HKSI Paper 6 key terms

The staged progression an athlete follows from first participation through to elite performance, typically spanning foundation, talent development, elite and retirement phases, each with distinct coaching, competition and support requirements.

A framework that sequences training and competition according to developmental stages such as growth, maturation and trainability, aiming to match workload and skill demand to the athlete's current physical and psychological capacity.

The systematic process of recognising individuals with potential for elite performance using anthropometric, physiological, skill and psychological measures, usually followed by confirmation through competition and longitudinal tracking.

Moving an athlete with transferable physical or technical attributes from one sport or discipline into another where those attributes are more valued, often used to fast-track athletes into emerging or high-medal-potential events.

The over-representation of athletes born early in a selection year, caused by maturation advantages within age-group cohorts; it can distort talent selection and is usually mitigated by bio-banding or corrected selection windows.

Grouping adolescent athletes by biological maturation rather than chronological age, so that training and competition demands align with physical development and late-maturing athletes are not disadvantaged in selection.

The arrangement enabling athletes to combine sport with education or employment, supported by flexible study schedules, tutoring, financial assistance and career transition advice so that retirement does not leave them without qualifications.

The planned process of leaving competitive sport, covering identity change, loss of structured support, financial and career planning, and psychological adjustment, ideally prepared well before the actual retirement date.

The holistic condition of an athlete across physical, psychological, social, educational and financial dimensions, managed through support staff, safeguarding policies and monitoring rather than performance results alone.

The planned organisation of training into cycles (macrocycle, mesocycle, microcycle) with varying volume and intensity, so that peak performance coincides with major competitions and recovery is deliberately scheduled.

The cumulative physiological and psychological stress imposed by training and competition, commonly quantified as session rating of perceived exertion multiplied by duration, and monitored to balance adaptation against injury and illness risk.

A monitoring metric comparing recent training load (for example the past week) with a longer-term rolling average (for example four weeks); large spikes above the habitual range are associated with elevated injury risk.

A planned reduction in training volume while maintaining some intensity before a key competition, allowing fatigue to dissipate so that accumulated fitness is expressed as peak performance.

The rebound above baseline capacity that follows adequate recovery from a training stimulus; if the next stimulus arrives too early or too late, the adaptation is blunted or lost.

A prolonged performance decrement with persistent fatigue, mood disturbance and hormonal changes resulting from an imbalance between training stress and recovery, requiring weeks to months of reduced load to resolve.

Regular collection of subjective and objective data such as sleep, soreness, mood and heart-rate variability to detect accumulating fatigue and adjust training before performance or health deteriorates.

The process by which athletes learn and refine movement patterns through practice, feedback and instruction, progressing from conscious control to automatic execution under competitive pressure.

Purposeful, effortful rehearsal of specific tasks with immediate feedback and clear goals, distinguished from mere repetition or play, and associated with the accumulation of expert performance over years.

The relatively permanent change in an athlete's capability for movement resulting from practice and experience, assessed by retention and transfer rather than by performance during the learning session itself.

The interdisciplinary provision of physiology, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, performance analysis and data services to coaches and athletes, integrated into training planning rather than delivered in isolation.

Systematic collection and interpretation of technical, tactical and movement data from training and competition to inform coaching decisions, opponent scouting and athlete feedback.

The application of mechanical principles to human movement, used to analyse technique, forces and loading, optimise efficiency and identify injury mechanisms in sport-specific actions.

Measurement of ground reaction forces during movements such as jumps or landings to assess strength, power, asymmetry and neuromuscular readiness, producing objective data for return-to-play and training decisions.

The strategy of aggregating many small improvements across equipment, recovery, technique and environment, on the premise that numerous modest advantages combine into a meaningful competitive edge.

Exposure to reduced oxygen partial pressure, whether live-high train-low or simulated, to stimulate red blood cell production and aerobic capacity, with careful management of acclimatisation and individual response.

The criteria-based decision process permitting an injured athlete to resume training and competition, requiring clinical recovery, restored strength and function, and graduated exposure to sport-specific loads.

Medical assessment before training or competition, including history, cardiovascular checks and musculoskeletal examination, to identify conditions that could endanger the athlete or require modified training.

Systematic recording of injury occurrence, type, severity and circumstances across a squad or sport, providing the epidemiological evidence used to design prevention programmes and evaluate their effectiveness.

A structured procedure for recognising suspected concussion, immediately removing the athlete from play, and applying graduated return-to-learn and return-to-sport steps under medical supervision.

Deliberately varying carbohydrate, protein and energy intake across training phases and sessions to match fuel demands, support recovery and body composition goals without compromising health or performance.

A syndrome of impaired physiological function, including hormonal, bone and immune effects, caused by insufficient energy availability relative to exercise expenditure, affecting both male and female athletes.

The informed and risk-managed use of dietary supplements by athletes, requiring assessment of need, evidence of benefit and batch testing to reduce the risk of inadvertent doping.

Structured practice of mental techniques such as goal setting, imagery, self-talk and arousal regulation to strengthen an athlete's ability to perform consistently under pressure.

The psychological drive directing an athlete's effort and persistence, distinguished as intrinsic (enjoyment, mastery) or extrinsic (rewards, selection), with intrinsic forms generally sustaining long-term engagement better.

The body recognised as governing a sport within a territory, responsible for membership, competition calendars, coach and official development, and selecting or nominating athletes for international representation.

The planned growth of participation and performance across a population, typically described as a pathway from foundation and participation through to talent development and elite success, delivered with partner organisations.

The structures and processes by which a sports organisation sets direction, makes decisions and is held accountable, covering board composition, delegation, risk management, transparency and conflict-of-interest handling.

The set of rules prohibiting specified substances and methods, imposing strict liability on athletes, and defining testing, results management, sanctions and athlete whereabouts obligations.

The policies and practices protecting children and vulnerable adults in sport from abuse, harassment and exploitation, including recruitment checks, codes of conduct and confidential reporting channels.