Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

What this unit covers

This unit sits in the Sport and Society strand of Physical education and sport. It looks at why people take part in sport, what stops them, and what is done to help. Most of the material is made for secondary students, with GCSE PE and GCSE Physical Education named in the listings, and A-level PE appearing too.

Start with the influences

Begin with the flashcard deck Edexcel GCSE PE Revision. It asks plain questions such as what influences you on taking part and what socio-economic factors are. Then move to the mind maps CHIRPS GCSE PE and ANALYSE PARTICIPATION. The first breaks influences into cultural, health, image, resources, people and similar groups. The second separates internal influences, such as personality and learning, from outside ones.

Then opportunities and initiatives

Next, look at what is done to widen access. Sporting Initiatives and Agencies sets out aims such as retaining people, increasing participation and creating opportunities. Government Inicitives covers the Youth Sports Trust and its aims. For a wider view of how people move into sport, use Sports Participation Pyramid, which describes the foundation and introductory stages. Opportunities for participation AS level PE adds definitions of play, recreation and leisure.

Using quizzes and maps together

1. Read a mind map and cover the branches, then try to rebuild them from memory.
2. Take a quiz such as Factors affectng participation or participation in sport to see what slipped.
3. Return to the map for the gaps, and run the matching flashcards.

Teachers can set a map as a starter or a quiz as a quick check. The page also includes a note on 9 marker questions, useful for practising longer written answers.

Make it your own

Some resources are short on detail, so use them as a base. Choose one topic, such as barriers to participation, and build your own flashcards or map from what you find here.