smc-5463-20-Sports specific

HMS, TIP EQ-Bank 350

Compare the sport-specific fitness components and skill requirements for a marathon runner and a basketball player. (6 marks)

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Similarities

Both athletes require cardiovascular fitness for sustained performance during their respective competitions. Marathon runners and basketball players need efficient heart and lung function.
Mental resilience and concentration skills are essential for both sports under competitive pressure. Athletes must maintain focus during physical stress and make strategic decisions.
Both require sport-specific technical skills that must be practised repeatedly for mastery. Proper biomechanics and movement efficiency are crucial for optimal performance outcomes.
Training periodisation is important for both athletes to peak at competition times. Both sports require structured preparation phases and recovery periods for adaptation.

Differences

Marathon runners require exceptional aerobic capacity for prolonged 42-kilometre efforts over two hours. Basketball players need anaerobic power for explosive jumping and rapid directional changes.
Distance running emphasises slow-twitch muscle fibres for oxygen efficiency and sustained endurance. Basketball demands fast-twitch fibres for acceleration, agility and vertical leap ability.
Marathon technique focuses on biomechanical efficiency and rhythm maintenance throughout the race distance. Basketball skills include ball handling, shooting accuracy, passing precision and defensive footwork.
Running training prioritises high-volume progression and aerobic base development over extended periods. Basketball balances individual skill refinement with team coordination, tactical awareness and positional play development.

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Similarities

Both athletes require cardiovascular fitness for sustained performance during their respective competitions. Marathon runners and basketball players need efficient heart and lung function.
Mental resilience and concentration skills are essential for both sports under competitive pressure. Athletes must maintain focus during physical stress and make strategic decisions.
Both require sport-specific technical skills that must be practised repeatedly for mastery. Proper biomechanics and movement efficiency are crucial for optimal performance outcomes.
Training periodisation is important for both athletes to peak at competition times. Both sports require structured preparation phases and recovery periods for adaptation.

Differences

Marathon runners require exceptional aerobic capacity for prolonged 42-kilometre efforts over two hours. Basketball players need anaerobic power for explosive jumping and rapid directional changes.
Distance running emphasises slow-twitch muscle fibres for oxygen efficiency and sustained endurance. Basketball demands fast-twitch fibres for acceleration, agility and vertical leap ability.
Marathon technique focuses on biomechanical efficiency and rhythm maintenance throughout the race distance. Basketball skills include ball handling, shooting accuracy, passing precision and defensive footwork.
Running training prioritises high-volume progression and aerobic base development over extended periods. Basketball balances individual skill refinement with team coordination, tactical awareness and positional play development.

HMS, TIP EQ-Bank 349

Why are sport-specific attributes important during the late pre-season phase of training. (3 marks)

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General preparation establishes fundamental fitness levels during early pre-season. This enables safe conversion to sport-specific demands without injury risk.
Sport-specific training develops the exact energy systems and movement patterns required. This results in athletes being prepared for competitive demands rather than general fitness.
Technical skills require sport-specific fitness as a foundation for effective execution. This causes coaches to sequence general fitness before specific skill development.
Converting base fitness into competition-specific attributes maximises training effectiveness. This leads to peak performance capability when competition season begins.

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General preparation establishes fundamental fitness levels during early pre-season. This enables safe conversion to sport-specific demands without injury risk.
Sport-specific training develops the exact energy systems and movement patterns required. This results in athletes being prepared for competitive demands rather than general fitness.
Technical skills require sport-specific fitness as a foundation for effective execution. This causes coaches to sequence general fitness before specific skill development.
Converting base fitness into competition-specific attributes maximises training effectiveness. This leads to peak performance capability when competition season begins.

HMS, TIP EQ-Bank 348

Explain how sport-specific attributes could differ for individual and group sport athletes. (5 marks)

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Individual sport focus:

Individual athletes require complete self-reliance in competition. This results in emphasis on personal technical mastery and mental resilience development.

Fitness component differences:

Individual sports demand specialised energy system development. This causes athletes to focus intensively on sport-specific fitness requirements. For example, marathon runners need exceptional aerobic capacity while sprinters require explosive power.

Skill requirement variations:

Group sports involve positional specialisation within teams. This leads to athletes developing different skill sets based on their playing role. A goalkeeper requires reaction time and agility. Centre midfielders need greater cardiovascular endurance and passing accuracy.

Tactical development:

Individual athletes focus on personal performance strategies and race plans. Group sport athletes must develop team coordination skills. This results in different tactical preparation approaches and communication requirements.

Training adaptation:

Individual sports allow highly personalised training programs targeting specific weaknesses. Group sports require balancing individual needs with team preparation demands. This causes different periodisation approaches and session structures.

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Individual sport focus:

Individual athletes require complete self-reliance in competition. This results in emphasis on personal technical mastery and mental resilience development.

Fitness component differences:

Individual sports demand specialised energy system development. This causes athletes to focus intensively on sport-specific fitness requirements. For example, marathon runners need exceptional aerobic capacity while sprinters require explosive power.

Skill requirement variations:

Group sports involve positional specialisation within teams. This leads to athletes developing different skill sets based on their playing role. A goalkeeper requires reaction time and agility. Centre midfielders need greater cardiovascular endurance and passing accuracy.

Tactical development:

Individual athletes focus on personal performance strategies and race plans. Group sport athletes must develop team coordination skills. This results in different tactical preparation approaches and communication requirements.

Training adaptation:

Individual sports allow highly personalised training programs targeting specific weaknesses. Group sports require balancing individual needs with team preparation demands. This causes different periodisation approaches and session structures.

HMS, TIP EQ-Bank 347 MC

A 400m sprinter has developed a solid aerobic base and strength foundation during general preparation.

Which training conversion would demonstrate appropriate sport-specific attribute development?

Converting strength training into explosive power for block starts and race acceleration
Maintaining the same aerobic base training throughout the competition season
Focusing exclusively on flexibility training to prevent injuries during racing
Reducing all training intensity to preserve energy for upcoming competitions

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\(A\)

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A is correct: Converting general strength into explosive power specific to sprint demands (block starts, acceleration) demonstrates appropriate sport-specific progression from base fitness to competition requirements.

Other Options:

B is incorrect: Maintaining identical aerobic training doesn’t progress towards sprint-specific energy system demands.
C is incorrect: Exclusive focus on one component ignores the need for comprehensive sport-specific development.
D is incorrect: Reducing intensity contradicts the need for high-intensity sport-specific preparation in sprinting.

HMS, TIP EQ-Bank 346 MC

At what stage of yearly training should sport-specific attributes receive the greatest emphasis for optimal competition preparation?

During off-season periods to maintain fitness levels
Throughout the entire yearly program with equal emphasis
Early in the pre-season during general preparation phases
Towards the end of pre-season following general preparation work

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\(D\)

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D is correct: Sport-specific attributes are emphasised towards the end of pre-season after general fitness has been established. This allows safe conversion of base fitness into competition-specific demands.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: Off-season focuses on recovery and variety rather than intensive sport-specific preparation.
B is incorrect: Sport-specific emphasis varies throughout the year with peak focus in late pre-season periods.
C is incorrect: Early pre-season emphasises general preparation before progressing to specific attributes later in the phase.

HMS, TIP EQ-Bank 345 MC

A football goalkeeper and a centre midfielder from the same team require different sport-specific training approaches during pre-season preparation.

Which statement best explains this differentiation?

Both players need identical fitness and skill development as they play the same sport
Individual positions demand specific fitness components and skill requirements within the team structure
Only the goalkeeper requires sport-specific training as midfielders use general fitness
Position-specific training is unnecessary as team tactics are more important than individual attributes

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\(B\)

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B is correct: Individual positions within group sports have different demands requiring specific fitness components and skills. For example, goalkeepers need reaction time whilst midfielders require greater aerobic capacity.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: Same sport does not mean identical requirements – different positions have varying physical and technical demands.
C is incorrect: All players require sport-specific training tailored to their positional demands, not just goalkeepers.
D is incorrect: Position-specific attributes are essential for effective team performance alongside tactical understanding.

HMS, TIP 2019 HSC 31b

A periodisation chart is being developed for an athlete in a particular sport. Analyse why the athlete’s fitness and skill-specific requirements change during each phase of competition. (12 marks)

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Overview Statement

A netball goal attack’s fitness and skill needs change across competition phases to assist performance while avoiding overtraining and injury throughout the year.

Component Relationship 1 – Pre-season Fitness Development

Pre-season focuses on building anaerobic power and developing netball-specific conditioning over longer periods. This happens because goal attacks need explosive speed for quick movements and physical preparation takes time.
Anaerobic interval training is most important in early pre-season to build speed endurance through sprint intervals and court runs.
As time goes on, plyometric training and agility work become more important to match the jumping and direction-change demands of netball.
Strength training becomes more common to develop upper body power for shooting and lower body strength for quick starts and stops.
This step-by-step approach ensures the goal attack reaches peak physical condition before competition starts while reducing injury risk.
Shooting accuracy and passing practice increases during late pre-season as fitness base allows harder technical training without excessive fatigue.
As a result, tactical understanding of attacking patterns grows alongside physical preparation, creating complete readiness for competition.

Component Relationship 2 – In-season Maintenance and Skill Focus

In-season requirements shift towards keeping explosive power while improving technical skills under game pressure. This change happens because netball games require best shooting accuracy and court awareness rather than fitness building, and training time becomes limited between games.
Training volume decreases to prevent overtraining while intensity stays high to keep game fitness during the season. Therefore, shooting drills and movement patterns become the main focus with defensive positioning becoming most important for competitive success.
Recovery strategies become more important as weekly competition games create leg fatigue that needs careful management through stretching and recovery techniques.
Consequently, periodisation must balance maintaining explosive power with sufficient recovery between games.

Implications and Synthesis

These phase-specific changes work together to create optimal performance timing for netball and prevent performance decline. The systematic variation prevents staleness while ensuring goal attacks peak during finals competition and maintain performance standards throughout the netball season.

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Overview Statement

A netball goal attack’s fitness and skill needs change across competition phases to assist performance while avoiding overtraining and injury throughout the year.

Component Relationship 1 – Pre-season Fitness Development

Pre-season focuses on building anaerobic power and developing netball-specific conditioning over longer periods. This happens because goal attacks need explosive speed for quick movements and physical preparation takes time.
Anaerobic interval training is most important in early pre-season to build speed endurance through sprint intervals and court runs.
As time goes on, plyometric training and agility work become more important to match the jumping and direction-change demands of netball.
Strength training becomes more common to develop upper body power for shooting and lower body strength for quick starts and stops.
This step-by-step approach ensures the goal attack reaches peak physical condition before competition starts while reducing injury risk.
Shooting accuracy and passing practice increases during late pre-season as fitness base allows harder technical training without excessive fatigue.
As a result, tactical understanding of attacking patterns grows alongside physical preparation, creating complete readiness for competition.

Component Relationship 2 – In-season Maintenance and Skill Focus

In-season requirements shift towards keeping explosive power while improving technical skills under game pressure. This change happens because netball games require best shooting accuracy and court awareness rather than fitness building, and training time becomes limited between games.
Training volume decreases to prevent overtraining while intensity stays high to keep game fitness during the season. Therefore, shooting drills and movement patterns become the main focus with defensive positioning becoming most important for competitive success.
Recovery strategies become more important as weekly competition games create leg fatigue that needs careful management through stretching and recovery techniques.
Consequently, periodisation must balance maintaining explosive power with sufficient recovery between games.

Implications and Synthesis

These phase-specific changes work together to create optimal performance timing for netball and prevent performance decline. The systematic variation prevents staleness while ensuring goal attacks peak during finals competition and maintain performance standards throughout the netball season.

♦♦ Mean mark 52%.

HMS, TIP 2022 HSC 30b

To what extent should the types of training and training methods vary when planning a training year? Answer this question in relation to ONE sport. (12 marks)

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Chosen Sport – Competitive swimming

Judgment Statement

Training types and methods should vary significantly throughout a training year for swimming. Key factors supporting this include seasonal periodisation demands and performance optimisation requirements.

Seasonal Periodisation Requirements

Pre-season phase demands extensive aerobic base building through continuous training and high-volume sessions. Swimmers require 6-8 weeks of aerobic foundation work to develop cardiovascular capacity for competition demands.
Volume decreases as season approaches while intensity increases through anaerobic interval training. This progression ensures swimmers peak physically when major competitions occur.
Training shifts from general fitness development to race-specific preparation and skill refinement. Strength training emphasis changes from hypertrophy focus to power development closer to competition.
Off-season training incorporates cross-training activities like cycling to maintain fitness while allowing psychological recovery.

Performance Optimisation Through Variation

Tapering strategies require dramatic training load reductions 2-3 weeks before major competitions. This variation allows physiological adaptations to consolidate while maintaining race sharpness through quality sets.
Different stroke techniques demand varied training methods – distance events need aerobic capacity while sprints require explosive power. Flexibility training becomes crucial during taper to maintain stroke efficiency and prevent injury. Psychological preparation intensifies during competition phases through visualisation and race simulation. Recovery strategies increase during high-intensity periods to prevent overtraining and maintain performance gains.
In-season training balances maintenance of fitness with competition readiness through reduced volume but maintained intensity. Skill development varies seasonally from technique refinement in pre-season to race-specific tactical work during competition.

Reaffirmation

Evidence demonstrates training variation is essential for optimal swimming performance throughout yearly cycles. Periodisation principles prove that systematic variation prevents plateaus and enables peak performance timing.
Without significant variation, swimmers risk overtraining, injury, and suboptimal competition results.

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Chosen Sport – Competitive swimming

Judgment Statement

Training types and methods should vary significantly throughout a training year for swimming. Key factors supporting this include seasonal periodisation demands and performance optimisation requirements.

Seasonal Periodisation Requirements

Pre-season phase demands extensive aerobic base building through continuous training and high-volume sessions. Swimmers require 6-8 weeks of aerobic foundation work to develop cardiovascular capacity for competition demands.
Volume decreases as season approaches while intensity increases through anaerobic interval training. This progression ensures swimmers peak physically when major competitions occur.
Training shifts from general fitness development to race-specific preparation and skill refinement. Strength training emphasis changes from hypertrophy focus to power development closer to competition.
Off-season training incorporates cross-training activities like cycling to maintain fitness while allowing psychological recovery.

Performance Optimisation Through Variation

Tapering strategies require dramatic training load reductions 2-3 weeks before major competitions. This variation allows physiological adaptations to consolidate while maintaining race sharpness through quality sets.
Different stroke techniques demand varied training methods – distance events need aerobic capacity while sprints require explosive power. Flexibility training becomes crucial during taper to maintain stroke efficiency and prevent injury. Psychological preparation intensifies during competition phases through visualisation and race simulation. Recovery strategies increase during high-intensity periods to prevent overtraining and maintain performance gains.
In-season training balances maintenance of fitness with competition readiness through reduced volume but maintained intensity. Skill development varies seasonally from technique refinement in pre-season to race-specific tactical work during competition.

Reaffirmation

Evidence demonstrates training variation is essential for optimal swimming performance throughout yearly cycles. Periodisation principles prove that systematic variation prevents plateaus and enables peak performance timing.
Without significant variation, swimmers risk overtraining, injury, and suboptimal competition results.

♦♦ Mean mark 39%.