§-Physical Education syllabus
WA · SCSA← Physical Education
Physical Education syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the WA Physical Education syllabus, with a focused answer for each. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions and links to related points.
Unit 3: Factors Affecting Performance
Module overview →How does the aerobic system supply energy for sustained activity, and why does it produce so much more energy than the anaerobic systems?
Explain the aerobic energy system, including its fuels, rate and yield of energy, by-products and predominant use in sport
How does the anaerobic glycolytic system supply energy for high intensity efforts of up to a minute or two, and why does it cause fatigue?
Explain the anaerobic glycolytic energy system, including its fuel, rate and yield of energy, by-products and predominant use in sport
How does the ATP-PC system resupply energy for short, maximal efforts, and what are its limits?
Explain the ATP-PC energy system, including its fuel, rate and yield of energy, by-products and predominant use in sport
How do the laws of motion and biomechanical principles explain skilled movement?
Apply Newton's laws of motion and the principles of force, momentum, stability and projectile motion to analyse sporting performance
How do the major nutrients, hydration and the timing of intake support training, performance and recovery?
Explain the role of carbohydrate, fat, protein, fluids and the timing of intake in fuelling performance and recovery
How do the three energy systems work together during activity, and what determines which one predominates at any moment?
Explain the interplay of the three energy systems during activity and how intensity and duration determine the predominant system
How does the body supply energy for exercise and adapt to training?
Explain the three energy systems, their interplay during activity, and how training principles produce physiological adaptations
What causes fatigue during different types of exercise, and how do the causes differ between short maximal and long endurance efforts?
Explain the causes of fatigue in different intensities and durations of exercise and relate them to the energy systems
What are the different types of feedback in skill learning, and how should a coach use them at each stage of learning?
Explain the types of feedback and their functions and apply appropriate feedback to learners at different stages
What are the components of fitness, and how are valid and reliable fitness tests used to assess and monitor an athlete?
Identify the health and skill related components of fitness and explain how fitness tests are used to assess them validly and reliably
How do air and water resistance, lift and the Magnus effect change the path and speed of athletes and objects in sport?
Explain the fluid mechanics principles of drag, lift and the Magnus effect and apply them to performance in air and water
How does the principle of force summation let an athlete generate maximum force or speed in a throw, kick or strike?
Explain the principle of force summation and apply the correct sequencing and timing of body parts to maximise force in sporting actions
How do bones, joints and muscles work together to produce and control movement in sport?
Explain how the skeletal and muscular systems interact through joints, lever systems and muscle contraction to produce movement
How do the three classes of lever in the body apply force and movement, and what advantage does each give?
Classify first, second and third class levers in the body and explain their mechanical advantage and effect on force and speed
Which major muscles produce the main joint actions in sport, and how do agonist, antagonist and other roles combine to control movement?
Identify the major muscles and the joint actions they produce, and explain the roles of agonist, antagonist, synergist and fixator
How do momentum and impulse explain why follow through increases ball speed and why bending the knees softens a landing?
Define momentum and impulse and apply the impulse momentum relationship to generate force and to absorb force safely in sport
How do learners progress through the stages of learning and how does feedback and practice shape skill acquisition?
Explain the stages of learning, types of practice and feedback, and how coaches structure skill acquisition
How is a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fibre structured to receive a signal and produce a contraction?
Describe the structure of the motor neuron and skeletal muscle fibre, and explain the role of each component in stimulating a contraction
How do slow and fast twitch muscle fibre types differ, and how does fibre type suit an athlete to particular events?
Describe the structural and functional characteristics of slow twitch and fast twitch muscle fibres and relate fibre type to performance
How do Newton's three laws of motion explain the way athletes start, change and react to movement?
Apply Newton's first, second and third laws of motion to analyse and explain sporting movements
How does oxygen uptake change at the start, during and after exercise, and what do oxygen deficit and EPOC represent?
Explain oxygen uptake during exercise, including oxygen deficit, steady state and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, and their link to recovery
How do different ways of organising practice affect skill learning, and how should practice be matched to the skill and the learner?
Explain the types of practice including whole and part, massed and distributed, and fixed and varied, and apply them to skill learning
Which training principles must a program follow to produce adaptation, and how does each one guide program design?
Explain the principles of training and apply them to the design of an effective training program
What determines the flight path of a projectile in sport, and why is the optimal release angle not always 45 degrees?
Explain how angle, speed and height of release determine the flight path of a projectile and apply this to sporting actions
How are motor skills classified along continua, and why does classifying a skill guide how it should be taught and practised?
Classify skills using the open and closed, gross and fine, discrete continuous and serial, and self and externally paced continua
How does the sliding filament theory explain the way a muscle fibre actually shortens to produce force?
Explain the process of the sliding filament theory, including the role of calcium, actin, myosin and ATP in producing a muscle contraction
What factors determine how stable an athlete is, and how do they manipulate balance to suit different sporting needs?
Explain the factors affecting stability and balance and apply them to situations requiring stability or rapid loss of balance
How does a learner progress through the stages of learning, and how should coaching change at each stage?
Explain the cognitive, associative and autonomous stages of learning and how practice and feedback are matched to each stage
Which training methods develop each fitness component, and what physiological adaptations do they produce?
Describe the major training methods and explain the chronic physiological adaptations they produce in the body
How does learning one skill affect the learning or performance of another, and how can coaches use transfer to their advantage?
Explain the types of transfer of learning and how practice can be structured to promote positive transfer and limit negative transfer
How do the different types of muscle contraction differ, and when is each one used in sport?
Describe concentric, eccentric, isometric and isokinetic contractions and identify examples of each in sporting movements
Unit 4: Enhancing Performance and Maintaining Participation
Module overview →How do periodisation, advanced training methods and recovery strategies maximise performance?
Explain periodisation, advanced training methods, overtraining and recovery strategies used to peak performance
How do skilled performers process information and make fast, accurate decisions under pressure?
Explain information processing, reaction time and attention, and how decision making is refined under competitive pressure
How do sociocultural factors influence who participates in physical activity and how participation is maintained?
Explain the sociocultural factors that influence participation and the strategies used to maintain lifelong involvement
How do arousal, anxiety and psychological skills affect sporting performance?
Explain arousal and anxiety theories and the psychological skills used to optimise performance