Sport and Society: Role of Technology in Physical Activity and Sport

Question 1

Key characteristics of physical recreation:

Answer 1

. Free time that can be spent actively or passively
. Fun, enjoyable, informed, winning not important, flexible rules

Question 2

Functions of physical recreation to the individual:

Answer 2

. Develop self confidence
. Stress reduction occurs
. Develop skills
. Social skills improve
. Enjoyment is gained

Question 3

Functions of physical recreation to society:

Answer 3

. Increase in health and fitness leading to less strain on NHS
. More individuals from different social communities interact leading to social integration
. Economic benefits when people use facilities or buy equipment

Question 4

Key characteristics of sport:

Answer 4

. During leisure time
. More serious/competitive
. Highly structured - set rules
. Specialist equipment
. Strategies and tactics
. High skill levels

Question 5

Functions of sport to the individual:

Answer 5

. Develop self confidence
. Stress reduction occurs
. Develop skills
. Social skills improve
. Enjoyment is gained

Question 6

Functions of sport to society:

Answer 6

. Increase in health and fitness leading to less strain on NHS
. More individuals from different social communities interact leading to social integration
. Economic benefits when people use facilities or buy equipment

Question 7

Key characteristics of physical education:

Answer 7

. Compulsory
. Formally taught lessons
. 4 key stages as part of National Curriculum from ages 5-16
. Begins at primary school ‘foundation level’
. Teachers in charge and deliver lessons
. Lessons are pre-planned; highly structured
. During school time

Question 8

Functions of physical education to the individual:

Answer 8

. Development of health and fitness, positive attitudes, healthy lifestyles
. Provides opportunities for increased participation in a variety of activities
. Developing and improving a range of physical skills and competencies
. Development of social skills
. Develop problem solving skills
. Develop self analysis skills

Question 9

Functions of physical education to society:

Answer 9

. Increase in health and fitness leading to less strain on NHS
. More individuals from different social communities interact leading to social integration (different sport cultures)
. Economic benefits when people use facilities or buy equipment
. Recreation and hobbies which keeps people out of trouble

Question 10

What is outdoor education?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What does LEADS stand for?

Answer 11

. Leadership skills
. Excitement/adrenaline rush
. Appreciation of natural environment
. Decision making
. Social skills/ self esteem

Question 12

What are the objectives of outdoor and adventure activities?

Answer 12

. Awareness of safety perceived risk
. Knowledge of respect for natural environment
. Self discovery/ self esteem
. Leadership skills
. Social/communication skills
. Teamwork

Question 13

What personal factors are required to be an elite performer?

Answer 13

. Resilience
. Confidence
. Motivation
. Communication
. Commitment
. Determination
. High level of fitness
. High skill level
. Goal orientated
. Ability to accept constructive criticism

Question 14

What social and cultural factors can influence progression, especially in early development?

Answer 14

. Support and encouragement from friends
. Emotional support from family
. Financial support from family
. Equal opportunities
. Role models
. Acceptance of the sport/role in society
. Equality and anti-discriminatory practices
. Local clubs available
. Access to competition
. Socio-economic status

Question 15

What is UK Sport’s goal?

Answer 15

To develop high performance sport in the UK

Question 16

What is UK sport responsible for?

Answer 16

. Distribute national lottery and exchequer funding - to organisations and NGB’s to maximise performance in Olympic and Paralympic games
. World Class Programme - funding Olympic and Paralympic medal potential
. Athlete Personal Award - direct funding to athletes to remove barriers to performance such as to cover costs of training, accommodation and transport
. Distribute funding to national institutes of sport - eg. the English Institute of Sport (EIS) received a 59.7 million pound grant over 4 years leading to the Rio games
. Personal LIfestyle Advice - mentors and supports athletes on lifestyle choices
. World Class Standards - promoting highest sporting ethics and anti-doping

Question 17

How does the National Institute of Sport help develop elite performers?

Answer 17

. Responsible for delivering high class support services - training facilities, medical and nutritional advice, biomechanical, scientific and technological advice
. There are 4 UK sports institutes: - English Institute of Sport, Scottish Institute of Sport, Sports Institute of Northern Ireland and the Welsh Institute for Sport
. All are supported by UK Sport and aim to help elite athletes win medals on the world stage

Question 18

What is the English Institute of Sport?

Answer 18

. ‘The team behind the team’ - Vision: to be the leading provider of performance impacting sports science and medicine in the world
. Owned wholly by UK Sport
. Nationwide network of world class support services aimed at developing the talents of elite athletes
. Offers services to NGB’s in return for payment (6.1 million in 2012)
. EIS practitioners gave nearly 1 million hours to over 1,100 athletes on the road to Rio

Question 19

What is the world class programme?

Answer 19

. Operated by the EIS - ‘winning more Olympic and Paralympic medals through Performance Lifestyle Support
. Manages a talent identification and development programme through partnership between a dedicated Performance Solutions team, NGB’s and UK Sport
. The identifying and developing talent involves 4 phases: Phase 1 (Talent ID), Phase 2/3 (Talent Suitability), Phase 4 (Talent Confirmation and Olympic/Paralympic development)

Question 20

What is Talent Identification?

Answer 20

The testing of physiological and psychological parameters that help determine the likelihood of sporting success

Question 21

How is Talent Identification done?

Answer 21

. Physiological - fitness testing
. Anthropometry - physical characteristics
. Psychological - questionnaires and interviews
. Hereditary factors
. Social factors
. Performance potential

Question 22

Talent ID examples:

Answer 22

. Discover your talent
. Power2Podium

Question 23

What role do organisations such as the English Institute of Sport play in the development of elite performers? 4 marks

Answer 23

. Provides a network of centres for elite performer development
. Free of charge to performers/elite performers/financial support/training grants
. Nationally organised
. Regionally/locally delivered
. General facilities for sports science/sports medicine/nutrition
. Fitness training facilities
. Access to coaching advice
. Athlete career education
. Each facility specialises in particular sports
. Distributes funding
. Talent identification programmes

Question 24

How do NGB’s support the development of elite athletes?

Answer 24

. Ensure equality
. Increase opportunities and participation
. Promote positive role models
. Target under-represented groups
. Invest in facilities
. Identify talent through scouting systems
. Provide coaching awards and pathway
. Provide competition and tournaments
. Provide financial support to athletes
. Ensure a Whole Sport Plan is in place

Question 25

What is a Whole Sport Plan?

Answer 25

. 4 year plan
. How they intend to achieve their objectives
. How they nurture young talent
. Plans to increase participation
. The initiatives and how successfully they meet their sport plan determines the funding offer
. In 2006 Sport England invested £64,045,589

Question 26

What is the support for talent development?

Answer 26

. Coordinated approach between NGB’s, UK Sport, and National Institutes of Sport
. Screening and testing of most potential performers
. Athletes identified as having specific qualities can be directed into sports

Question 27

UK Sport campaigns:

Answer 27

. Girls4Gold
. Pitch2Podium
. Tall and Talented
. Fighting chance
. Paralympic Potential

Question 28

What are the problems with talent identification?

Answer 28

. Many focus on physiological data that will favour early developers
. Assess current performance that will favour those who have had early opportunities - miss late bloomers
. Limited physiological assessments
. Limited assessment of the ability to learn
. Testing/screening many athletes is expensive
. Does not guarantee success

Question 29

What is the World Class Performance Pathway?

Answer 29

. Directed by UK Sport and focused on success on the world stage
. The performance pathway offer expert coaching, leadership, support services and financial help
. There are distinct levels of support depending on how close the athlete is to winning medals:

• World Class Podium - next Olympics (max 4 yrs)
• World Class Podium Potential - 4-6yrs from medals
• Performance Foundations/Talent - Talent ID confirmation of performers who have the potential to progress to the next two levels

Question 30

What is the Gold Event Series?

Answer 30

UK Sport bid and host major national and international events to prepare athletes. Gold events series focuses on:
. Support for high performing British athletes
. Creating high profile sporting opportunities
. Providing economic opportunities for communities

UK Sport will invest 40 million £ to host major sporting events from 2013-23

Question 31

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of introducing structured talent identification programmes to support the development of elite performers? 5 marks

Answer 31

ADV:
. All potential performers will be screened
. Athletes directed to suitable sports
. Athletes with potential highlighted
. Can produce medallists on world stage
. Coordination between organisations

DISADV:
. May miss late developers
. Expensive
. Large number need to be tested
. Does not guarantee success
. Limited psychological testing
. Limited testing of potential to learn

Question 32

Explain how UK Sport attempts to fulfil its aim of developing world class performers? 3 marks

Answer 32

. Cooperation with NGB’s, National Institutes of Sport
. Provide centres of excellence/UKSI/English Institute of Sport
. World Class Performance Pathway
. World Class Podium/World Class Performance - support realistic medal prospects
. World Class development/potential - supports talent performers of the future just below medal prospects

Question 33

What is an amateur?

Answer 33

. Someone who participates in sport for the love of it and not for financial gain
. It links to the concept of athleticism involving moral integrity and trying your best

Question 34

What is gentleman amateur?

Answer 34

. Developed in the 19th century
. By ‘gentleman’ of the upper and later middle class - they had enough wealth not to play for money
. They adhered not only to the rules but also a strict ethical code
. Sportsmanship featured heavily - it was better to lose honourably than to win by cheating
. Fair play and immediate acceptance of decisions and rules - encouraged socially accepted behaviours
. Participation in sport was more important than winning - it was character building
. Gentleman amateurs had high status (pros came from lower status) and were known as the ‘elite performers’
. Practicing/training was considered as bad as cheating - it meant you valued winning more than taking part
. Pros were thought to have an unfair advantage over those who participated as a hobby

Question 35

What are examples of fair play?

Answer 35

. Shaking hands after a game
. Clapping a batsman in/out in cricket
. Kicking a ball out of play in football to allow for treatment of an injured player
. Fair play awards are handed out