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ScotlandPhysical Education

Factors impacting on performance

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do emotions such as confidence, fear and anger affect the way an athlete performs?

Emotional factors that impact on performance, including happiness and sadness (affecting confidence, self-belief, resilience and optimism), anger (affecting self-control and decision-making), fear and trust, and how managing emotions can have a positive or negative effect.
An SQA National 5 Physical Education answer on emotional factors, covering happiness and sadness and their effect on confidence, self-belief, resilience and optimism, anger and its effect on self-control and decision-making, plus fear and trust, and how managing emotions helps or hinders a performance.
9 min answer →

How do mental factors such as concentration, decision-making, arousal and motivation affect a sporting performance?

Mental factors that impact on performance, including the information-processing features (concentration, decision-making, problem-solving and anticipation) and the psychological traits (level of arousal, anxiety, mental toughness and motivation), and how each can have a positive or negative effect.
An SQA National 5 Physical Education answer on mental factors, covering the information-processing features of concentration, decision-making, problem-solving and anticipation, the psychological traits of arousal, anxiety, mental toughness and motivation, and how each can help or hinder a performance.
9 min answer →

How do the components of physical and skill-related fitness affect a sporting performance?

The fitness part of the physical factor, including the components of physical fitness (cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular endurance, strength, speed, flexibility and power) and skill-related fitness (agility, balance, co-ordination and reaction time), and how each can have a positive or negative effect.
An SQA National 5 Physical Education answer on the fitness part of the physical factor, covering the components of physical fitness (cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular endurance, strength, speed, flexibility and power) and skill-related fitness (agility, balance, co-ordination and reaction time), and how each helps or hinders a performance.
10 min answer →

How do a performer's skills, techniques and tactics affect their performance?

The skills and tactics parts of the physical factor, including the quality of skills and techniques (accuracy, consistency, control and fluency, and repertoire) and the use of tactics and composition (width, depth, support, penetration, and recognising strengths and weaknesses), and how each can have a positive or negative effect.
An SQA National 5 Physical Education answer on the skills and tactics parts of the physical factor, covering the quality of skills and techniques (accuracy, consistency, control and fluency, repertoire) and tactics and composition (width, depth, support, penetration, strengths and weaknesses), and how each helps or hinders a performance.
10 min answer →

How do social factors such as communication, co-operation and roles affect a team's performance?

Social factors that impact on performance, including communication, co-operation, roles and responsibilities within a team, etiquette and respect for rules, relationships and team dynamics, and inclusion, and how each can have a positive or negative effect.
An SQA National 5 Physical Education answer on social factors, covering communication, co-operation, roles and responsibilities, etiquette and respect, relationships and team dynamics, and inclusion, and how each helps or hinders a performance.
9 min answer →