What are the components of fitness, and why does each one matter in different sports?
The health-related and skill-related components of fitness, their definitions, and a sporting example of where each is important.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on components of fitness, covering the health-related components (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, flexibility, body composition) and the skill-related components (agility, balance, coordination, power, reaction time, speed) with definitions and sporting examples.
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What this dot point is asking
WJEC wants you to define the health-related and skill-related components of fitness and give a sporting example showing where each one matters.
Health-related components of fitness
These are the components that keep your body healthy and able to cope with everyday activity and exercise.
Skill-related components of fitness
These affect how well you carry out a skill, and they matter most in games and technical events.
Matching components to a sport
A key exam skill is choosing the right components for a given activity. A performer rarely needs every component equally.
- A marathon runner relies mainly on cardiovascular and muscular endurance.
- A gymnast relies on flexibility, balance, coordination and power.
- A footballer needs cardiovascular endurance, agility, power and speed.
Why this matters
The components of fitness underpin the next two topics: fitness testing measures each component, and methods of training are chosen to develop the components a performer needs. Naming the correct component for a sport is one of the most common short-answer questions on this unit.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC style4 marksDefine agility and power, and give a sporting example where each is important.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark question: a mark for each definition and a mark for each example.
Agility is the ability to change direction quickly while keeping control and balance. An example is a rugby player side-stepping a defender, or a badminton player moving quickly around the court. Power is the combination of strength and speed, or strength performed quickly. An example is a sprinter driving out of the blocks, or a high jumper at take-off.
Markers reward a precise definition for each (agility = changing direction quickly with control; power = strength multiplied by speed) and a clear, relevant example linked to the component.
WJEC style6 marksChoose a sport and explain why three different components of fitness are important for a performer in that sport.Show worked answer →
A 6-mark question: two marks for each component, naming it and linking it to the chosen sport.
For a footballer: cardiovascular endurance is important so the player can keep running and supplying oxygen to the muscles for the full 90 minutes without tiring. Agility is important so the player can change direction quickly to beat an opponent or track a runner while keeping control of the ball. Power is important for explosive actions such as jumping for a header, shooting, or sprinting onto a through ball.
The top band names three appropriate components and gives a clear sport-specific reason for each, rather than just defining them. Any sensible choice of sport and components is credited if the links are correct.
Related dot points
- The standard fitness tests matched to each component of fitness, how each test is carried out, and the reasons for testing, including reliability and validity.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on fitness testing, covering the standard test for each component of fitness, how each is carried out and measured, the reasons for testing, and what reliability and validity mean when interpreting results.
- The methods of training (continuous, interval, fartlek, circuit, weight, plyometric and flexibility), what each develops, and how to choose a method to suit the individual and the activity.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on methods of training, covering continuous, interval, fartlek, circuit, weight, plyometric and flexibility training, what component of fitness each develops, and how to select a method to suit the performer and their sport.
- The principles of training (specificity, progression, overload, reversibility and variance), how overload is applied through the FITT principle, and the idea of individual needs and tedium.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on the principles of training, covering specificity, progression, overload, reversibility and variance, how overload is applied through the FITT principle (frequency, intensity, time, type), and why training must be individual and avoid tedium.
- The definitions of health, fitness and well-being, the relationship between them, and the physical, mental and social benefits of taking part in physical activity.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on health, fitness and well-being, covering the precise definition of each term, how the three are linked, and the physical, mental and social benefits of a physically active lifestyle that examiners reward.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Physical Education specification (from 2016) — WJEC (2016)