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.
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What this dot point is asking
The physical factor in National 5 PE has three parts: fitness, skills and tactics. This dot point covers the skills and tactics parts. The SQA wants you to know the features that make up the quality of skills and techniques (accuracy, consistency, control and fluency, and repertoire) and the features of tactics and composition (width, depth, support, penetration, and recognising strengths and weaknesses), and to explain how each can help or hinder a performance.
The quality of skills and techniques
These features describe how well a performer carries out their skills.
- Accuracy. Accurately placing a pass finds a teammate and keeps possession; an inaccurate pass hands the ball to the opposition and puts the defence under pressure.
- Consistency. A consistent setter in volleyball delivers a good ball every time, so teammates trust them; inconsistency leads to wasted attacks and lost confidence.
- Control and fluency. A controlled first touch kills the ball under pressure and keeps it close; a heavy touch lets an opponent steal it.
- Repertoire. A wide repertoire lets a player choose the right skill for the moment, making them unpredictable; a narrow repertoire makes them easy to read and defend against.
Tactics and composition
These features describe how a performer or team is organised to outwit opponents.
- Width. Keeping wingers wide stretches a defence and opens central space; with no width the play becomes narrow and easy to defend.
- Depth. A deep-lying player offers cover if an attack breaks down and a safe backwards pass to switch play; with no depth a team is exposed to the counter-attack.
- Support. A supporting run gives the ball carrier an option and turns a one-versus-one into an overload; without support an attacker gets crowded out.
- Penetration. A penetrating pass removes several defenders at once and creates a chance closer to goal; a static team cannot find penetrating passes and stalls.
- Strengths and weaknesses. Knowing that your overhead clear is strong and an opponent's rear-court return is weak lets you play to win; ignoring a personal weakness, such as a lack of pace, lets opponents exploit it.
Examples in context
Example 1. Repertoire in football. A striker with a wide repertoire can finish with either foot or the head, so defenders cannot predict the finish. A striker with one weak foot is far easier to shut down.
Example 2. Width in handball. Wingers staying wide drag defenders out to cover them, opening gaps between defenders. Central players then receive the ball with space and time to execute an accurate jump shot at goal.
Try this
Q1. Name two features of the quality of skills and techniques in National 5 PE. [1 mark]
- Cue. Any two of accuracy, consistency, control and fluency, or repertoire.
Q2. State what is meant by penetration as a tactic. [1 mark]
- Cue. Piercing the opposition's defensive line with a pass or a run to create a chance closer to goal.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA N5 style4 marksDescribe how the quality of a performer's skills and techniques can impact on performance.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark describe answer needs clear features of skill quality, each with an impact on performance. Two well-developed points, or four shorter ones, can reach four marks.
Accuracy. In badminton, accurately placing shots into the corners moves an opponent around the court, tires them out, and wins rallies as they fail to reach the shuttle.
Consistency. A consistent tennis serve, repeated with power and accuracy, is hard to break and keeps the pressure on the opponent across a match.
Markers reward each feature of skill quality named and explained (accuracy, consistency, control and fluency, repertoire) plus its impact on performance, up to four marks.
SQA N5 style4 marksExplain how two tactical features can have a positive impact on a team's attacking play.Show worked answer →
The command word is explain, so each tactical feature needs a cause and its effect on the attack, with two marks per feature.
Width. By keeping wingers wide and hugging the touchline, a team stretches the opposition defence horizontally. This creates space between defenders for central players to attack and receive passes.
Penetration. A firm, accurate pass played through a gap in the defensive line removes several defenders from the play at once. This lets a teammate receive the ball closer to goal in a one-on-one situation.
Markers reward each tactical feature named and explained (1) plus a clear positive effect on the attack (1), to a total of four.
Related dot points
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Methods of collecting information on factors impacting on performance, including why data is gathered (the cycle of analysis), general and specific observation schedules, the use of recognised standardised fitness tests, and gathering both initial (baseline) and ongoing data.
An SQA National 5 Physical Education answer on methods of collecting information about the factors impacting on performance, covering why data is gathered as part of the cycle of analysis, general and specific observation schedules, recognised standardised fitness tests, and the value of baseline and ongoing data.
- Approaches to develop performance, including selecting appropriate approaches for each factor, the use of SMART targets, and the principles of effective practice such as progression from simple to complex and from practice to game-like conditions.
An SQA National 5 Physical Education answer on approaches to develop performance, covering how to select an appropriate approach for each factor, the use of SMART targets, and the principles of effective practice such as progressing from simple to complex and from practice to game-like conditions.
Sources & how we know this
- SQA National 5 Physical Education Course Specification — SQA (2024)
- The four factors for Physical Education Courses — SQA (2013)