Lesson 5 - Exercise Effects on Performance
Fitness Fundamentals & Lifelong Health
•Year 9
•Health Related Fitness
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How does fatigue affect your body's ability to perform skills, and what does this teach us about training for sport?
Learning Objectives
- To understand that exercise has both short-term and long-term effects on the body
- To know and be able to describe in their own words, the effects that exercise has on the body
- To make a link between the influence of health-related fitness on skill-related fitness and how this impacts performance in team sports
Key Outcomes
- Students will be able to explain the difference between short-term and long-term effects of exercise
- Students will demonstrate understanding of how fatigue affects skill performance through practical testing
- Students will analyse the relationship between fitness levels and sporting performance
Equipment & Resources Required
Distributed to each testing pair before activity begins
Alternative: Mobile phone timer apps, large classroom clock
Pre-printed with test names and space for before/after results
Alternative: Tablets with digital recording apps
Check all rulers are straight and undamaged
Alternative: Metre sticks cut to size
Ensure adequate wall space for safe testing
Alternative: Small foam balls, bean bags
Set up 4 Illinois test courses around hall perimeter
Alternative: Sports markers, chalk lines
Spaced 2 metres apart for safety
Alternative: Towels, foam padding
Check stability and non-slip surface
Alternative: Benches, sturdy boxes (max 30cm height)
Key Vocabulary
Extreme tiredness caused by excessive exercise that reduces performance quality
Immediate changes in the body during and just after exercise (increased heart rate, breathing, sweating)
Adaptations that occur over weeks/months of regular exercise (stronger heart, increased muscle mass)
The ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently
The ability to focus attention on a task without being distracted
A reduction in the quality or effectiveness of skill execution
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Understanding of basic fitness components (strength, endurance, flexibility)
- Experience with fitness testing procedures
- Knowledge of warm-up and cool-down principles
Current Skills
- Conducting skill-related fitness tests accurately
- Understanding the immediate effects of fatigue
- Linking fitness levels to performance quality
Next Steps
- Designing training programmes to combat fatigue
- Understanding periodisation in sports training
- Applying fitness knowledge to specific sports
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Fatigue affects both physical and mental aspects of performance
- Different skills are affected by fatigue in different ways
- Accurate baseline testing is essential for meaningful comparisons
- Safety awareness becomes more important as fatigue increases
- Individual responses to fatigue vary significantly
- Understanding fatigue helps athletes train more effectively
- Recovery is an active process that can be managed and improved
Common Misconceptions
- That fatigue only affects muscles - clarify that it impacts brain function too
- That everyone should respond to fatigue the same way - emphasise individual differences
- That fatigue is always negative - explain how it drives adaptation
- That fitness testing scores define athletic ability - focus on learning and improvement
- That pushing through fatigue is always beneficial - teach importance of recognising limits
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break activities into shorter segments, provide frequent positive feedback, allow movement breaks as needed, use clear visual and auditory signals
dyspraxia
- Allow extra practice time for test techniques, provide simplified instruction sequences, use larger or modified equipment for easier handling
autism spectrum
- Provide clear visual schedule of lesson progression, establish quiet recovery zones, use consistent routines and predictable structure
visual impairment
- Use brightly coloured equipment, provide verbal descriptions of all visual demonstrations, assign sighted buddy for safety during movement activities
hearing impairment
- Ensure clear visual demonstrations, use hand signals for timing and instructions, provide written instruction cards at each station
physical disability
- Modify exercises to seated or supported versions, adjust test protocols to individual capabilities, use alternative equipment as needed
Cross-Curricular Links
Science
Physiological effects of exercise on cardiovascular and respiratory systems, energy systems and metabolism, adaptation responses
Health Education
Understanding personal fitness levels, importance of recovery in exercise programmes, recognising body signals and limits
Mathematics
Data collection and analysis, calculating percentage changes, graphing results, statistical comparison of before/after measurements
Psychology
Effects of fatigue on concentration and decision-making, motivation and resilience, self-perception and confidence
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move constantly between stations during circuit, position centrally during testing for maximum visibility of all pairs
Observation Focus
Watch for signs of excessive fatigue, maintain awareness of safety at all times, note individual responses to exercise
Intervention Points
Step in immediately if students show signs of distress, provide individual modifications as needed, ensure proper test technique maintained
Demonstration Notes
Use exaggerated movements to show correct technique clearly, demonstrate common errors to avoid, model appropriate intensity levels for different fitness levels
Verbal Cues
- •'Listen to your body - stop if you need to'
- •'Good technique is more important than speed'
- •'Remember to breathe during all exercises'
- •'Focus on your own progress, not comparing to others'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Full sports hall (minimum 30m x 20m) with clear boundaries and adequate ventilation
Surface Check
Non-slip, clean surface free from obstacles, with emergency exit routes clearly marked
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check all rulers are undamaged and safe to handle
- •Ensure step platforms are stable and appropriate height
- •Verify wall surfaces are suitable for ball throwing exercises
- •Confirm cones are visible and won't cause tripping hazards
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Exercise-induced fatigue leading to injury
- •Collisions during circuit activities
- •Overexertion during maximum effort exercises
- •Falls during balance testing or agility runs
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear briefing on individual limits and stopping procedures
- •Adequate spacing between exercise stations
- •Partner supervision throughout all activities
- •Progressive intensity build-up in circuit exercises
- •Immediate access to water and rest areas
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position teacher for maximum visibility of all stations
- •Extra attention during high-intensity circuit exercises
- •Monitor students showing signs of excessive fatigue
- •Ensure proper technique maintenance as fatigue increases
Emergency Procedures
STOP signal recognised by all students, immediate assessment of any incidents, appropriate first aid response, access to school medical support if needed