Exam Questions

Question 1

Explain why spin technique could allow the athlete to throw the shot further than from standing

Answer 1

Impulse = force x time, the greater the time in contact with the discus the greater the impulse.
An increase in impulse leads to greater velocity and a change in momentum and acceleration.
F=ma – Newton’s second law of motion. Increased contact time on the object etc.

Question 2

Explain the impact on performance of the physiological changes that occur as a result of a warm up.

Answer 2

Increased muscle temperature will improve elasticity of muscle fibres – increased range of movement / decrease chances of injury Increased heart rate / breathing rate – Efficiency of oxygen and delayed build-up of lactic acid
Increased nerve conduction velocity, quicker neural responses – faster contraction of muscles and increased reaction time Increased enzyme activity – more ATP for energy

Question 3

Explain the physiological effects of dehydration on performanc

Answer 3

Increase in heart rate and breathing rate.
• Oxygen being transported at a slower rate
through the blood vessels.
• Less glucose/glycogen and fatty acids
being transported to the muscles for
energy.
• Increased levels of lactic acid production.
• Blood becomes viscous

Question 4

Discuss, using examples, the impact of the media on the globalisation of sport

Answer 4

Sportsmanship- an intention to compete within the rules and intended spirit of the rules.
Link with moral integrity. Public school ethos of gentlemen sportsman subscribed that it was better to lose honourably than win by cheating.
Nash model of morality, scale + to -.
Gamesmanship, the intention to compete to the limit of the rules, to get away with as much as you can. Potential rewards can outweigh moral considerations.
Deviance
Coakley (2007) states most actions in sport are within a normal accepted range in society. Deviance occurs outside of this normal range of action.
Deviant behaviour refers to those who will find a way around the rules.
Deviant behaviour can be – Institutional, Group specific, Individual.
Deviant behaviour can be Voluntary, Co- operative, enforced.
Deviance under conformity consists of actions based on ignoring or rejecting norms. e.g. violence, drug use, financial fraud/bungs etc.
Deviance over conformity consists of actions based on accepting norms and being willing to follow them to extreme degree, e.g excessive training affecting family and health, playing through pain whilst injured, extreme loyalty/love for sport /team.
Pressure of Commercialisation of sport- sport becomes subject to market force of commerce. Sport has become a commodity. Golden triangle – media, sport and sponsor
2

Players and other individuals want share of profits.
Massive prize money. Sponsorship and advertising deals.
Influence of television revenues on Fair play, huge Sky /BT sport deals for televising rights.
Americanisation of sport. Rewards are so massive that it creates a ‘win at all cost mentality. Lombardian ethic.
Is there still a moral code in sport
Sportsmanship v Gamesmanship debate. Sportsmanship has been eroded and replaced by gamesmanship as individuals/teams/authorities seek to gain the vast rewards associated with success.
Models of morality.
Deviant (behaviour deviating from norm of society) even violence is becoming more prevalent.
Potential rewards outweigh consequences of being caught.
Everybody else cheats!!
Pressure by sponsors/coaches/managers/teammates.
Examples of deviant behaviour – violent play, drug taking, match fixing, bungs, bribery, sledging, diving in football, corruption (Fifa, IOC)
Poor role models.
However/ Counter argument –
Good role models
Sportsmanship is still important and still evident in modern sport.
Are sport authorities getting better at catching cheating. Has cheating in sport always existed.
Better drug test. WADA.

Greater coverage of deviance by media
Relevant sporting examples
Symbiotic relationship between sport, media and sponsorship
Impact of commercialization
Sport as a commodity / sport as a business. Concept of assets (such as players / clubs / stadia etc) that can be bought and sold.
Golden’ triangle – symbiotic relationship between sport, media and sponsorship.
Sponsorship in all its forms eg. replica kit market.
Financial fair play and irregularities. Influence of business and entrepreneurs.
The influence of market eg. supply and demand / those with most money have most influence. Effect on transfer fees.
Development of the ‘cult’ of the celebrity sport star – influence within and outside of sport. Impact of social media.
Power of the media and sponsors to shape sport e.g. rule changes, breaks in play for advertising ‘hits’, creation of new formats (e.g. Twenty20 Cricket).
Commercialisation of sport- sport becomes subject to market force of commerce.
Sport has become a commodity (bought and sold)
Rise in professionalism led to rise in commercialisation.
Players and other individuals want share of profits.
Entrepreneurs buying sport teams as business investment.
Huge increase in wages/fees. Transfer market. Massive prize money.
Sponsorship and advertising deals. Commodification of sports brands (Nike)

Importance of television revenues, huge Sky /BT sport deals for televising rights. Pay per view/ Sport channels.
Americanisation of sport.
Has sport become over commercialised? Rewards are so massive that it creates a ‘win at all cost mentality. Lombardian ethic.

Question 5

dentify the short-term responses that occur during exercise to the cardio- respiratory system

Answer 5

Increase in:
Heart rate
Cardiac Output
Stroke volume
(Starlings Law of the heart)
Tidal volume, breathing frequency minute ventilation
Sympathetic nervous system
decrease parasympathetic nervous system

Question 6

Evaluate, using specific examples, how you have developed and monitored your physical performance.

Answer 6

The candidate should be clear on what sport / activity they are developing
Components of fitness related to the activity Correct selection of fitness test for their components
Discussions of reliability and validity of tests Interpretation and comparison of results to normative data / personal data.
Selection of appropriate methods of training Use of principles of training to develop performance
Periodisation / training cycles for training Monitoring techniques – goal setting, comparison of results, training diary, heart rate monitors etc.

Question 7

Identify two factors that may cause an increase in aggressive acts.

Answer 7

Poor officiating
Temperature
Partisan crowd
Frustration aggression
Being substituted
Localrivalry

Answer 8

The ‘golden triangle’ refers to the interdependency between
• sport,
• sponsorship/ commercialisation/business • media.
Sport, sponsorship and the media can influence each other.

• here talk about golden triangle for the media

Question 9

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of such a centralised system of talent development.

Answer 9

Possible advantages:
• Creates a culture of excellence through healthy competition.

• Allows best scientific support and coaching expertise to be
pooled in one place and available for all.
• Reduces costs – economies of scale.
• Improved facilities/performance/coaching.
• Allows for greater acceleration and closer monitoring of
athletes.
• Success and therefore role models
• Standards
• Showcase country/ values

Possible disadvantages:
• May create unhealthy environment – culture of fear / elitism /
doping
• Expensive to establish.
• Long term health issues – over training
• Barrier to development

Question 10

Describe two short term responses that occur in the neuro-muscular system during the 100m race

Answer 10

Increased nerve transmissions Increased skeletal muscular contractions Reference to golgi tendons and muscle spindles
Vasodilatation

Question 11

Evaluate the influence of social media within sport.

Answer 11

Advantages of social media

• Provides up-to-the-second coverage of sports news and events and trends.

• Opportunity to communicate directly with audience (fans)

• New commercial opportunity for clubs/individuals/sponsors to reach a wider audience and promote their brand.
• Can be used by athletes to gain attention eg. moving clubs or securing scholarship deals.
• Greater interactions at live events with additional commercial activity such as seat upgrades and online purchases.
• increases in participation

Disadvantages of social media
• Overexposure of players’ private lives.

• Lapses in professionalism are available for all to see.

• Comments made on social media can have an adverse effect on a player’s career (and commercial value).

• Athletes can be stalked online (internet trolling).

• Sedentary
• Perceptions

Question 12

Analyse the role of the triceps brachii during both the downward and upward phase of this action

Answer 12

Award up to 2 marks for:
During the downward phase (flexion at the elbow), the tricep brachii is working eccentrically (muscle lengthening under tension) to control the movement.
Award up to 2 marks for:
During the upward phase (extension at the elbow), the tricep brachii is working concentrically (muscle length shortening under tension) as the agonist to produce the movement.

Question 13

Analyse how exercise intensity and duration and levels of fitness affect food fuel usage during physical activity.

Answer 13

Level of fitness
• Fitter individuals will take longer to reach their anaerobic threshold. PC stores can be conserved and these stores will be replenished at a much faster rate.
• Fitter individuals also have increased glycogen stores and so are able to carry out medium-high intensity activity for a longer period of time.
• Fitter individuals will be able to utilise more fats at lower intensity leaving greater stores of carbohydrates for when exercise intensity increases.
Exercise intensity
• The body will always use the most efficient source of fuel.
• For very high intensity activity (ATP/PC system), phosphocreatine (PC stores) are utilised to convert ADP into ATP.
• For medium-high intensity activity (where lactic acid system is used), the main fuel utilised is carbohydrate. Glycogen is broken down into glucose then pyruvic acid and then finally into lactic acid (lactate). This process creates energy.
• For low-medium intensity exercise (where the aerobic system is used), a mixture of carbohydrates and fats are utilised. Fats require 15% more oxygen to be metabolised than carbohydrates.
Duration of exercise
• For short exercise duration, the main food fuel utilised will be carbohydrates.
• For moderate duration exercise (up to 2hrs), carbohydrates and fats will be used equally.
• For prolonged exercise, the percentage of carbohydrate usage will decrease and percentage of fats used will increase. Links with the concept of glycogen depletion (hitting the wall).

Question 14

Describe the consequences of adopting a 4 sedentary lifestyle

Answer 14

Physical issues: positive energy balance, weight gain, obesity, hypertension, increased hypokinetic disorders e.g. osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, stroke

Psychological issues: poor body image, low self-confidence, increased stress

Social issues: isolation

Question 15

Describe the action of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart prior to and during exercise

Answer 15

 Increases heart rate
 releasing adrenaline
 Stimulation of the heart (SA nodes)
 Cardiac control centre (receptors)
 Increases the strength of ventricular contraction
 increased stroke volume.
 Increase Cardiac Output
 Causes an increase in sympathetic nerve impulses to the precapillary sphincters at the working muscles, causing them to vasodilate

Question 16

Outline two advantages of using field-based tests as opposed to laboratory tests when analysing the performance of athletes

Answer 16

Award 2 marks for any 2 of the following points:
 Relatively inexpensive when compared with laboratory
equipment.
 Does not require specialised setting - can be carried
out anywhere.
 Less expertise required to conduct the test.
 May be more relevant / applicable to particular sport -
may replicate the performance aspects more closely.
 Size of cohort able to administer to large cohort.

Question 17

Describe the benefits of athleticism promoted through the introduction of sport at public schoo

Answer 17

Physical benefits
 Sport as a cathartic experience - a break from work.
 Sort as an agent of social control - channeling of excess
energies.
 Promotion of physical health - value of exercise.
 Importance of competition.
 Other physical benefits.
Social benefits
 Obedience and loyalty - following the leader and respecting authority/abiding by the rules.
 Moral integrity and fair play.
 Social cohesion - working in collaboration with others
and valuing friendship/camaraderie/brotherhood.
 Magnanimity in victory and dignity in defeat.
 Other social benefits.

Question 18

Possible reasons for fall in participation for disadvantaged groups.

Answer 18

Less funding at a local authority level for sport leading to less provision e.g. closing of many local swimming pools/community facilities.

 Lack of funding for school sport (apart from the PE and Sport Premium for primary schools) may lead to more young people dropping out of sport at
an early age or access being limited.

 Participation rates vary across sports e.g. cycling has seen a significant increase whilst the popularity of swimming has fallen away.

 Focus on medal success at Olympic and Paralympic Games (‘no compromise’ approach) has led to funding been diverted into elite sport and away from grassroots initiatives.

 Increased cost of accessing sport in time of austerity.

Question 19

Using a sport of your choice, discuss the different strategies that an athlete would employ immediately following and then in the first few days after a major competition.

Answer 19

Immediately following competition:
 Importance of nutrition: high/medium glycaemic index meal within thirty minutes post-exercise; use of supplementation e.g. protein for muscle growth and repair; hydration e.g. requirement replace 1l for every kg of body weight lost. Link with EPOC.
 Importance of an active cool down - prevent blood pooling, aid replenishment of PC stores and removal of lactic acid. Allow body temperature to reduce at a gradual rate.
 Use of recovery methods e.g. ice baths, compression clothing, and massage.
Days after competition:
 Performance analysis: use of video/notational data and to analyse performance and identify areas for improvement to be built into subsequent training regimes.
 Use of biomechanics to analyse performance.
 Goal-setting: use of SMARTER approach / medium and
long-term goals / performance, outcome and process
goals..
 Motivation: intrinsic, extrinsic and achievement
motivation.

Question 20

Health

Answer 20

A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing in the absence of disease or illness

Question 21

Fitness

Answer 21

The ability to cope with the demands of your environmenr

Question 22

Exercise

Answer 22

An activity that requires physical or mental exertion
And is performed to maintain or improve fitness levels

Question 23

Sedentary

Answer 23

Sitting down or being physically inactive for long periods of time

Question 24

Physiological benefits of exercise

Answer 24

Continuous/HIIT Training
• Improves an individual’s levels of cardiovascular endurance
• This reduces the risk the of obesity
• Therefore, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease
PNF
• Leads to improvements in an individual’s flexibility
• Which leads to improved posture and body shape
• Therefore, reducing the risk of arthritis
Weight Training
• Leads to improved levels on strength in an individual
• Leads to increased bone density
• Therefore, reduces the risk of osteoporosis

Question 25

Mental/psychological benefits of exercise

Answer 25

• Exercise allows the release of endorphins, which improves an individual’s mood state
• Exercise can be used to release stress (catharsis)
• Exercise allows a performer to focus more clearly on a task

Question 26

Social benefits of exercise

Answer 26

• There are many social benefits to exercise such as:
• Allows individuals to make new friends
• Healthy individuals are less like to require medical care, reducing the
strain on the NHS.
• Healthy individuals are more likely to spend their leisure time
effectively e.g. joining a sports club. This reduces the strain on the
police and reduces the likelihood of crime.
• Healthy individuals make other productive lifestyle choices e.g. not
smoking
• Healthy individuals are less likely to require time off work, which
improves productivity and benefits the economy

Question 27

Individual lifestyle choices could have a positive or negative impact on long-term health. Discuss this statement

Answer 27

Exercise

 Exercise can help burn off many of the calories that have been consumed in a meal.

 Reducing cholesterol
 This can help achieve a negative energy balance if an individual is attempting to
lose weight.
 Maintain the elasticity of arteries and arterioles therefore reducing the risk of
hypertension of heart attack/stroke
 Raise the basal metabolic rate
 Increasing the efficiency of the respiratory system
 Counteracts the deterioration of bones and joints
 Other adaptations of heart, lungs, muscles etc Balanced Diet
 Controlling calorie intake
 Energy balance, constituents, linked to vitamins/minerals health etc
 Understanding the importance of reducing fats and the problems associated with
a high fat diet.
 Problem of saturated fats and trans fats linked to cholesterol and very high in
calories
The essay should predominantly focus of nutrition and exercise although if smoking, alcohol, drugs, or stress (over eating/anorexia) and explicitly linked to obesity or other diseases then max 2 marks can be awarded.

Question 28

Short term sensory store

Answer 28

Holds an unlimited amount of info for one second
Recieves stimuli from the environment through sensory receptors
Blocks our irrelevant info and sends relevant info to the short term memory
E.g blocking our crowd noise and focusing on the ball
Known as selective attention
Supports dcr process