together with one’s body parts, or to use two or more body parts together.

Diminishing return

In physical activity, the point at which one’s body is taking on more harm than benefit.

Defense

A means or method of defending or protecting.

Dynamic and cooperative situations

Situations where individuals use teamwork to overcome challenges.

Dynamic balance

Balance while moving. Or, the ability to balance under changing conditions of body movement.

Dynamic environment

Changing surroundings in which one navigates.

Dynamic stretching

A form of stretching beneficial in sports using momentum from form, and the momentum from static-active stretching strength, in an effort to propel the muscle into an extended range of motion not exceeding one’s static-passive stretching ability.

Eccentric action

An action that causes a muscle to elongate in response to a greater opposing force.

Educational gymnastics

A discipline that emphasizes body management and problem solving skills through movements such as stunts, balances, and poses.

Emerging pattern

The beginning stage of acquiring motor skills and knowledge.

Etiquette

Rules governing socially acceptable behavior.

Field/striking games

Games in which one team occupies positions throughout the space (field) and the other team tries to score by batting or striking an object into open space, with enough time for the hitter to run between bases (or wickets).

Fitness assessment protocol

A set of directions that accompanies a fitness assessment program.

Fitness log

A notebook used to record one’s fitness activities.

FITT principle

A mnemonic formula of factors important to determining the correct amount of physical activity: Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type

Fleeing

Traveling quickly away from a pursuing person or object.

Fleer

Someone who travels quickly away from a pursuer.

Flexibility

The ability to move the joints through the full range of motion.

Food label

A label found on the outside packages of food that states the number of servings in the container, the number of calories in each serving, and the amount of nutrients in each serving.

Force

The effort or tension generated in movement.

Fundamental motor skills

Foundation movements that are precursor patterns to the more specialized, complex skills (body management skills, locomotor skills, and manipulative skills) that are used in play, games, sports, dance, gymnastics, outdoor education, and physical recreation.

General space

All the area outside of someone’s personal space, for instance in a classroom, field, or gym.

Health and fitness plan

A plan for maintenance or improvement that includes an evaluation of current health and fitness levels for cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility and an analysis of individual health behaviors such as diet, sleep, activity, fitness, and hydration.

Implement

Device used in the performance of a task.

Increasingly complex activities

Activities that involve progressively more difficulty.

Indicators of health

Physical, mental, emotional, and social.

Individual-performance activities

Activities that do not involve teamwork.

Intrinsic motivation

A desire to seek out new things and new challenges that is driven by one’s interest or enjoyment in the task itself and does not rely on external pressures or a desire for reward.

Invasion games

Games in which teams score by moving an object into another team’s territory and either shooting into a fixed target (a goal or basket) or moving the object across an open- ended target (a line).

Inverted balance

Sustained balance, for approximately three seconds, in a position with the head below the body.

Isokinetic

Of or relating to muscular action with a constant rate of movement.

Isometric exercise

An action in which a muscle generates tension without changing length.

Isotonic contraction

An action in which tension remains constant, despite a change in muscle length.

Lifetime activity

An activity that is suitable for participation at any time across the life span.

Leading pass

A throw in which a manipulative is thrown ahead of the intended receiver so that the receiver can catch the manipulative while in motion.

Lead-up activity

An activity developed to limit the number of skills needed for successful participation.

Lead-up game

A game developed to limit the number of skills needed for successful participation.

Level

A measure of the relationship of one’s body to the floor or an apparatus, or of an object to one’s body.

Locomotor

Movement that moves the body from one place to another.

Manipulative

An object designed to be moved by hand as a means of developing motor skills.

Manipulative skills

Skills for controlling or manipulating objects.

Mature form

Performance of critical elements of a skill in a smooth and continuous motion.

Mature pattern

Execution of the critical elements a skill with efficiency in authentic environments.

Modified games

Small-sided games in which the rules have been modified to emphasize use of specific skills.

Motor skills

Actions that involve the movement of muscles in the body.

Movement concepts

Space, pathways, levels, relationships, speed, direction, force.

Muscular endurance

The ability of the muscles to perform physical tasks over a period of time without becoming fatigued.

Muscular strength

The amount of force a muscle can exert.

MyPlate

A food guidance system that translates nutritional recommendations into the kinds and amounts of food to eat each day; a widely recognized nutrition education tool.

Newton’s Laws

Three physical laws of motion that, together, laid the foundation for classical mechanics. The laws describe the relationship between a body, the forces acting upon the body, and the body’s motion in response to those forces.

Nonlocomotor

Movement in which a body does not move from one place to another.

Offense

A means or methods of attacking or attempting to score.

Open space

A space where there are no defenders/opponents.

Overload

Idea that to improve physical fitness, one needs to do more physical activity than one normally does.

PACER

Abbreviation for Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run, which is a test for cardiorespiratory fitness.

Pacing

An established rate of locomotion.

Pathways

The path a movement takes through space.

Performance

Demonstration of a learned skill.

Personal risk assessment tool

A tool that allows an individual to learn about personal health risks, including the effects of a variety of health care interventions.

Personal space

The area immediately surrounding a person.

Physical activity

Bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.

Physical activity pyramid

A guide designed for adults to use to plan an active lifestyle.

Power

The ability to use strength quickly.

Principle

A basic truth, law, or assumption.

Proficiency

Advanced competency in any subject or skill.

Progression

Idea that the amount and intensity of physical activity needs to be increased gradually.

Progressive movement combinations

Sequence of actions.

Protocol

A system of rules or directions that explain the correct conduct and the procedures to be followed in formal situations.

Reaction time

The ability to react or respond quickly to what one hears, sees, or feels.

Repeatable sequences

Specific movements combined to create a desired outcome.

Reversibility

The idea that fitness benefits are lost when training stops.

Rhythmic skills

Movement that aligns to a steady pulse or musical beat.