Linking Sport to Fitness (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))

Linking Sports & Physical Activity to the Required Components of Fitness

• Whilst fitness is influenced by interactions between the different components of fitness, a specific type of activity or sport will not necessarily require all of the components to support a strong performance

• Instead, different sports rely more on some components of fitness than others

• The specific components required for strong performance in a sport can be justified through consideration of the types of movement being carried out in that sport

  • For example, a football player will require agility because they need to change direction quickly whilst keeping good control of the ball in tackling, dribbling or goal-scoring

Justifying the need for certain fitness components

Reasons for & Limitations of Fitness Testing

• A fitness test is a standardised assessment used to measure specific aspects of physical fitness

• The tests are used to evaluate fitness levels and provide information about the health and physical abilities of the participant

Reasons to carry out fitness tests

• To identify the specific strengths or weaknesses of an individual's performance

  • This information could be used to inform training requirements or to guide future training plans

• If a training plan has been followed, a fitness test could be used to determine the success of a training programme

• Similarly, testing could be used frequently to monitor improvement over time

• Fitness testing is useful to measure the starting level of fitness for an individual at the start of any sporting process or training programme

• Analysis of current fitness proficiency could be compared against other sports people within the same category and can be used to inform or compare to national averages

• Knowledge of fitness strengths and weaknesses could motivate performers and help with identifying specific fitness targets for personal goal-setting

• Allocating time to carry out fitness tests within a training programme helps to provide variety to sustain enthusiasm in the participant

Limitations of fitness tests

• For fitness tests to be comparable, the tests are often not sport-specific, this may mean that the benefits to the sportsperson are restricted

  • It may also mean that the conclusions drawn about that individual's fitness are not wholly representative

• Fitness tests are generalised so they do not replicate movements of activity and do not always indicate an individual's proficiency in certain movements or sports

• Sports participation often involves unique conditions which cannot be replicated accurately in a fitness test

• If a fitness test is measuring a fitness component which is not a maximal reading, then it will affect the reliability

• Some readings may be affected by motivational factors: an individual's motivation may be influenced by the knowledge that they are completing a test

• To make valid measurements, fitness tests must be standardised and all follow the exact same procedure

  • Tests carried out without this in mind will not be comparable to averages for the same fitness component and this will affect the validity