PATHFIT 4: Sports and Physical Education

• PATHFIT 4 focuses on sports for the second semester of the academic year 2023-2024 at Naga College Foundation.

Physical Education Defined

• Physical Education uses play or movement exploration for physical knowledge and skill transmission.
• It applies these skills and assesses the outcomes.
• It includes intramural or extracurricular sports/physical activities in schools.

The Evolution of Sports

• Sports evolved from ancient origins to modern-day spectacles.

Ancient Origins (Prehistoric to Classical Era)

• Athletic competitions were originally held as religious festivals in Ancient Greece.
• The Olympic Games began in Olympia in 776 BC to honor Zeus.
• Leaders from across Greece and its colonies participated.
• Athletes competed in boxing, wrestling, running, horse, and chariot racing, and the pentathlon.
• Winners received crowns of leaves.
• Women could not participate in the Olympic Games.
• The Heraean games were dedicated to the goddess Hera (Zeus' wife) and held every 4 years.
• Sports became more organized in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome as societies developed.
• City-states developed games such as the Pythian and Isthmian Games.

Middle Ages to Renaissance

• Organized sports declined in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
• Athletic contests persisted, often tied to religious festivals/celebrations.
• Archery, jousting, and various combat sports were popular.

Birth of Modern Sports (18th to 19th Century)

• The 18th and 19th centuries saw major changes in sports due to industrialization and urbanization.
• Increased leisure was available, enabling more people to participate in recreational activities.
• Organized sports clubs/associations established rules for sports.
• Modern soccer rules were established in mid-19th century England.
• Baseball, basketball, and American football were developed in the United States.
• The revival of the Olympic Games occurred in 1896, championed by Pierre de Coubertin.

Modern-Day Spectacles (20th Century to Present)

• The 20th century showed significant growth and commercialization in sports.
• Technology, mass media, and transportation improvements increased accessibility to global audiences.
• Sports became major entertainment, attracting crowds and creating revenue.
• The rise of professional leagues and mega-events like the FIFA World Cup, Summer/Winter Olympics increased the universal appeal.

Defining Sports

• Sports include activities needing physical actions and skills under a set of rules.
• Sports serve as active pastimes and a form of recreation.
• Sports encompasses competitive physical activity to use, maintain, or improve physical skills and abilities.
• Sports provides entertainment to participants.

Categories of Sports

• Sports are categorised as individual, dual, or team, depending on number of competitiors.
• Individual sports have one participant on each competing side.
• Dual is for sports played by two competing pairs.
• Team has three or more players.

Types of Sports

• Common types of sports are ball sports, combative, track sports, and water/snow/ice sports.
• Ball sports can be "ball only", includes a stick/bat, or played over a net.
• Combative sports involve strength and fighting.
• Track sports usually involves running, jumping, and throwing contests.
• Water, snow and ice sports refer to activities associated with elements, water, snow, and ice.

Health and Skill-Related Fitness in Sports/PAs

• Health-related fitness includes aerobic capacity, muscular strength/endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
• Skill-related fitness, also "skilled fitness" or "motor fitness" refers to agility, balance, coordination, power, reaction time, and speed.
• Agility is exemplified where the individual changes direction to escape an opponent.
• Balance is exemplified by cycling.
• Co-ordination is exemplified with hitting a ball.
• Power is examplified with weightlifting.
• Reaction time is exemplified by start to jump/dive on the pool when the signal starts.
• Speed is exemplified by running in the 100m event.

Safety Measures in Sports/Games

• Safety measurements include appropriate equipment, hydration , moderate-intensity physical activities, and assessing weather conditions.