Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport

    AQA
    A-Level

    This topic investigates the sociological and psychological variables that influence engagement in physical activity across different demographics. It examines barriers and enablers related to user groups such as gender, age, ethnicity, disability, and socio-economic status. Students analyze the interrelationship between sport, media, and sponsorship (the Golden Triangle), and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies employed by National Governing Bodies and other agencies to increase participation and inclusivity.

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    Objectives
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    Pitfalls
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    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Cardio-respiratory system: Relationship between cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
    • Cardiovascular system: Impact of physical activity on health and fitness; hormonal, neural, and chemical regulation; transportation of oxygen; venous return; Starling’s law; cardiovascular drift.
    • Respiratory system: Lung volumes; gas exchange systems; neural and chemical regulation of pulmonary ventilation; impact of lifestyle choices.
    • Neuromuscular system: Characteristics of muscle fibre types (Slow twitch, Fast glycolytic, Fast oxidative glycolytic); nervous system; role of proprioceptors in PNF; recruitment of muscle fibres.
    • Musculo-skeletal system: Joint actions in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes; types of joint, articulating bones, agonists, and antagonists; types of muscle contraction.
    • Energy systems: Aerobic and anaerobic energy transfer; energy continuum; ATP generation; energy expenditure measurements (indirect calorimetry, lactate sampling, VO2 max test, RER); specialist training methods.
    • Skill continuums and transfer of skills.
    • Impact of skill classification on structure of practice.
    • Principles and theories of learning and performance (Cognitive, Behaviourism, Social Learning, Constructivism).
    • Use of guidance and feedback.
    • Memory models and information processing (Baddeley and Hitch, Whiting’s model, Reaction time, Schema theory).
    • Emergence of globalisation of sport in the 21st century (Pre-industrial, Industrial, Post-World War II).
    • Impact of sport on society and of society on sport (Sociological theory, equal opportunities, underrepresented groups).

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