Individual Differences

Question 1

How does gender affect sport and your participation in sport?

Answer 1

Women:
Usually smaller
Flatter broader pelvis
Smaller lungs and heart
Lower oxygen capacity
Higher percentage of fat
Less muscle
Mature faster
Menstruate (disadvantage in participation at this time)

Males:
Less affected by puberty
Can more easily carry on sport as normal
More muscle than fat, larger organs and oxygen capacity so easier to do sport

Question 2

What are the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation?

Answer 2

A leading sport charity that want to improve and promote opportunities for women in sport.

(WSFF).

Question 3

What are the WSFF goals?

Answer 3

• Play: more women participating
• Work: more women in workforce and volunteering
• Normalisation: more women media coverage
• Grow: more support for the WSFF

Question 4

How can physique affect sport and your participation in it?

Answer 4

Your body type / somatotype may mean you are suited to a particular sport or may find some difficult.

Question 5

Describe the somatotype endomorph.

Answer 5

• roughly pear shaped
• wide shoulders, hips
• gain fat easily
• short legs in relation to trunk
• find aerobic exercises difficult e.g. Running
• body shape can be used as an advantage in sports such as rugby

Question 6

Describe the somatotype mesomorph.

Answer 6

• wedge shape body
• broad wide shoulders
• muscled arms and legs
• narrow hips
• minimum fat
• suited to swimming events
• unlikely that any sport is unsuitable

Question 7

Describe the somatotype ectomorph.

Answer 7

• long slender and thin
• narrow shoulders and hips
• thin arms and legs
• little muscle and body fat
• not suited to power and strength sports
• succeed at endurance events e.g. Marathon running, long distance swimming, triathlons
• light frame is an advantage here, easier to carry etc

Question 8

How does your age affect your flexibility, strength, skill levels, recover from injury rate and oxygen capacity?

Answer 8

Flexibility: decreases with age

Strength: increases, then decreases with age.

Skill levels: increases, then decreases with age.

Recovery from injury rate: decreases with age.

Oxygen capacity: decreases with age.

Question 9

What are the four different types of disability?

Answer 9

Physical Disability
Mental Disability
Permanent Disability
Temporary Disability

Question 10

What are many governing bodies, such as the FA, now trying to do for disability?

Answer 10

Trying to increased disabled participation in sport.

Question 11

How have sports adapted for the disabled?

Answer 11

• Paralympics invented with different classifications
• rules adapted in some sports e.g. Wheelchair basketball
• equipment adapted e.g. Blind football, ball has a rattle inside it

Question 12

How have facilities adapted for the disabled?

Answer 12

• access: doors widened, ramps, lifts
• what’s provided: wheelchair lifts, disabled toilets, leisure. Entries for disabled
• parking: wider spaces for wheelchair access

Question 13

Name 3 climatic factors that would affect a performers ability to perform and why.

Answer 13

Air pollution:

• outdoor training with air pollution problems - extremely hard to breathe
• breathing through mouth to consume more oxygen but instead consuming smoke and air pollution leading to asthma or long term lung cancer.

Weather conditions:

• humidity causes problems if used to training in cold winds, rain, snow etc
• extreme heat affects performance badly (tiredness, dizziness, drouziness)
• dehydration concerns

Altitude:

• high altitude training can affect performance in a god way
• still need same amount of oxygen whilst training
• altitude oxygen levels are much less
• forces body to produce more red blood cells to carry oxygen round quicker to train at same rate
• so when back at sea level, muscles can work for nearly twice as long without tiring due to more red blood cells.

Question 14

What is the difference between competitive and recreational in terms of activity needs?

Answer 14

Competitive activities:

• require performers to be highly committed to train and compete
• should set aside whole days or more to compete and travel

Recreational activities:

• not as demanding
• do not require periods of training or preparation

Question 15

What effects on you can be caused by the level you perform at?

Answer 15

High levels of physical activity

• health benefits
• benefits of enjoyment of the social aspect

Low levels of physical activity
- little or no positive effect

Question 16

What is the pre season, peak season and post season?

Answer 16

Pre season: time of initial preparations leading up to the majority of competitions

Peak season: main competition period

Post season: period of rest, but still keep up general fitness