How does technology improve movement analysis, training and officiating, and what problems does it bring?
Technology in sport: the use of video and computerised analysis, force plates, motion capture, timing gates, GPS and heart-rate monitors, and the impact of technology on performance, officiating and accessibility.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on technology: video and computerised movement analysis, force plates, motion capture, timing gates, GPS and heart-rate monitors, and an evaluation of the impact of technology on performance, training, officiating and accessibility.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to describe the technologies used in movement analysis, training and officiating, and evaluate their impact on performance, officiating and accessibility.
Technology for movement analysis
Technology for training and monitoring
Technology in officiating
In officiating, technology improves the accuracy and fairness of decisions. Hawk-Eye tracks ball trajectory in tennis and cricket; goal-line technology confirms whether the ball crossed the line in football; the video assistant referee (VAR) and the television match official (TMO) review key decisions in football and rugby; photo finishes and electronic timing settle close races. These reduce the influence of human error and provide evidence for disputed calls.
Evaluating the impact
The impact of technology is balanced. Positives: objective feedback speeds skill development and reduces injury; fairer, more accurate officiating reduces controversy; data improves training and load management. Negatives: technology is expensive, so wealthier performers, clubs and nations can afford an advantage, widening the gap (an accessibility and fairness issue); it can interrupt the flow and spontaneity of a game (VAR delays); it can undermine the authority of officials; and the use of personal data raises privacy and surveillance concerns. A reasoned judgement weighs these against each other rather than simply praising the technology.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20184 marksExplain how two pieces of technology can be used to analyse and improve a sprinter's performance.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 technology question. Two marks for each technology applied to the sprinter.
Award marks for: high-speed video analysis (with software) records the sprinter's technique and allows frame-by-frame playback, so the coach and athlete can examine the start, drive phase and arm action, compare with an elite model and identify and correct technical faults. Force plates measure the ground reaction force and timing of each foot strike, showing how much force the sprinter applies and in which direction; this quantifies the propulsive impulse so training can target a weakness (for example a weak drive). Other valid examples include timing gates (objective split times), motion capture (precise joint angles) and GPS or accelerometers (speed and distance data).
A common dropped mark is naming a technology without saying how it improves performance; link each to feedback and correction.
Eduqas 20226 marksEvaluate the impact of technology on sport, considering officiating, the performer and accessibility.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 evaluation. Markers reward balanced points across officiating, performers and access, with a judgement.
Award marks for positives: officiating aids such as Hawk-Eye, goal-line technology, VAR and the television match official increase the accuracy and fairness of decisions, reducing controversy and the influence of human error. For performers, video and computerised analysis, force plates, motion capture and wearable monitors give precise, objective feedback that speeds skill development and reduces injury through better technique and load monitoring. Negatives: technology can interrupt the flow and spontaneity of a game (VAR delays), is expensive, so wealthier athletes, clubs and nations gain an advantage (a fairness and accessibility issue), can undermine the authority of officials, and raises questions where data is used for selection or surveillance. A judgement might be that technology improves accuracy and performance where it is affordable and used proportionately, but its cost widens the gap between richer and poorer participants, so its benefits are not shared equally.
A top answer balances accuracy and feedback gains against cost, accessibility and disruption, and reaches a reasoned conclusion.
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Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas A Level Physical Education Specification — Eduqas (2016)