GCSE PE Theory - Key Terms

Agility

The ability to change the position of the body quickly and to control the movement of the whole body

Anabolic steroids

Drugs that mimic the male sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscle growth.

Anaerobic

'Without oxygen'. If exercise is done in short, fast bursts, the heart
cannot supply blood and oxygen to muscles as fast as the cells use them.

Balance

The ability to retain the body's centre of mass (gravity) above the base of support with reference to static (stationary), or dynamic (changing), conditions of movement, shape and orientation.

Body composition

The percentage of body weight which is fat, muscle and bone.

Cardiovascular fitness

The ability to exercise the entire body for long periods of time.

Competence

The relationship between: skill, the selection and application of skills, tactics, strategies and compositional ideas; and the readiness of the body and mind to cope with the activity. It requires an understanding of how these combine to produce effective performances in different activities and contexts.

Coordination

The ability to use two or more body parts together.

Diuretics

Drugs that elevate the rate of bodily urine excretion.

Ectomorph

A somatotype, individuals with narrow shoulders and narrow hips, characterised by thinness.

Endomorph

A somatotype, individuals with wide hips and narrow shoulders, characterised by fatness.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A type of peptide hormone that increases the red blood cell count.

FITT

Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type (used to increase the amount of work the body does, in order to achieve overload).

Flexibility

The range of movement possible at a joint.

Health

A state of complete mental, physical and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

Healthy, active lifestyle

A lifestyle that contributes positively to physical, mental and social wellbeing, and which includes regular exercise and physical activity.

Heart Rate

The number of times the heart beats each minute.

Individual differences/needs

Matching training to the requirements of an individual.

Isometric contractions

Muscle contraction which results in increased tension but the length does not alter, for example, when pressing against a stationary object.

Isotonic contractions

Muscle contraction that results in limb movement.

Mesomorph

A somatotype, individuals with wide shoulders and narrow hips, characterised by muscularity.

Methods of training

Interval training, continuous training, circuit training, weight training, Fartlek training, cross training

Muscular endurance

The ability to use voluntary muscles many times without getting tired.

Muscular strength

The amount of force a muscle can exert against a resistance.

Narcotic analgesics

Drugs that can be used to reduce the feeling of pain.

Obese

A term used to describe people who are very overweight.

Overfat

A way of saying you have more body fat than you should have.

Overload

Fitness can only be improved through training more than you normally do.

Overweight

Having weight in excess of normal (not harmful unless accompanied by overfatness).

Oxygen debt

The amount of oxygen consumed during recovery above that which would have ordinarily been consumed in the same time at rest (this results in a shortfall in the oxygen available).

PAR Q

Physical activity readiness questionnaire.

Performance

How well a task is completed.

Physical activity

Any form of exercise or movement; physical activity may be planned and structured or unplanned and unstructured (in PE we are concerned with planned and structured physical activity, such as a fitness class).

Reaction time

The time between the presentation of a stimulus and the onset of a movement.

Health-related exercise

Exercise which is undertaken primarily to improve health and fitness for life

Socio-economic status

May be based on a person's income, education and occupation

Fitness

The ability to meet the demands of the environment

Skill-related fitness

Exercise which may be undertaken primarily to improve sporting ability

Power

The ability to do strength performances quickly. Power = strength x speed

Speed

The differential rate at which an idividual is able to perform a movement or cover a distance in a period of time

PAR-Q

Physical activity readiness questionnaire

Cooper's run test

A test of cardiovascular fitness

Specificity

Matching training to the requirement of an activity

Progressive overload

To gradually increase the amount of overload so that fitness gains occur, but without potential for injury

Recovery

The time required for the repair of damage to the body cauased by training or competition

Rest

The period of time allotted to recovery

Reversibility

Any adaption that takes place as a consequence of training will be reversed when you stop training

SMART

Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound

Cross training

Using more than one training method

Fartlek training

This type of training allows an athlete to run at varying speeds, over unmeasured distances, on different terrain

Circuit training

Aset of 6 to 10 exercises performed at stations in an organised pattern

Resistance training

Training that uses a resistance or force against which specific muscle groups must work

Aerobic

If exercise in not too fast and is steady, the heart can supply all the oxygen muscles need

Somatotypes

Classification of body type

Underweight

Weighing less than is normal, healthy or required

Anorexic`

Pertaining to anorexia - A prolonged eating disorder due to loss of appetite

Beta blockers

Drugs that are used to control heart rate and that have a calming and relaxing effect

Erythropoientin

A type of peptide hormone that increases the red blood cell count

Peptide hormones

Drugs that cause the production of other hormones

Stimulants

Drug that have an effect on the central nervous system, such as increased mental and/or physical alertness

Heart rate

The number of times the heart beats each minute

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the heart as it pumps blood out of the heart and into the arties and it is low when it relaxes between beats

Cardiac output

The amount of blood ejected from the heart in one minute

Stroke volume

The volume of blood pumped out of the heart by each ventricle during one contraction

Isometric contraction

Muscle Contraction which results in increased tension but the length does not alter, for example, when pressing against a stationary object

Isotonic contraction

Muscle contraction that results in limb movement

Aesthetic appreciation

To be able to see the beauty in a performance

Balanced diet

A diet which contains an optimal ratio of nutrients.

Cholestrol

Cholesterol is a blood fat which the body needs in moderate amounts

Hypokinetic disease

A disease related to too little activity

Hypertrophy

Scientific term for an increase in the size of muscle

Individual differences

Matching training to the requirements of an individual

Joint

A place where two or more bones meet

Ligaments

A tissue that joins bone to bone

Tendons

A tissue that joins muscles to bone

Muscle groups

Muscles may be arranged in groups according to location or function

PEP

Personal exercise programme

PESSCL

PE and school sport club links

Rehabilitation

Restoring to its normal functioning state

RICE

Rest, ice, compression, elevation

Role models

A person you can aspire to, to make you into a better person. Often have qualities that we would like to have

Self-esteem

Respect for, or a favourable opinion of, oneself

Target zone

The range within which an individual needs to work for aerobic training to take place. 60-80%

Training

A well-planned programme which uses scientific principles to improve performance

Training thresholds

The boundaries of the target zone

Aerobic work

Working at a moderate intensity so that the body has time to utilise oxygen for energy production, allowing the body to work for a continuous period, e.g. long-distance events, for the duration of a match

Anaerobic work

Working at a high intensity without oxygen for energy production, therefore limited energy so work period will be short, e.g. sprinting up the wing in a football match

Antagonistic muscle pairs

Pairs of muscles that work together to bring about movement. As one muscle contracts (agonist) the other relaxes (antagonist).

For example, the biceps and triceps. The triceps relax to allow the biceps to contract to flex the arm at the elbow. Roles are reversed to extend the arm at the elbow

Axis

A line around which the body/a body part can turn

Basic skill

A simple skill requiring little concentration to execute

Closed skill

A skill performed in a predictable environment, e.g. a player taking a penalty

Complex skill

A skill requiring a lot of attention/concentration

Deviance

Behaviour that goes against the moral values or laws of the sport

Distributed practice

Intervals between skill practice in a training session for rest or mental rehearsal

Exercise

A form of physical activity done to maintain or improve health and/or fitness; not the same as competitive sport

Energy balance

This is the basis of weight control. For body weight to remain constant energy input (via food) must equal energy expenditure

Feedback

Information received during or after a performance about the performance

Fixed practice

Repeatedly practising a whole skill within a training session

Frontal axis

Imaginary line passing horizontally through the body from left to right, allows flexion and extension