QCAA Physical Education key terms

A learned, goal-directed movement performed with consistency and efficiency, such as a tennis serve or a netball pass, developed through practice rather than inherited.

Sorting skills along continua such as open versus closed, gross versus fine, and discrete versus continuous, so coaches can choose suitable practice and feedback methods.

A skill performed in a predictable environment where the performer decides when to start, such as a free throw or a gymnastics routine.

A skill performed in an unpredictable, changing environment where the performer must adapt timing and movement to external cues, such as marking an opponent in netball.

A skill in which decision making from visual or auditory information is combined with movement, for example reading a pass and intercepting it.

Predicting what will happen next from early cues in an opponent's body position or movement, allowing an athlete to react before the action is complete.

The interval between a stimulus appearing, such as a starter's signal, and the beginning of a movement response; it is shorter when the athlete is attending to relevant cues.

Information received during or after a movement that helps a learner correct or refine performance; it may come from the body itself or from an external source such as a coach.

The deliberate arrangement of training conditions, including amount, distribution, variability and game realism, to optimise learning and retention of a skill.

The influence of previously learned skills on the learning or performance of a new skill, which may help performance or interfere with it.

A push or pull that changes or tends to change an object's motion or shape, measured in newtons and often produced by muscle contraction acting on the skeleton.

Three principles describing how force affects motion: objects resist change, acceleration depends on net force and mass, and every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

The product of an object's mass and velocity, representing how difficult it is to stop; it is transferred or changed through impulse during collisions and contacts.

The product of force and the time over which it acts; increasing the time of application raises the change in momentum, as in following through when striking a ball.

The turning effect of a force about an axis, calculated as force multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the axis, which governs joint rotation and leverage.

A rigid segment that rotates about a fulcrum when force is applied, used in the body to classify joints by the arrangement of muscle, load and pivot.

The ratio of the effort arm to the resistance arm of a lever, indicating how effectively a force produces movement or how much force is needed to move a load.

The point at which the body's mass is evenly balanced in all directions; its position relative to the base of support determines stability.

The ability to resist being displaced or toppled, increased by a larger base of support, a lower centre of mass, and suitable positioning of the line of gravity.

The curved path of an object launched into the air, shaped by release angle, release speed, release height and the effects of gravity and air resistance.

The rate at which a body or segment rotates about an axis, usually expressed in degrees or radians per second, and central to swinging and throwing actions.

The rebuilding of adenosine triphosphate from ADP and phosphate so that muscle contraction can continue, achieved through phosphate, anaerobic glycolysis and aerobic pathways.

The fastest energy pathway, using stored creatine phosphate to rebuild ATP for brief, maximal efforts lasting roughly ten seconds or less.

Breakdown of glucose to pyruvate without oxygen, producing ATP quickly for high-intensity efforts of moderate duration and leaving lactate as a by-product.

Energy production in the mitochondria using oxygen to break down carbohydrate and fat, supplying large amounts of ATP slowly for sustained submaximal activity.

The volume of oxygen consumed by the body per unit time, reflecting aerobic energy production and rising with exercise intensity until a plateau is reached.

The exercise intensity at which blood lactate begins to accumulate faster than it is cleared, marking a shift toward greater reliance on anaerobic contribution.

A guideline such as specificity, overload, progression, reversibility or individuality that shapes how a program is designed to produce reliable physiological adaptation.

The organised division of a training year into phases with varying volume and intensity, aiming to peak performance for key competitions while managing fatigue.

Planned rest and restorative practices allowing the body to repair tissue, replenish energy stores and adapt to training loads, reducing injury and overtraining risk.

The internal and external forces that initiate, direct and sustain effort toward a goal, influencing persistence and choice of activity.

Engaging in an activity because it is enjoyable or personally satisfying, which tends to sustain participation longer than rewards coming from outside the person.

A person's belief in their capacity to succeed at a specific task, shaped by past success, modelling, encouragement and interpretation of arousal.

A general level of physiological and psychological activation, ranging from drowsiness to intense excitement, which can help or hinder performance depending on the task.

An unpleasant emotional state of worry and apprehension, with cognitive and physical components, often experienced before or during competition.

Establishing specific, measurable and challenging targets, with short-term steps toward long-term aims, to direct attention and sustain effort in training and competition.

The degree to which group members are attracted to the team and to each other, and remain united in pursuit of shared goals.

The process of influencing individuals and groups toward shared goals, exercised through styles such as autocratic, democratic or laissez-faire approaches.

The lifelong process through which people learn attitudes, values and behaviours regarded as appropriate in sport and physical activity settings.

Obstacles that limit involvement in physical activity, including cost, access, time, cultural expectations, disability and transport, which vary across population groups.

Fair treatment that provides opportunities matched to people's differing circumstances, aiming to remove disadvantage rather than simply offering identical conditions to all.

The motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding needed to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activity across life.

Time spent sitting or lying while awake with very low energy expenditure, such as screen time, which is associated with poorer health independent of exercise habits.

Components of fitness linked to good health and reduced disease risk, including cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition.