GCSE PE Theory - Key Terms

The ability to change the position of the body quickly and to control the movement of the whole body

Drugs that mimic the male sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscle growth.

'Without oxygen'. If exercise is done in short, fast bursts, the heart cannot supply blood and oxygen to muscles as fast as the cells use them.

The ability to retain the body's centre of mass (gravity) above the base of support with reference to static (stationary), or dynamic (changing), conditions of movement, shape and orientation.

The percentage of body weight which is fat, muscle and bone.

The ability to exercise the entire body for long periods of time.

The relationship between: skill, the selection and application of skills, tactics, strategies and compositional ideas; and the readiness of the body and mind to cope with the activity. It requires an understanding of how these combine to produce effective performances in different activities and contexts.

The ability to use two or more body parts together.

Drugs that elevate the rate of bodily urine excretion.

A somatotype, individuals with narrow shoulders and narrow hips, characterised by thinness.

A somatotype, individuals with wide hips and narrow shoulders, characterised by fatness.

A type of peptide hormone that increases the red blood cell count.

Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type (used to increase the amount of work the body does, in order to achieve overload).

The range of movement possible at a joint.

A state of complete mental, physical and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

A lifestyle that contributes positively to physical, mental and social wellbeing, and which includes regular exercise and physical activity.

The number of times the heart beats each minute.

Matching training to the requirements of an individual.

Muscle contraction which results in increased tension but the length does not alter, for example, when pressing against a stationary object.

Muscle contraction that results in limb movement.

A somatotype, individuals with wide shoulders and narrow hips, characterised by muscularity.

Interval training, continuous training, circuit training, weight training, Fartlek training, cross training

The ability to use voluntary muscles many times without getting tired.

The amount of force a muscle can exert against a resistance.

Drugs that can be used to reduce the feeling of pain.

A term used to describe people who are very overweight.

A way of saying you have more body fat than you should have.

Fitness can only be improved through training more than you normally do.

Having weight in excess of normal (not harmful unless accompanied by overfatness).

The amount of oxygen consumed during recovery above that which would have ordinarily been consumed in the same time at rest (this results in a shortfall in the oxygen available).

Physical activity readiness questionnaire.

How well a task is completed.

Any form of exercise or movement; physical activity may be planned and structured or unplanned and unstructured (in PE we are concerned with planned and structured physical activity, such as a fitness class).

The time between the presentation of a stimulus and the onset of a movement.

Exercise which is undertaken primarily to improve health and fitness for life

May be based on a person's income, education and occupation

The ability to meet the demands of the environment

Exercise which may be undertaken primarily to improve sporting ability

The ability to do strength performances quickly. Power = strength x speed

The differential rate at which an idividual is able to perform a movement or cover a distance in a period of time

Physical activity readiness questionnaire

A test of cardiovascular fitness

Matching training to the requirement of an activity

To gradually increase the amount of overload so that fitness gains occur, but without potential for injury

The time required for the repair of damage to the body cauased by training or competition

The period of time allotted to recovery

Any adaption that takes place as a consequence of training will be reversed when you stop training

Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound

Using more than one training method

This type of training allows an athlete to run at varying speeds, over unmeasured distances, on different terrain

Aset of 6 to 10 exercises performed at stations in an organised pattern

Training that uses a resistance or force against which specific muscle groups must work

If exercise in not too fast and is steady, the heart can supply all the oxygen muscles need

Classification of body type

Weighing less than is normal, healthy or required

Pertaining to anorexia - A prolonged eating disorder due to loss of appetite

Drugs that are used to control heart rate and that have a calming and relaxing effect

A type of peptide hormone that increases the red blood cell count

Drugs that cause the production of other hormones

Drug that have an effect on the central nervous system, such as increased mental and/or physical alertness

The number of times the heart beats each minute

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the heart as it pumps blood out of the heart and into the arties and it is low when it relaxes between beats

The amount of blood ejected from the heart in one minute

The volume of blood pumped out of the heart by each ventricle during one contraction

Muscle Contraction which results in increased tension but the length does not alter, for example, when pressing against a stationary object

Muscle contraction that results in limb movement

To be able to see the beauty in a performance

A diet which contains an optimal ratio of nutrients.

Cholesterol is a blood fat which the body needs in moderate amounts

A disease related to too little activity

Scientific term for an increase in the size of muscle

Matching training to the requirements of an individual

A place where two or more bones meet

A tissue that joins bone to bone

A tissue that joins muscles to bone

Muscles may be arranged in groups according to location or function

Personal exercise programme

PE and school sport club links

Restoring to its normal functioning state

Rest, ice, compression, elevation

A person you can aspire to, to make you into a better person. Often have qualities that we would like to have

Respect for, or a favourable opinion of, oneself

The range within which an individual needs to work for aerobic training to take place. 60-80%

A well-planned programme which uses scientific principles to improve performance

The boundaries of the target zone

Working at a moderate intensity so that the body has time to utilise oxygen for energy production, allowing the body to work for a continuous period, e.g. long-distance events, for the duration of a match

Working at a high intensity without oxygen for energy production, therefore limited energy so work period will be short, e.g. sprinting up the wing in a football match

Pairs of muscles that work together to bring about movement. As one muscle contracts (agonist) the other relaxes (antagonist).

A line around which the body/a body part can turn

A simple skill requiring little concentration to execute

A skill performed in a predictable environment, e.g. a player taking a penalty

A skill requiring a lot of attention/concentration

Behaviour that goes against the moral values or laws of the sport

Intervals between skill practice in a training session for rest or mental rehearsal

A form of physical activity done to maintain or improve health and/or fitness; not the same as competitive sport

This is the basis of weight control. For body weight to remain constant energy input (via food) must equal energy expenditure

Information received during or after a performance about the performance

Repeatedly practising a whole skill within a training session

Imaginary line passing horizontally through the body from left to right, allows flexion and extension