Glossary of Physical Education Terms
quick and physical movement using agility and vigorous action.
Adventure activities
using outdoor situations and purposeful activities to provide an environment for learning.
Aerobic
brisk physical activity that requires the heart and lungs to work harder to meet the body’s increased oxygen demand. The exercises place demand on the heart and lungs and can be sustained for extended periods of time.
Anaerobic
an energy system used for exercising which supplies a limited amount of energy and does not use oxygen.
Apparatus
tool or piece of physical education equipment used for specific activity.
Bone strengthening
a type of physical activity that produces force on the bones and promotes bone growth and strength. This force is commonly caused by impact with the ground (e.g., running, jumping rope).
Bunt
to bat (a pitched ball) very gently so that it rolls into the infield close to home plate.
Capitalizing on an advantage
taking advantage of an opponent’s mistake to create a defensive or offensive edge (player strategy).
Cardiorespiratory fitness assessment
is a measure of the heart and lung’s functionality and includes the ability of the heart, the blood vessels, and the respiratory system to deliver oxygen efficiently over an extended period of time.
Cart wheel
athletic movement in which you move sideways by placing one hand and then the other on the ground lifting your feet into the air and then landing on one foot and then the other.
Cool-down
a period of light activity following exercise that allows the body to slow down and return to near resting rates.
Critical element
the key components of a motor skill that can be observed, the sum of which result in movement efficiency.
Cross-training
the act of using a variety of different techniques of physical activities for training purposes.
Curling
a term used in primary grade physical education meaning the body is formed in a fetal position.
Cutting
an offensive player (A) runs so close to a stationary offensive player (B) that the defender cannot guard the first offensive player (A) without the risk of colliding into the stationary offensive player (B).
Defense
relating to the way that players try to stop an opponent from scoring in a game or contest.
Defensive strategies/tactics
a process of implementing techniques to prevent the offense from operating efficiently on the playing field.
Deflection
the act of changing or causing an object to change direction.
Dynamic environment
skills performed in an environment that is unpredictable and in motion. The goal for performers is to adapt movements in response to the ever-changing environment. Examples include invasion games like ultimate Frisbee and soccer and net/wall games such as volleyball and tennis.
Extrinsic motivation
motivation derived from outside of one’s self, an external motivator.
Fakes and pathways
assimilated movement in a sports contest trying to deceive an opponent to open up an area on the court or field. (offensive strategies)
Fitness assessments
a series of exercises designed to determine an individual’s level of fitness, cardiorespiratory, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
Fitness components
are comprised of cardiorespiratory, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
FITT formula
FITT is an acronym for Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type, which are four key ways that activity can be manipulated to create a desired outcome.
Foot-dribbles
an action in which a player uses alternate feet to move the ball.
Force
an action that causes a body’s mass to accelerate.
Fundamental Motor Skills
locomotor and nonlocomotor skills that form the foundation for nearly all physical activities.
Game environment
a physical activity or contest that has rules and is played in a specific area (e.g., field, court).
General space
a main or major area that is used or available for a specific purpose or sport.
Give and go
a very basic play where after passing to a teammate, the passer quickly cuts toward the basket and receives the return pass back from his team-mate for a layup. (offensive strategy)
Giving on reception
pulling hands, feet or implement (hockey stick) slightly away when receiving a pass so the impact is not as great.
Handstand
the act of balancing on your hands with the body and legs straight up in the air.
Health-related fitness
comprises five main areas: cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, muscular endurance and strength, body strength can be integrated into regular everyday activities.
Health risk factors
ways in which a person might behave, plus characteristics of the environment in which a person lives that threatens their health, safety, and well-being.
High arc
an elevated path of an object in an arched or curved manner.
Interception
a pass either by a hand or foot which being caught by an opposing player results in a transfer of possession.
Intrinsic motivation
motivation that comes from inside of one’s self, internal motivation.
Invasion
a strategy that involves players contesting a shared space while defending an area and attacking another area.
Inverted position
Balance and transfers of weight in educational gymnastics in which the head is lower than the hips.
Jab step
an offensive skill executed by stepping sharply with one foot toward an opponent to cause the opponent to hesitate or go backward, thereby creating space for the offensive player.
Jog
is a form of running at a slow or moderate pace.
Lacrosse
an outdoor game in which players use long-handled sticks with nets for catching, throwing, and carrying the ball.
Line drive
a sharply hit ball that is low in the air.
Locomotor
includes any activity that uses a large amount of oxygen and requires the body to burn many calories.
Long-handled implement
a piece of equipment or tool that has an extended handle. (e.g., golf club, hockey stick)
Major muscle group
a large group of body tissue that contracts and produces movement. Major muscle groups include abdominal, back, bicep, chest, leg(upper and lower), shoulders, and triceps.
Manipulative skills
skills in which a student handles an object or implement with the hands, feet, or other body parts.
Mature pattern
executing, with efficiency, the critical elements of the motor skill pattern in an authentic environment. (for definitions and illustrations refer to critical elements hyperlink)
Mechanical advantage
the benefit gained by the use of a specific body part for the purpose of transmitting force.
Modified games
simplifying a game to create opportunities for greater student participation and success.
Movement concepts
baseline characteristics of physical activity.
Muscular tension
a condition in which muscles of the body remain semi-contracted for an extended period of time.
Movement concept
is a classification of human action that assists students in understanding the relationship between the body and motion. There are four types: space awareness, body awareness, effort of movement, and relationships.
Mule kick
a type of exercise where one starts in a squatting position with hands resting on the floor then proceeds to kick both legs and feet in a backward and upward kick.
Newton’s Law
a description of a relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it and the body’s motion in response to these forces.
Nonlocomotor
movements performed without the body traveling through space. Skills performed in place, without appreciable spatial movement. (e.g., bending, stretching, pushing, pulling)
Offense
the part of the team play that is designed to score points.
Offensive strategies/tactics
opportunity in a competitive game situation to combine skill practice, tactical understanding, and game play in combination to form one functioning unit.
Paddleball
a court game that uses one, two, or three walls. A small paddle is used to hit the ball off the wall or walls.
Personal space (self-space)
the limited area around an individual that can be used by them.
Pickleball
a racquet sport in which two to four players use wooden paddles to hit a perforated ball over a net.
Pivots and fakes
the act of changing direction by keeping one foot planted on the ground and stepping in various directions with the other foot; to feint a pass or move against the opposition.
Plank position
an isometric core strength exercise that involves maintaining a difficult position for extended periods of time (e.g., holding the pushup position on the forearms).
Proper body orientation
the player’s non-dominant side faces the pitcher.
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE)
a way of measuring physical activity intensity levels based on one’s own personal experience.
Ready position
the stance you want to be in when you anticipate your opponent’s to make a move.
Reducing passing angles
using your body and quickness to cut off the direction of the pass.
Resistance training
an activity that places an additional force against the muscle or muscle group.
Safe protocols
informing or instructing students regarding the appropriate procedures to insure safety.
Self-officiating
when a player calls a self-committed foul or error.
Self-space
The limited area around an individual that can be used by them.
Short-handled implement
a piece of equipment or tool that has a short handle. (e.g., paddle ball, pickleball, racquetball)
Side orientation
the player’s non-dominant side faces the pitcher.
Skill-related fitness
activities that help improve performance in motor skills related to games and athletics.
Slap and run
A bunt and run.
Small-sided
tasks and activities designed to practice particular skills.
Spring-and-step takeoff
to move or cause to move suddenly upwards or forwards in a single motion.
Sprinting
To run or go at top speed, especially for a short distance.
Static environment
skills performed in a closed environment that is predictable and constant (e.g., shooting a free throw).
Strategies
The techniques and designs Stretching- Slowing reaching to pull muscles longer which are used to improve the probability of success.
Stretching
Slowing reaching to pull muscles longer.
Supportive Bases
The base of support involves the relationship between you and the surface you are performing on. It includes the points of contact you have with the surface on which you are performing.
Trajectories
the path followed by an object moving through space.
Transitions
take place when a player or team transfers from an offensive position to a defensive position or just the opposite.
Wall games
a sporting game or drill where a wall is used to bounce the ball back to the player.
Warm-up
a period of light activity or gentle skill practice prior to physical exertion and/or motor performance.