Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport

    AQA
    A-Level

    This topic investigates the physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural variables that influence sporting success. It covers the critical role of diet, nutrition, and hydration in energy production and recovery, alongside the ethical and biological impacts of performance-enhancing drugs. Additionally, it explores sports psychology concepts including arousal, anxiety, aggression, and motivation, examining how mental preparation techniques can be deployed to maximize performance.

    15
    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
    6
    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Diet and nutrition: Function of food classes; dietary supplements.
    • Preparation and training methods: Warm-up and cool down; principles of training; training methods (HIIT, Continuous, Fartlek, Circuit, Weight, PNF).
    • Injury prevention and rehabilitation: Types of injury; prevention, rehabilitation, and recovery methods.
    • Biomechanical principles: Newton’s laws of linear motion; scalars; centre of mass; stability.
    • Levers: Three classes of lever; mechanical advantage/disadvantage.
    • Linear motion: Forces; vectors and scalars; impulse and momentum.
    • Angular motion: Application of Newton’s laws; conservation of angular momentum.
    • Projectile motion: Factors affecting horizontal displacement and flight paths; parabolic flight.
    • Fluid mechanics: Drag and lift; Bernoulli principle.
    • Individual factors: Personality, attitudes, arousal, anxiety, aggression, motivation, achievement motivation theory, social facilitation.
    • Group dynamics: Group formation, cohesion, Steiner’s model, Ringelmann effect, social loafing.
    • Goal setting, Attribution theory, Self-efficacy and confidence, Leadership, Stress management.
    • Concepts of physical activity and sport; development of elite performers.
    • Ethics, violence, and drugs in sport; sport and the law.
    • Impact of commercialisation; role of technology for sports analytics and equipment/facilities.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

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