3.1.1 – Range of activities and the
roles of the active participant
Learning objectives
To understand the 6 different categories of physical activity.
To understand the different roles available in physical activity.
To describe individual differences in performance.
To understand body somatotyping and its relevance to sporting
activities.
To understand the physical and mental demands of exercise.
Range of activities
Having a good knowledge and understanding of the
different physical activities an individual could do enables
you to:
• Make informed choices about your involvement
• Make decisions about what sports best suit you
• Understand the roles you can play within physical
activity.
Range of activities
For physical activity to benefit the performer it must be:
• Appropriate
• Safe
• Enjoyable
This will benefit the well being of a person physically,
mentally and socially.
Range of activities
Task: Discuss with your partner the benefits of taking part in a
range of physical activities.
Widen your experiences
Allows you
succeed at
something you
are good at.
Teaches discipline
Develop group and
people skills
Benefit of taking
part in a range of
physical activities?
Train you body in
various ways
Experience different pressures
Benefits from different activities
Task: What does each of the following activity areas involve
and what skills would a performer gain from being involved
in them?
1. Games activities
2. Gymnastics activities
3. Dance activities
4. Health and Fitness activities
5. Outdoor adventurous activities
6. Athletics activities
Benefits from different activities
1. Games activities:
Develops the skills of outwitting an opponent in a
competitive situation. Invasion of opponents area is the aim of
the game. Involves teamwork and success is measured by
score line.
Benefits from different activities
2. Gymnastics activities:
These activities requires the accurate replication of skills
and movements. This is usually demonstrated through a
routine which is practiced and rehearsed.
Benefits from different activities
3. Dance activities:
This involves communication and exploration of concepts.
Success is measured by choreography, originality and ability
to communicate emotions.
Benefits from different activities
4. Health and fitness activities:
These activities require the performer to exercise safely to
improve the health and well being of an individual. Success
is measured by feelings or bodily shape improvements.
Benefits from different activities
5. Life Saving, Outdoor and Adventurous activities:
These activities require skills of cooperation and
communication amongst a small team.
Problem solving and overcoming group challenges are
typical to this type of activity.
Benefits from different activities
6. Athletics activities:
These activities require a performer to perform at maximum
levels in relation to speed, height or distance. Success is
measured by time or distance and can be a personal best or a
competition record.
Roles in physical activity
There are many opportunities to become involved in sport
and a number of different roles. These include:
Player/Performer
Leader/Coach
Official
Organiser
Choreographer
Player/Performer
School lesson provide teaching of the fundamental skills
involved in sport. Clubs can provide training and is a
avenue for competitions and tournaments.
Regional and
local
representation
status can be
achieved
through clubs.
Player/Performer:
Finally elite level sports people can go on to be selected for
international duty.
TASK: Research a sports governing body and how to
progress to elite level.
Coach
This individual has an important influence on individuals or
groups towards achieving a set goals, or behaviour in
sport.
They are
responsible for
preparing a
performer in skill
acquisition,
correct technique,
correct physical
state or even the
correct mental
state.
What does better coaching mean for performers?
Higher level of coaching and expertise from grass
roots to elite level sport
Official
This is someone who controls the activity; interprets the
rules, laws or regulations of the activity including checking
the equipment.
TASK: What would you have to do to become a football
referee? (Courses etc..)
Organiser
These individual’s will ensure events run
smoothly in order to maximise promotion,
participation and high quality performance.
An organiser will oversee an event from start to finish.
They are responsible for everything from the timings of
the event to equipment and spectator provisions.
i.e. The British Olympic
Committee and the London
2012 Olympics
Organiser
TASK: Research the BOC and investigate the planning
that has gone into the 2012 Olympics.
Choreographer
This is the designer or arranger of a staged show or
performance.
i.e. ballet or dance performance.
Individual Differences
Individual differences are factors that influence their
performance and level of participation. This include age,
disability, gender, physique, risks, activity levels, training and
the environment.
Age:
Age can put limits on what sport an individual may take up.
Depending on the size of the club they may have a team at
each age group.
e.g. Under 13’s Netball team.
OR
International gymnastics competitions can only be entered
by performer over the age of 16.
Age
The ageing process can take effect an individuals ability to
perform certain movements. Balancing competition out
ensures fairness and safety.
Many older people see the need to stay active to maintain
their health.
Young people have a wide
variety of opportunity to
access sports clubs and
teams (Under 10’s, U12’s).
Schools encourage mass
participation during PE
lesson and extend to after
school clubs
Disability
A disability can be physical or mental and either temporary or
permanent. Sport is encouraged to all regardless of disability.
They often compete against similar groups or can be mixed
with able-bodied.
Most facilities cater
for disabled access.
Gender
Males and females are both encouraged to take part in
sport. Generally both sexes compete against the same
gender to ensure fairness.
Mixed doubles tennis/badminton and show jumping are
the only exceptions.
Although most sports are available to both
sexes they compete separately. Why?
Safety reasons due to size and strength differences and to
ensure fair play.
Tennis has 2 governing
bodies for each gender.
Gender
Women also enjoy the competitive side of sport and
increasing numbers join a gym due to social reasons (i.e. to
go with a friend)
Sports such as netball, tennis and dance clubs tend to be
more popular with women due to there non-contact nature.
Gender – Hormone/Metabolism differences
Men and women have hormone differences which affects
participation.
Hormone changes in women affects the way the female body
metabolises carbohydrates and fats.
Male bodies contain
higher levels of
testosterone. This affects
levels of aggression and
competitiveness.
During puberty boys
become stronger and
develop muscles.
Physique/Body Type
There are many differences in an individuals shape and
size. The following factors may influence someone’s body
shape:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Height
Weight
Body Fat
Muscle Size (Girth)
Bone Size
Physique and sport choice
Depending on an individuals physique they may be suited
to certain sports or play a particular position in a game.
Demands of the sport:
- Weight
requirements
- Strength through
training.
- Height advantages.
- Muscle size with
bulk
Somatotypes
Somatotyping is a method of determining an individuals
body shape
Body shape is determined genetically (born with it). It can
be improved but not dramatically changed
Somatotypes
1. ENDOMORPH (Fat)
Wide hips and Narrow shoulders
Shot putters, sumo wrestlers.
2. MESOMORPH (Muscular)
Narrow hips and broad shoulders
Tennis, rugby, sprinters & swimmers
3. ECTOMORPH (Thin)
Narrow hips and shoulders
High jumper, marathon runner
Somatotypes
What somatotype is most suitable for these sports?
Somatotypes
Somatotype is important, it may mean that you are better
suited to one sport more than another.
Many people are a normal shape – not an extreme body type.
You can be a mixture of body types.
Environment
The environment can affect an athletes performance. These
includes factors such as climate, terrain and altitude.
Can you think of more environment factors?
Weather
Terrain
Humidity
Pollution
Environmental
factors
Altitude
Heat/Temperature
Access to facilities
The provision of outdoor and indoor facilities depends on
many factors. Some facilities for sport are not financially
or practically possible to have.
The government allocate money to local authorities and
lottery money provides additional income to spend on
sporting facilities.
Transport:
Where the facilities for an
activity are good there is
generally more
participants. Good
transport links mean
people can access the club
easily.
Location
Naturally the location of activities are important. Outdoor
pursuits centres are common in Wales where there is a big
outdoor space. i.e. National park.
Indoor climbing centre are popular in cities as it is
inexpensive compared to a real climbing trip.
Risk and challenge
Each sporting environment has different risks that need to
be managed. Assessing and controlling the risk to
performers is vital.
TASK: 2 minutes. Discuss the factors to consider and
report back to the group.
Compete
in the
correct
weight,
age or
skill
category.
Leaders
should be
trained to
deal with
problems.
Take first
aid kit and
appropriate
clothing
Equipment
should be
checked.
Activity levels
Different activities will have different effects and place
differing demands on the body.
What factors will
affect performer’s
activity levels?
Motivation levels
Experience
Willingness to train hard
Confidence
Determination or
attitude
Time to recover
Training
Training and the time spend improve ability or skill level will
affect an individuals performance.
- Professionals train daily as that is their job.
- Amateurs fit training in around their full-time employment.
Amateur athletes often receive
funding streams from
agencies such as The
National Lottery.
The demands of performance
The demands of performance have both a mental and
physical effect on the body.
Boredom/tedium
Feedback/criticism
Motivation/arousal
Personality/emotions
Tension/anxiety
Aggression
TASK: 5 minutes. Discuss how these factors would
affect a tennis player. Are they positive or negative?
The demands of performance
Fatigue/Stress:
When fatigue and stress occur this will effect the skill level
of the performer. Stressors may be in the form of the
following factors:
• Personality/emotions
• Tension/anxiety
• Aggression
• Motivation/arousal
• Boredom/tedium
• Feedback/criticism.
The demands of performance
The personality of a performer will affect how a performer
copes with the level of stress felt during activity. Introverts
and extroverts with react in very different ways.
Extroverts will often
shout and be loud
and deal with
pressure openly.
Introverts perfer to
remain quite and
deal with the
pressure inside.
The demands of performance
Pressure/stress – Playing in front of a crowd either as an
individual, with a partner or as part of a team can be hugely
stressful.
Stress can also be felt
when performing
against different
qualities of opposition
and at varying levels of
competition.
Elite athletes can
often deal with
pressure better than
novices.
Summary Questions:
Can you answer the following questions?
Success Criteria:
All pupils should be able to answer a minimum of 2
questions.
Most pupils should be able to answer 3-4 questions.
Some pupils should be able to answer all the questions.
Summary Questions:
Name the 6 categories of activities available to a performer
and the type of skills they encourage.
What roles are there in sport an individual could undertake?
Summarise the individual differences that impact on
participation in sport?
Describe the 3 different body somatotypes?
What environmental factors could affect a performer?
Name some fatigue/stress demands of performance on an
individual.