Standard Grade Physical Education Knowledge and Understanding
SECTION 1 – ACTIVITIES	All levels
AREA – A: Nature and purpose
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Nature & Purpose	Different nature of activities ie
team and individual
competitive/non-competitive
indirectly/directly competitive
subjective/objective activities
indoor/outdoor
Suitability of activities re age/ability/sex/level of fitness/physical qualities
Social and physical benefits of participating
Time limits
Reasons for participating in activities.
Physical actions required for various activities ie jumping, kicking, throwing, striking objects, rotating, stretching
Creativity	Creativity in activities in relation to:
performance of skills
effects on performance
weight
time/flow/space
Importance of creativity to individual, team and aesthetic activities
Creation and effective use of space
Restricting opponents’ space
Principles of play	Definition of the principles of play
Application and effect of:
width in attack and defence
depth in attack and defence
delay in defence
Consideration of the above principles of play in adoption of tactics
Tactics (in team and individual activities)	Definition of a tactic.
Application of tactics in relation to strengths/weaknesses/physical qualities/ performance of self and opponent
Roles/positions required in team tactics.
Personal/physical qualities required to perform effectively in different roles/positions in team activities.
Importance of communication in tactics in team activities
Offensive and defensive tactics in team and individual activities.
Variation/adaptation of tactics in relation to participation/opponent actions/effects on performance
Effective skill performance for tactics to be performed successfully
Essential skills for tactics to be effective in team and individual activities.
Reasons these skills are essential for effective performance of tactics.
AREA – B: Official/Formal and unwritten rules
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Rules	Official/formal written and unwritten rules/laws.
Safety rules and the correct use of equipment when participating
Rules in relation to:
restricting movement
start and restart
offence and defence
the playing area
encouraging sporting behaviour
Breaking rules
Adaptation of rules and/or adding conditions
Conduct & behaviour	Good or bad behaviour in team and individual activities
Effect of behaviour in team and individual activities
Penalising bad behaviour in team and individual activities
Scoring	Different/similar scoring systems in team and individual activities
Objective and subjective scoring in team and individual activities
Deciding the winner in team and individual activities
Adaptation (in team and individual activities)	Adaptation required in relation to:
rules
scoring system
opponents
equipment
duration
team size
layout
playing area
Enhancing skill learning and performance through adaptation.
Small sided games	Benefits of using small-sided games.
Adaptation of team games
Effect of small-sided games on skill learning and performance.
AREA – C: Roles and functions
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Roles & responsibilities (in team and individual activities)	Roles and responsibilities of performers
Roles of attacking and defensive players
Roles and responsibilities of officials and non-playing participants
Assistance given by non-playing participants and the benefits gained
Importance of officials
Personal qualities (in team and individual activities)	Personal qualities required by:
a performer
officials/non-playing participants
Effects on ability to perform and learn skills
Effects on ability to officiate effectively
Physical qualities (in team and individual activities)	Physical qualities in relation to:
roles or positions adopted
successful performance
officiating effectively
Advantages when learning skills and performing
SECTION 2 -THE BODY
AREA – A: Structure and Function
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Oxygen transportation	Oxygen transportation system in relation to lungs, heart, blood and muscles.
Increasing oxygen intake during exercise/training or participation.
Different levels of oxygen intake during physical activity
Waste products produced ie carbon dioxide, lactic acid
Oxygen debt
Benefits of improving the oxygen transportation system.
Body structure	The purpose of the skeleton.
The function of muscle, tendon, cartilage and ligament.
Muscles/muscle groups of:
leg (quadriceps; hamstring)
arm (biceps; triceps)
stomach (abdominal)
Joints	Different types, location and range of movements of joints:
ball and socket
hinge
Movement of joints in relation to performing
Effect of movement on hinge joints relating to:
muscles
tendons
bones
Order of joint movement for coordinated movement
Movement of a Hinge joint	Hinge joint movements:
muscles (work in pairs)
tendons (attach muscles to bones)
Effect of hinge joint movement on performance/skills
Naming muscles of the leg and arm
AREA – B: Aspects of fitness
PHYSICAL FITNESS
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Cardio-respiratory endurance	Definition of aerobic/anaerobic endurance in relation to performance
Effect of exercise (and stopping exercise) in relation to:
pulse rate
breathing
body temperature
Monitoring/measuring fitness by recording pulse rate.
Recovery rates as a measure of aerobic fitness
Importance and effect of aerobic/anaerobic endurance on performance/skills in team and individual activities
Negative effect of poor aerobic endurance on performance/skills
Tests to measure aerobic/anaerobic fitness
Intensity of aerobic training linked to initial level of fitness
Appropriate training for developing aerobic fitness - Fartlek/varied pace running, interval, continuous, circuit training
Training to develop anaerobic endurance
Definition of training zone
Monitoring effectiveness of intensity of training
Definition of progressive overload
Overload training to make it more difficult
Setting/monitoring level of intensity of progressive overload when training
Exercises or practices to develop cardio-respiratory endurance fitness and improve skills
Effects of training on level of fitness and performance
Physiological effect of training on heart and lungs
Muscular endurance	Definition of muscular endurance in relation to performance
Muscular endurance in relation to:
team and individual activities
roles or skills
effective performance
muscles and muscle groups
Effects on performance/skills of high or low levels of muscular endurance
Appropriate tests for measuring muscular endurance
Measuring initial level of muscular endurance
Specific exercises or practices to increase and develop muscular endurance
Appropriate training to develop muscular endurance
A muscular endurance training session
Intensity of training based on initial level of muscular endurance
Using low weight and high repetitions for weight training
Specific weight/circuit training exercises
Definition of progressive overload
Progressively overload resistance to make training more demanding
Effects of increased muscular endurance on the body
Effect of increased muscular endurance on performance/skills
Practices to develop muscular endurance and skill simultaneously
PHYSICAL FITNESS (cont'd)
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Strength	Definition of strength in relation to performance
Strength in relation to:
team and individual activities
roles or skills
effective performance
muscles and muscle groups
Effects on performance/skills of high or low levels of strength
Appropriate tests for measuring strength
Measuring initial levels of strength
Specific exercises to increase and develop strength
Appropriate training to develop strength
A strength training session
Intensity of training based on initial levels of strength
Using high weight and low repetitions in weight training
Specificity of exercises to muscle development
Definition of progressive overload
Progressively overload resistance to increase strength
Effects of increased strength on the body
Effect of increased strength on performance/skills
Practices to improve skill and develop strength simultaneously
Speed	Definition of speed in relation to performance
Speed in relation to:
team and individual activities
whole or part of the body
specific roles/positions/skills
effects on performance
Effects on performance/skills of high or low levels of speed
Appropriate tests for measuring speed
Measuring initial levels of speed
Specific exercises designed to increase and develop speed
Appropriate training to increase speed
A speed training session
Importance of recovery time in speed training
Progressively overload training to make training more demanding
Effects of increased speed on performance/skills
Changing speed to beat an opponent
Practices to improve skill and increase speed simultaneously
PHYSICAL FITNESS (cont'd)
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Power	Definition of power in relation to performance
Power in relation to:
team and individual activities
skills or specific roles
kicking, jumping, striking and throwing actions
Achieving and increasing power in relation to:
kicking, jumping, striking and throwing actions
activity/body/body parts
effective performance
Effects on performance/skills of high or low levels of power
Appropriate tests for measuring power
Measuring initial levels of power
Specific exercises to increase and develop power
Appropriate training to increase power
A power training session
Intensity of training based on initial level of power
Weight training using high eight and low repetitions performed explosively
Effect of training with too little/too much resistance
In weight training, exercises should be specific in relation to parts of the body, muscles/muscle groups
Definition of progressive overload
Progressively overloading resistance to make training more demanding
Effects of increased power on:
performance of a skill
specific role
kicking, jumping, striking and throwing actions
Practices for improving skill and developing power simultaneously
Flexibility	Definition of static and dynamic flexibility in relation to performance
Static and dynamic flexibility in relation to:
team and individual activities
skills or roles
performance
joints
Relationship between joints and the performance of skills
Measuring initial level of static and dynamic flexibility.
Appropriate tests to measure static and dynamic flexibility
Specific exercises to increase and develop static and dynamic flexibility
Appropriate training to increase static and dynamic flexibility
A flexibility training session.
Effects of increased flexibility on:
the range of joint movement
skill performance
Practices for improving skill and developing flexibility simultaneously
SKILL RELATED FITNESS
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Co-ordination	Definition of coordination
Importance of moving the joints and body parts in the correct order
Importance of coordination for an effective skill performance
Difficulty of learning difficult skills with complex coordination
Effects of coordinated body movement on flow and rhythm in performance
Effects of good/poor coordination on skill performance
Agility	Definition of agility and importance to performance
(in team and individual activities)	Effects of good/poor agility on skill performance
Balance	Definition of balance and importance to performance
(in team and	Skills and situations in which balance is important to performance.
individual activities)	The effect of good/poor balance on skill performance
Reaction time	Definition of reaction time and importance to performance
(in team and	Skills and situations in which reaction time is important to performance
individual activities)	The effect of good/poor reaction time on skill performance
MENTAL FITNESS
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Definition of:
Mental fitness	mental preparation
concentration
(in team and	confidence
individual activities)	motivation
Effects of the above on improving performance/skills
Effects on confidence of safety equipment and support
AREA – C: Training and its effects
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Warm up	Warm up in relation to
importance of warming up
three stages and the importance of each of these stages
The effects of warm up on
the body
joint flexibility
performance
Stretching exercises
Importance of including skills in the final stage
Warm down	Warming down after participation
Effects on the body of performing/failing to perform a warm down
Principles of training	Principles of training with reference to all aspects of physical activity including:
frequency
intensity
duration
overload
progression
adaptation
reversibility
Specificity in fitness training with reference to:
activity
aspect of fitness
type of training
workload
part of the body
Workload based on initial level of fitness
Ensuring training is carried out at the appropriate level of intensity
Ensuring progressive overload is carried out at an appropriate level of intensity
Need for an appropriate work/rest ratio when training
Balance the order of exercises in training programmes
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Appropriate training for developing fitness ie
Methods/types	Fartlek/varied pace running
of training	interval training
continuous training
circuit training
weight training
sprint training
Exercises used to work on specific muscles/muscle groups in training
Specific training to work on different aspects of fitness
Organising a training session to develop specific aspects of fitness.
Applying principles of training to training.
The importance of rest and recovery periods in training.
A training session.
Setting an individual workload for training.
Training within activities	Improving an aspect of fitness in an individual activity
Improving a different aspect of fitness in a team activity
The benefits of training within an activity
Exercises or practices for developing skill and fitness simultaneously in team and individual activities
SECTION 3 – SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
AREA –A: Techniques
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Skills and techniques (in team and individual activities)	Definition of a skill
Definition of a technique
Appropriate skills used in different roles/positions involving:
kicking
jumping
striking
throwing
stretching
rotating
Different techniques of skill performance
Simple and complex skills:
from team and individual activities
difference between simple and complex skills
difficult to learn and perform
Preparation/action/recovery
Effect on performance of skills in respect of flow/space/weight/time
Overcoming problems in relation to:
identification of problems/weaknesses
changing skill/technique to overcome problems
practices used to improve weaknesses
The environment in relation to:
the effect on skill performance
altering skill performance to overcome the environment
AREA – B: Ways of developing skill
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Skill learning (in team and individual activities)	Skill learning and improving performance in relation to:
demonstration
using a partner
safety equipment
partner to ensure safety
Definition of gradual build up and its purpose, benefits, stages and effect on skill learning
Definition of whole/part/whole and the benefits to learn and improve performance and its effect on skill learning
Passive/active learning practices/situations
Effects of repetitive practice on skill performance
Automatic stage of learning in relation to:
the benefits to performance
examples of skills and situations
practices used when a skill can be performed automatically
Principles of effective practice and refinement (in team and individual activities)	Practicing to improve performance in respect of:
level of ability
effect on motivation, safety and fatigue
avoiding tiredness and boredom
the need for variation in practice
carried out with the correct technique
Effective practice in relation to:
improving skill performance
identifying and improving weaknesses
adapting practices (harder or easier)
identifying and overcoming specific problems
Pressure when practicing can lead to a breakdown in skill level
Pressure practice situations
Practices used to enhance learning to perform skills automatically
Feedback (in team and individual activities)	Definition of feedback
The benefits of feedback in relation to:
identify specific problems or weaknesses in performance
effect of immediate feedback
receiving one or two points of feedback at one time
using feedback to improve performance
Examples of feedback given/received to/from a partner
Different ways to receive feedback:
internal (kinaesthetic)
external (visual, written, verbal, knowledge of results)
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Cooperation (in team and individual activities)	Definition of cooperation
Basic principles of cooperation
Importance of cooperation in relation to:
practicing, learning and improving skills
different playing and non-playing roles
effects on performance and skill learning
smooth running of an activity
keeping participants safe
AREA – C: Mechanical principles
Concept	Sub-concept	Date covered
Balance (in team and individual activities)	Definition and basic principles of:
balance
centre of gravity
body tension
Effects of the above on improving skills/performance
Effect of large/small base
Effect of body weight over base
Effect of controlling movement
Importance of body tension to balance
Improving skills/performance using balance
Achieving and maintaining balance
Transfer of weight (in team and individual activities)	Definition of transfer of weight
Transferring weight in relation to:
similarities in weight transfer across activities
importance of weight transfer to skill performance
specific skills and how weight is transferred (whole body/body parts)
the effect weight transfer has on skill performance
Application of force (in team and individual activities)	Definition of application of force
Individual and team activities in which force is applied
Achieving thrust or propulsion
Applying greater force to achieve more speed/greater power in action
The direction of thrust or propulsion
The source of the force applied
Effect of increased application of force on performance
Rotation	Definition of rotation
Skills in which rotation is important
Changes in body shape to speed up or slow down rotation
Definition of resistance
Resistance	Advantages/disadvantages/causes of resistance on skills or performance in team and individual activities
Disadvantages/causes of resistance
Overcoming resistance in different situations
Changing body shape to overcome/reduce resistance
The effect of friction on resistance
Definition of follow through
Follow through	Explaining follow through in:
kicking
(in team and	striking
individual activities)	throwing
and nature of the joints involved which enables follow through to occur
Skills where follow through occurs
Effect of follow through on performance