Understanding key GCSE PE definitions is essential for Paper 2... Show more
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phoebe
02/12/2025
Physical Education
definitions for AQA GCSE PE paper 2
606
•
2 Dec 2025
•
Key Definitions for AQA GCSE PE Paper 2
phoebe
@phoebe.clegg
1 / 4
Core Sports Psychology and Behaviour Terms
Ever wondered why some athletes perform better under pressure whilst others crumble? Arousal explains this - it's your mental and physical state of readiness that ranges from sleepy to absolutely buzzing with energy. Getting this right is crucial for peak performance.
Ability is what you're born with - those natural talents that make learning certain skills easier. Think of it as your sporting potential waiting to be unlocked. Meanwhile, skill is what you actually learn and develop through practice - it's about performing actions with maximum success and minimum wasted effort.
The contract to compete might sound formal, but it's simply the unwritten agreement that all players will follow the rules and give their best effort. Without this mutual respect, sport wouldn't work. Gamesmanship pushes these boundaries - it's bending (but not breaking) rules to gain an advantage, like time-wasting when you're winning.
Quick Tip: Remember that ability is inherited, but skills are learned - this distinction often appears in exam questions!
Sports Behaviour and Motivation
Etiquette governs how we behave in sport - those unwritten rules like shaking hands after a match or not celebrating excessively when winning. It's about respect and sportsmanship, even though it's not officially enforced.
Aggression in sport comes in two forms. Direct aggression involves actual physical contact with opponents (think rugby tackles), whilst indirect aggression targets objects instead - like smashing a tennis racket in frustration. Hooliganism takes this too far, describing violent, disorderly behaviour by spectators that brings sport into disrepute.
Your drive to succeed comes from two sources. Intrinsic motivation bubbles up from within - you play because you genuinely love it. Extrinsic motivation comes from external rewards like trophies, money, or recognition from others. The best athletes usually combine both types.
Home field advantage is real - familiar surroundings and supportive crowds genuinely boost performance. Meanwhile, deviance describes behaviour that goes against sport's moral values or rules.
Remember: Intrinsic = Internal drive, Extrinsic = External rewards - use this memory trick in exams!
Health, Fitness and Performance Enhancement
Health isn't just about not being ill - it's complete physical, social and mental wellbeing. Fitness is more specific: your ability to meet the demands of your environment, whether that's climbing stairs or running a marathon. A sedentary lifestyle with little physical activity threatens both.
Commercialisation and sponsorship dominate modern sport. Commercialisation means running sport like a business to make profit, whilst sponsorship involves companies providing support in exchange for advertising opportunities. The media amplifies this through various technologies that reach mass audiences.
Performance-enhancing drugs come in several dangerous forms. Anabolic steroids are artificial male hormones that build muscle but cause serious side effects. Beta blockers calm nerves by controlling heart rate - useful in precision sports like archery but banned in most competitions.
Blood doping and EPO both artificially increase red blood cells, boosting oxygen delivery to muscles. Diuretics remove body fluid to help athletes make weight categories, whilst narcotic analgesics mask pain that should warn athletes of injury.
Health Warning: All these drugs carry serious health risks and are banned in competitive sport - the short-term gains aren't worth the long-term consequences!
Advanced Drug Categories
Peptide hormones work by stimulating your body's natural hormone production, particularly those that increase red blood cell count and oxygen-carrying capacity. They're essentially tricking your body into producing more of what it already makes naturally.
Stimulants target your central nervous system, ramping up mental alertness and physical energy levels. Think caffeine on steroids - they make athletes feel more awake and energetic, but come with significant health risks and are banned in competition.
These final drug categories complete the picture of how athletes might attempt to gain unfair advantages. However, anti-doping agencies are constantly developing new detection methods, and the health consequences make these substances incredibly dangerous choices.
Exam Focus: Know the specific effects of each drug type - questions often ask you to match drugs to their effects or explain why certain sports might see particular drugs used.
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Stefan S
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Key Definitions for AQA GCSE PE Paper 2
phoebe
@phoebe.clegg
Understanding key GCSE PE definitions is essential for Paper 2 success. These terms cover everything from sports psychology and behaviour to performance-enhancing drugs - concepts that appear frequently in exam questions and real sporting situations.
Core Sports Psychology and Behaviour Terms
Ever wondered why some athletes perform better under pressure whilst others crumble? Arousal explains this - it's your mental and physical state of readiness that ranges from sleepy to absolutely buzzing with energy. Getting this right is crucial for peak performance.
Ability is what you're born with - those natural talents that make learning certain skills easier. Think of it as your sporting potential waiting to be unlocked. Meanwhile, skill is what you actually learn and develop through practice - it's about performing actions with maximum success and minimum wasted effort.
The contract to compete might sound formal, but it's simply the unwritten agreement that all players will follow the rules and give their best effort. Without this mutual respect, sport wouldn't work. Gamesmanship pushes these boundaries - it's bending (but not breaking) rules to gain an advantage, like time-wasting when you're winning.
Quick Tip: Remember that ability is inherited, but skills are learned - this distinction often appears in exam questions!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sports Behaviour and Motivation
Etiquette governs how we behave in sport - those unwritten rules like shaking hands after a match or not celebrating excessively when winning. It's about respect and sportsmanship, even though it's not officially enforced.
Aggression in sport comes in two forms. Direct aggression involves actual physical contact with opponents (think rugby tackles), whilst indirect aggression targets objects instead - like smashing a tennis racket in frustration. Hooliganism takes this too far, describing violent, disorderly behaviour by spectators that brings sport into disrepute.
Your drive to succeed comes from two sources. Intrinsic motivation bubbles up from within - you play because you genuinely love it. Extrinsic motivation comes from external rewards like trophies, money, or recognition from others. The best athletes usually combine both types.
Home field advantage is real - familiar surroundings and supportive crowds genuinely boost performance. Meanwhile, deviance describes behaviour that goes against sport's moral values or rules.
Remember: Intrinsic = Internal drive, Extrinsic = External rewards - use this memory trick in exams!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Health, Fitness and Performance Enhancement
Health isn't just about not being ill - it's complete physical, social and mental wellbeing. Fitness is more specific: your ability to meet the demands of your environment, whether that's climbing stairs or running a marathon. A sedentary lifestyle with little physical activity threatens both.
Commercialisation and sponsorship dominate modern sport. Commercialisation means running sport like a business to make profit, whilst sponsorship involves companies providing support in exchange for advertising opportunities. The media amplifies this through various technologies that reach mass audiences.
Performance-enhancing drugs come in several dangerous forms. Anabolic steroids are artificial male hormones that build muscle but cause serious side effects. Beta blockers calm nerves by controlling heart rate - useful in precision sports like archery but banned in most competitions.
Blood doping and EPO both artificially increase red blood cells, boosting oxygen delivery to muscles. Diuretics remove body fluid to help athletes make weight categories, whilst narcotic analgesics mask pain that should warn athletes of injury.
Health Warning: All these drugs carry serious health risks and are banned in competitive sport - the short-term gains aren't worth the long-term consequences!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Advanced Drug Categories
Peptide hormones work by stimulating your body's natural hormone production, particularly those that increase red blood cell count and oxygen-carrying capacity. They're essentially tricking your body into producing more of what it already makes naturally.
Stimulants target your central nervous system, ramping up mental alertness and physical energy levels. Think caffeine on steroids - they make athletes feel more awake and energetic, but come with significant health risks and are banned in competition.
These final drug categories complete the picture of how athletes might attempt to gain unfair advantages. However, anti-doping agencies are constantly developing new detection methods, and the health consequences make these substances incredibly dangerous choices.
Exam Focus: Know the specific effects of each drug type - questions often ask you to match drugs to their effects or explain why certain sports might see particular drugs used.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content in Physical Education
Most popular content
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user