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Fun Fitness Facts for GCSE PE: Learn the 12 Components and 7 Training Principles

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Sophia + Charlotte

17/09/2025

Science

Physical training

991

17 Sept 2025

3 pages

Fun Fitness Facts for GCSE PE: Learn the 12 Components and 7 Training Principles

This document covers components of fitness, fitness testing, and principles... Show more

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Components of fitness
Health-The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Planning Training Programmes

This page delves into the principles of training and provides guidance on planning effective training programmes. It introduces key concepts such as FITT and SPORT principles.

The FITT principle is explained as:

  • Frequency: How often you should exercise
  • Intensity: How hard you should exercise
  • Time: How long you should exercise for
  • Type: What exercises and methods of training you should use

Highlight: The FITT principle is a fundamental concept in principles of training GCSE PE, helping students understand how to structure effective workout routines.

The SPORT principles are outlined as:

  • Specificity: Matching training to the activity and components of fitness to be developed
  • Progressive Overload: Gradually increasing the amount of overload for fitness gains without injury
  • Reversibility: Fitness improvements will be lost if training stops
  • Tedium: Training needs to be varied to prevent boredom

Vocabulary: Overtraining occurs when there isn't enough rest between training sessions, which can lead to injury.

The importance of rest and recovery is emphasized, explaining that the body adapts during these periods. The document warns about the risks of overtraining and the need to balance rest with training to prevent reversibility.

Example: If an athlete trains too frequently without adequate rest, they may experience overtraining symptoms such as fatigue, decreased performance, and increased risk of injury.

The page also introduces concepts related to heart rate and exercise intensity:

  • Resting heart rate: Heart beats per minute when not doing anything
  • Working heart rate: Heart beats per minute during exercise
  • Maximum heart rate: Calculated as 220 minus age

Definition: Anaerobic exercise is high-intensity, short-burst activity lasting less than 30 seconds, where the heart doesn't have time to supply oxygen to working muscles.

Definition: Aerobic exercise is steady, lower-intensity activity that requires the heart to transport oxygen to working muscles.

Components of fitness
Health-The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Training Intensities and Methods

This page focuses on training intensities, target zones, and various types of training methods. It provides detailed information on how to calculate and use heart rate data for effective training.

The document explains training target zones:

  • Anaerobic training threshold: 80-100% of maximum heart rate
  • Aerobic training threshold: 60-80% of maximum heart rate

Highlight: Training within these thresholds maximizes the chance of fitness adaptations, which is crucial for improving components of physical fitness.

The page also discusses intensity guidelines for different training goals:

  • Muscular endurance training: Lower weight, more repetitions below70below 70% of one-rep max
  • Strength training: Higher weight, fewer repetitions above70above 70% of one-rep max

Example: For muscular endurance, an athlete might perform 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions with a weight that is 60% of their one-rep max.

The document then outlines various types of training methods:

  1. Continuous training: Training without rest, developing aerobic fitness and muscular endurance
  2. Fartlek training: A type of continuous training with varying intensities, improving both cardiovascular and muscular endurance
  3. Interval training: Alternating periods of work and rest, developing both cardiovascular endurance and anaerobic fitness
  4. Weight/resistance training: Using muscles against resistance to improve strength and muscular endurance
  5. Circuit training: Involving multiple exercises in succession

Vocabulary: Fartlek is a Swedish term meaning "speed play," referring to the alternating intensities used in this training method.

These training methods are essential components of principles of training programmes physical fitness, allowing athletes to target specific fitness goals and improve overall performance.

Components of fitness
Health-The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Components of Fitness and Fitness Testing

This page introduces the fundamental concepts of health and fitness, followed by a detailed explanation of the components of fitness. It also covers fitness testing methods and their limitations.

Definition: Health is defined as "The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Definition: Fitness is defined as "The ability to cope with the demands of the environment."

The document lists 11 components of physical fitness, using the mnemonic "Big Fat Men Munch Cookies RSPCA":

  1. Balance
  2. Flexibility
  3. Muscular strength
  4. Muscular endurance
  5. Cardiovascular endurance
  6. Reaction time
  7. Speed
  8. Power
  9. Coordination
  10. Agility

Example: The sit and reach test is used to measure flexibility, while the multi-stage fitness test assesses cardiovascular endurance.

The page also discusses fitness testing, explaining that tests are used to measure specific components of fitness. It mentions that test results can be compared to national averages and used to monitor progress throughout a training programme.

Highlight: Fitness tests can be carried out before, during, and after a training programme to track improvements in specific components of fitness.

Lastly, the page addresses limitations of fitness testing, including:

  • Tests may not replicate specific sporting actions
  • The testing environment is not competitive
  • Results may be affected by motivation levels
  • There is potential for inaccurate results

Vocabulary: Quantitative data focuses on measuring things and is given in numbers, while qualitative data focuses on understanding things and is given in words.



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Where can I download the Knowunity app?

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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.

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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

 

Science

991

17 Sept 2025

3 pages

Fun Fitness Facts for GCSE PE: Learn the 12 Components and 7 Training Principles

This document covers components of fitness, fitness testing, and principles of training for GCSE PE. It provides detailed information on various aspects of physical fitness and training methods.

Components of Fitness and Fitness Testing:

  • Defines health and fitness
  • Lists... Show more

Components of fitness
Health-The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

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

Planning Training Programmes

This page delves into the principles of training and provides guidance on planning effective training programmes. It introduces key concepts such as FITT and SPORT principles.

The FITT principle is explained as:

  • Frequency: How often you should exercise
  • Intensity: How hard you should exercise
  • Time: How long you should exercise for
  • Type: What exercises and methods of training you should use

Highlight: The FITT principle is a fundamental concept in principles of training GCSE PE, helping students understand how to structure effective workout routines.

The SPORT principles are outlined as:

  • Specificity: Matching training to the activity and components of fitness to be developed
  • Progressive Overload: Gradually increasing the amount of overload for fitness gains without injury
  • Reversibility: Fitness improvements will be lost if training stops
  • Tedium: Training needs to be varied to prevent boredom

Vocabulary: Overtraining occurs when there isn't enough rest between training sessions, which can lead to injury.

The importance of rest and recovery is emphasized, explaining that the body adapts during these periods. The document warns about the risks of overtraining and the need to balance rest with training to prevent reversibility.

Example: If an athlete trains too frequently without adequate rest, they may experience overtraining symptoms such as fatigue, decreased performance, and increased risk of injury.

The page also introduces concepts related to heart rate and exercise intensity:

  • Resting heart rate: Heart beats per minute when not doing anything
  • Working heart rate: Heart beats per minute during exercise
  • Maximum heart rate: Calculated as 220 minus age

Definition: Anaerobic exercise is high-intensity, short-burst activity lasting less than 30 seconds, where the heart doesn't have time to supply oxygen to working muscles.

Definition: Aerobic exercise is steady, lower-intensity activity that requires the heart to transport oxygen to working muscles.

Components of fitness
Health-The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

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

Training Intensities and Methods

This page focuses on training intensities, target zones, and various types of training methods. It provides detailed information on how to calculate and use heart rate data for effective training.

The document explains training target zones:

  • Anaerobic training threshold: 80-100% of maximum heart rate
  • Aerobic training threshold: 60-80% of maximum heart rate

Highlight: Training within these thresholds maximizes the chance of fitness adaptations, which is crucial for improving components of physical fitness.

The page also discusses intensity guidelines for different training goals:

  • Muscular endurance training: Lower weight, more repetitions below70below 70% of one-rep max
  • Strength training: Higher weight, fewer repetitions above70above 70% of one-rep max

Example: For muscular endurance, an athlete might perform 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions with a weight that is 60% of their one-rep max.

The document then outlines various types of training methods:

  1. Continuous training: Training without rest, developing aerobic fitness and muscular endurance
  2. Fartlek training: A type of continuous training with varying intensities, improving both cardiovascular and muscular endurance
  3. Interval training: Alternating periods of work and rest, developing both cardiovascular endurance and anaerobic fitness
  4. Weight/resistance training: Using muscles against resistance to improve strength and muscular endurance
  5. Circuit training: Involving multiple exercises in succession

Vocabulary: Fartlek is a Swedish term meaning "speed play," referring to the alternating intensities used in this training method.

These training methods are essential components of principles of training programmes physical fitness, allowing athletes to target specific fitness goals and improve overall performance.

Components of fitness
Health-The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

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

Components of Fitness and Fitness Testing

This page introduces the fundamental concepts of health and fitness, followed by a detailed explanation of the components of fitness. It also covers fitness testing methods and their limitations.

Definition: Health is defined as "The complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Definition: Fitness is defined as "The ability to cope with the demands of the environment."

The document lists 11 components of physical fitness, using the mnemonic "Big Fat Men Munch Cookies RSPCA":

  1. Balance
  2. Flexibility
  3. Muscular strength
  4. Muscular endurance
  5. Cardiovascular endurance
  6. Reaction time
  7. Speed
  8. Power
  9. Coordination
  10. Agility

Example: The sit and reach test is used to measure flexibility, while the multi-stage fitness test assesses cardiovascular endurance.

The page also discusses fitness testing, explaining that tests are used to measure specific components of fitness. It mentions that test results can be compared to national averages and used to monitor progress throughout a training programme.

Highlight: Fitness tests can be carried out before, during, and after a training programme to track improvements in specific components of fitness.

Lastly, the page addresses limitations of fitness testing, including:

  • Tests may not replicate specific sporting actions
  • The testing environment is not competitive
  • Results may be affected by motivation levels
  • There is potential for inaccurate results

Vocabulary: Quantitative data focuses on measuring things and is given in numbers, while qualitative data focuses on understanding things and is given in words.

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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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