6.1 - Concepts of physical activity and sport

Question 1

What is the sporting development continuum/pyramid?

Answer 1

Participation in various forms of physical activity at various stages of development. For example, grass roots ‘foundation stage’ in primary school PE or ‘participation stage’ involvement as an adult in physical recreation.

Question 2

What is the foundation level of sporting development?

Answer 2

The first introduction to physical activity/sport.

Question 3

What is the participation level of sporting development?

Answer 3

Emphasis on fun, socialising and developing friendships; participating in a recreational, relaxed manner.

Question 4

What is the performance level of sporting development?

Answer 4

There is commitment to regular involvement in sport where there is emphasis on winning.

Question 5

What are the levels of the sporting devlopment pyramid?

Answer 5

Foundation –> Participation –> Performance –> Elite.

Question 6

What is physcial recreation?

Answer 6

The active aspect of leisure.

Question 7

What is leisure time?

Answer 7

Free time which can be spent actively or passively.

Question 8

In what two ways can leisure time be spent?

Answer 8

Actively or passively.

Question 9

What is the emphasis on in physical recreation?

Answer 9

Participation and taking part not winning.

Question 10

What are characteristics?

Answer 10

Key features used to identify a particular concept.

Question 11

What is a continuum?

Answer 11

A scale representing gradual change.

Question 12

What is leisure?

Answer 12

Free time during which individuals can choose what to do.

Question 13

What is participation level (as in the continuum)?

Answer 13

An emphasis on taking part recreationally with enjoyment as a key motivator to participate.

Question 14

What are the key characteristics of physical recreation?

Answer 14

• Fun, enjoyable, non-serious and informal in nature so winning is not important and taking part is the main motive for participation.
• Physically energetic and involves effort.
• Participating is a matter of choice, it is voluntary and up to you whether you take part or not in the free time you have available.
• Tends to involve adults at the participation level of the sporting development continuum.
• Flexible in nature, you decide how long you take part for and the rules being followed can be adjusted by ppts as they wish.
• It is self-regulated/self-officiated.

Question 15

What are the functions of physical recreation for an individual?

Answer 15

• Improves health and fitness.
• Improves skill levels.
• Improves self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Can act as a stress relief and help one to relax and refresh.
• Help socialise, meet friends and make friends (social skills improve).
• Sense of fun and enjoyment.

Question 16

What are the functions of physical recreation for a society?

Answer 16

Increased health and fitness helps reduce the strain on the NHS and lower obesity rates.

If more individuals from different social communities join clubs and socially interact, it can help increase social integration and improve community cohesion.

This can lead to an increase in employment and economic benefits where more people buy equipment or use facilities to participate.

A more positive use of free time by individuals increases social control and decreases crime statistics.

If increased skill levels occur at the participation stage, this can lead to more individuals potentially progressing through to performance/elite levels.

Question 17

What are the key characteristics of sport?

Answer 17

• Highly structured and has set rules/strict rules (e.g. set time limits and set boundaries).
• Involves use of specialist equipment/set kit.
• Officials are present who are trained or appointed by NGB’s to enforce the rules.
• Strategies and tactics are involved to try to outwit opponents and win.
• Rewards are received as a result of success, which can be intrinsic (self-satisfaction) or extrinsic (medals/trophies etc).
• High skill levels/high prowess are visible in sporting performance.
• High levels of commitment and/or strict training are involved to maintain and improve fitness and skill levels.
• It is serious and competitive (i.e. winning is important).

Question 18

What are the functions of sport for an individual?

Answer 18

• Improve health and fitness and physical skill levels.
• Self-confidence increases as a result of improvement and success.
• Provides social opportunities.
• Help develop sporting morals and attitudes such as sportsmanship and fair play.

Question 19

What are the functions of sport for a society?

Answer 19

• Decreased strain on the NHS and reduced obesity levels.
• Reduced levels of crime and increased social control.
• Increased social integration and equality of opportunity resulting in increased participation in sport together by different socio-economic and ethnic groups.
• Economic benefits as people pay to take part or buy equipment/kit etc.
• Employment opportunities created as a result of sports participation e.g. sports coaches and officials etc.

Question 20

What are the similarities between sport and physical recreation?

Answer 20

They are both physical energetic, help improve health and fitness, self-confidence and self-esteem, they reduce crime rates and strain on the NHS as well as improving social integration.

Question 21

What are the differences between sport and physical recreation?

Answer 21

PR is available to all, is voluntary and is a choice whereas sport is more selective, an obligation or for some, an occupation.

PR has an emphasis on taking part and is participation focused whereas sport has an emphasis on winning and is more serious and competitive.

PR is limited requires varied levels effort and commitment whereas sport requires a high level of effort/commitment to train for a specific event/competition.

In PR rules can be modified whereas in sport, set rules apply.

PR is self-regulated/self-officiated whereas in sport, external officials enforce rules.

In PR the rewards are mainly intrinsic whereas in sport, extrinsic rewards are available for success.

In PR there are varied skill and fitness levels whereas in sport there are higher skill and fitness levels.

For PR basic equipment and clothing is used or worn whereas for sport, high tech equipment and clothing is used or worn.

Question 22

What are the key characteristics of PE?

Answer 22

• Compulsory.
• Involves formally taught lessons.
• Has four Key Stages as part of the National Curriculum from ages 5-16.
• Begins at primary school ‘foundation level’.
• Teachers are in charge and deliver lessons.
• Lessons are pre-planned; it is highly structured.
• In school time.

Question 23

What are the functions of PE?

Answer 23

• Health and fitness development.
• Positive attitudes.
• Healthy lifestyles continued into adulthood.
• Opportunities for increased participation in a variety of activities.
• Develops a range of physical, mental and social skills.
• Develops sporting ethics such as sportsmanship and fair play.
• Develops sel-festtem and self-confidence.
• Encourages lifelong participation.

Question 24

What is outdoor education (OAA)?

Answer 24

Activities which take place in the natural environment and utilise nature/geographical resources such as mountains, rivers, lakes, etc.

Question 25

What are the functions of OAA?

Answer 25

• Awareness of safety and perceived risk.
• Teamwork.
• Social and communication skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Self-esteem/self-confidence.
• Knowledge of/respect for natural environment.
• Physical and survival skills.
• Increased health and fitness.
• Increased cognitive skills and decision making.

Question 26

What is perceived risk?

Answer 26

A challenge that stimulate a sense of danger and adventure for beginners or inexperienced performers in a safe environment, with danger minimised via stringent safety measures (e.g. wearing a safety harness when climbing).

Question 27

What problems do PE departments within schools face in offering outdoor education as a curriculum entitlement to pupils?

Answer 27

Lack of time, money and qualified or motivated staff.

Question 28

What does the triangular model of PE involve?

Answer 28

Education, school sport, recreation.

Question 29

What is school sport?

Answer 29

Extra-curricular competitive opportunities.

Question 30

What are the key characteristics of school sport?

Answer 30

• Extra-curricular.
• Competitive and promoted by School Sport Patnerships and School Games.
• Schools sometimes use sports coaches.

Question 31

What are the benefits of school sport?

Answer 31

• Increased health and fitness.
• Increased skill levels.
• Increased self-esteem through increased skill levels.
• New social groups form and new friendships developed.
• Improved cognitive skills can result in improved decision-making capabilities.
• Improved academic achievement if pupils become more motivated to attend and achieve at school.

Question 32

What are School Sport Patnerships?

Answer 32

The creation of increased opportunities for school sport via junior/primary schools working together with secondary schools and furthereducation providers.

Question 33

What is School Games?

Answer 33

Initiative to increase participation in school sport from intra/inter-school level through to county and national levels.

Question 34

What are some similarities between physical recreation and sport?

Answer 34

Both involve physical activity, which helps increase health and fitness. They can be performed in a person’s free time as voluntary activities, with individuals gaining intrinsic benefits as a result of participating, sense of personal satisfaction as a result of achieving aims/goals.

Question 35

What are some differences between physical recreation and sport?

Answer 35

PR is available to all/voluntary/choice whereas sport is more selective/obligation/for some an occupation.

PR emphasis on taking part/participation focus but sport has an emphasis on winning/serious/competitive.

PR there is limited/varied effort/commitment required but sport involves a high level of effort/commitment e.g. to train for a specific event/competition.

PR the rules can be modified e.g. timings, numbers involved but in sport set rules apply.

PR is self-officiated/self-regulated but sport has external officials that enforce rules.

PR uses mainly intrinsic rewards but sport has extrinsic rewards available for success e.g. winning trophies/medals.

PR has varied skill/fitness levels but sport has higher skill/fitness levels.

PR uses basic equipment and clothing worn but sport has high tech equipment and clothing worn.

Question 36

What are some similarities between physical recreation and physical education?

Answer 36

Both develop physical skills and are energetic, so have health and fitness benefits. They can both be enjoyable and fun to participate in so have intrinsic benefits.

Question 37

What are some differences between physical recreation and physical education?

Answer 37

PR is voluntary/choice but PE is compulsory.

PR is in a person’s free time but PE is in school time.

PR is informal/relaxed but PE uses formal teaching and learning.

PR has the participants controlling the activity themselves; self-regulated but in PE the teacher is in charge.

PR is participation level but PE is foundation level at primary school level.

PR is simple/limited organisational structure but PE is highly structured.

Question 38

What are some similarities between physical education and school sport?

Answer 38

Both fun and enjoyable and physically energetic so have health and fitness benefits. Develop skill levels so have intrinsic benefits.

Question 39

What are some differences between physical education and school sport?

Answer 39

PE is in lesson time; curriculum time but SS is in free time; extra-curricular.

PE is compulsory but SS has an element of choice; voluntary involvement.

PE is for all but SS is for a chosen few; elitist.

PE has the emphasis on taking part but SS has an emphasis on winning; competitive.

PE is teacher led but SS has coaches involved.

PE has a wide variety of activities experienced but SS specialisms develop.