The health-related and skill-related components of fitness, their definitions, and how the demand for each component varies between different sports and physical activities.

What this dot point is asking

CCEA wants you to define each component of physical fitness and explain how the demand for each one changes from sport to sport. Fitness is split into two families: health-related components, which underpin everyday health and the capacity to exercise, and skill-related components, which let a performer apply that fitness with control and precision.

The health-related components

There are five. Cardiovascular endurance is the ability of the heart, lungs and circulation to supply oxygen to working muscles during sustained activity. Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle or muscle group to make repeated contractions over time without fatigue. Muscular strength is the maximum force a muscle or muscle group can exert in a single contraction. Flexibility is the range of movement available at a joint. Body composition is the relative proportions of fat mass and lean (fat-free) mass that make up the body.

These matter for health because, for example, good cardiovascular endurance lowers the risk of heart disease, and a healthy body composition reduces the strain placed on the joints and the heart.

The skill-related components

There are six. Agility is the ability to change direction quickly while keeping control of the body. Balance is the ability to keep the centre of mass over the base of support, either while still (static balance) or while moving (dynamic balance). Coordination is the ability to use two or more body parts together smoothly and accurately. Power is the product of strength and speed, the ability to apply a large force quickly. Reaction time is the time taken to respond to a stimulus. Speed is the rate at which the body, or a part of it, can move over a distance.

How the demand varies between activities

The same set of components applies to every sport, but the balance of demand between them is what makes each sport distinctive. A games player such as a netballer relies heavily on agility, reaction time and coordination to intercept and pass; a long-distance cyclist relies on cardiovascular and muscular endurance; a weightlifter relies on muscular strength and power; a gymnast relies on flexibility, balance and coordination. Most performers need a blend, but coaches identify the dominant components for an activity and prioritise them in training.

Examples in context

Example 1. A gymnast versus a rugby prop. A gymnast performing on the beam depends on flexibility (to achieve the required shapes), static and dynamic balance (to stay on the beam), and coordination (to link the movements). Cardiovascular endurance and maximal strength matter far less. A rugby prop in a scrum depends on muscular strength and power to drive forward, with body composition (a high lean mass) supporting that force. The two athletes are both highly fit, but their fitness profiles are almost opposite, which shows why fitness must be defined component by component rather than as a single quality.

Example 2. Reaction time at the start of a race. A sprinter in the 100 metres relies on reaction time to leave the blocks the instant the gun fires, because at the elite level the difference between athletes at the start is measured in hundredths of a second. The same sprinter also needs speed and power, but a slow reaction can lose the race before the run has begun. This shows how a single skill-related component can be decisive in one event yet almost irrelevant in another, such as a marathon.

Try this

Q1. Define body composition and explain why a healthy body composition benefits a games player. [3 marks]

• Cue. The proportions of fat mass and lean mass; a healthy composition means less excess fat to carry, so the player tires less quickly and moves more efficiently.

Q2. State which skill-related components are most important for a tennis player and justify your choice. [4 marks]

• Cue. Agility (to cover the court), reaction time (to return a serve), coordination (to time the racket on the ball) and power (for serves and groundstrokes).