Punjab PSEB Senior Secondary Physical Education & Sports key terms

A planned programme of physical activity and instruction that develops fitness, movement skills, teamwork and healthy habits, usually delivered through school and college curricula.

A profession a student can enter after studying the subject, such as physical education teacher, coach, fitness trainer, sports physiotherapist, sports journalist or sports administrator.

The ability to carry out daily tasks with vigour and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with enough reserve energy to enjoy leisure and meet emergencies.

An active, deliberate lifestyle choice that integrates physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual health so a person functions at their best.

A non-communicable condition such as obesity, type 2 diabetes or hypertension whose risk rises with inactivity, poor diet, smoking or chronic stress.

The fitness components linked to good health: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition.

The fitness components that support sports performance: speed, agility, balance, coordination, power and reaction time.

A screening ratio calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared, used to classify underweight, normal, overweight and obese ranges.

The international system of athletes, federations, national committees and the IOC that organises the Olympic Games and promotes Olympism through sport.

The Latin phrase Citius, Altius, Fortius, meaning faster, higher, stronger, expressing the aspiration for effort and improvement rather than mere victory.

Five interlocking rings in blue, yellow, black, green and red on a white field, symbolising the union of five continents and athletes meeting at the Games.

An Indian national sports honour given for outstanding performance over several years, awarded to athletes in recognised disciplines, including para-sports.

An Indian national award for coaches who have consistently trained athletes to top-level performance over a sustained period.

India's highest sporting honour, renamed after hockey legend Dhyan Chand, given for spectacular and most outstanding performance in sport.

A measurable increase in body size, mass or dimensions, such as height and weight, that occurs with age and can be plotted on charts.

Progressive change in the complexity and capability of body systems, skills and behaviour, such as the maturation of bones or the ability to reason.

The transitional period between childhood and adulthood marked by puberty, rapid growth spurts and significant emotional and social change.

The stage at which reproductive organs mature and secondary sexual characteristics appear, driven by hormonal changes, usually between ages ten and sixteen.

The sequential, age-related acquisition of movement abilities, from reflexive and rudimentary actions to fundamental skills and specialised sport skills.

Basic patterns such as running, jumping, throwing, catching and striking that form the building blocks for more complex sport-specific techniques.

A diet supplying all required nutrients in correct proportions from varied foods, matched to a person's age, sex and activity level.

A nutrient needed in large amounts for energy or structure: carbohydrate, protein or fat.

A vitamin or mineral needed in small amounts for functions such as metabolism, bone formation, oxygen transport and immune defence.

A procedure that presents a task under set conditions to obtain a score or measurement, such as a sit-and-reach or a 50-metre sprint.

The numerical value or record obtained from a test, expressed in defined units such as seconds, centimetres or kilograms.

The judgement made by comparing measured results with standards or previous scores to decide progress, selection or training needs.

The standard reference posture for describing the body: standing upright, feet together, arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

Imaginary flat surfaces through the body, namely sagittal, frontal and transverse, along which joint movements are described.

The study of human movement mechanics, examining muscles, bones, joints and levers to explain how and why the body moves efficiently.

A model of bones as levers, joints as fulcrums and muscles as forces, used to classify body movements into first, second and third class.

A preparatory phase of light activity and stretching before training that raises body temperature and prepares muscles and joints for effort.

Gentle activity and stretching after exercise that helps heart rate and body temperature return gradually to resting levels.

The total volume and intensity of work an athlete performs, managed to produce adaptation while limiting fatigue and injury risk.

A state of persistent fatigue, poor performance and mood disturbance caused by training stress that exceeds recovery.

The use of prohibited performance-enhancing substances or methods, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency because it is unfair and harmful.

Permission granted to an athlete to use a normally banned medication for a genuine medical need, approved in advance under strict criteria.

An injury to a ligament, the tissue joining bone to bone, caused by overstretching or tearing, producing pain and swelling.

An injury to a muscle or tendon, the tissue joining muscle to bone, from overstretching or forceful contraction.

Immediate first aid for soft-tissue injury: rest, ice, compression and elevation, used to limit swelling and pain in the early hours.

A structured programme of exercise, therapy and gradual loading that restores strength, mobility and confidence after injury.

The internal or external drive that initiates, directs and sustains effort towards a goal, such as winning a match or improving fitness.

Drive arising from enjoyment, interest or personal satisfaction in the activity itself, rather than from rewards or pressure.

An unpleasant emotional state of worry and tension, often with raised heart rate, that can help or harm performance depending on its level.

Conduct that shows fairness, respect for opponents, officials and rules, and grace in both victory and defeat.

The principle that competition should be honest and within agreed rules, rejecting cheating, doping, violence and gamesmanship.

A basic sport-specific technique such as a pass, dribble or serve that a candidate must demonstrate in the practical examination.

A written file of fitness test scores, dates and conditions kept by the candidate to show measurement, comparison and progress.