OCR GCSE Physical Education: Sports Psychology

A coach is teaching two skills to beginners: a forward roll in gymnastics and a rally in a game of badminton against an opponent.

Analyse these two skills using the difficulty (simple–complex) continuum and the environmental (open–closed) continuum, justifying where each skill sits on each continuum. (6 marks)

A swimmer sets the following target with her coach: "I will improve my swimming."

The coach says the target needs to follow the SMART principle (the OCR version: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Recorded, Timed).

(a) State what the "R" and the "T" stand for in the OCR SMART acronym, and briefly explain each. (2 marks)

(b) Rewrite the swimmer's vague target "I will improve my swimming" as a SMART target. (2 marks)

Guidance is the information given to a learner to help them develop a skill. OCR identifies four types of guidance.

(a) A coach physically supports a gymnast through a vault to help them feel the correct movement. Name this type of guidance. (1 mark)

(b) Name one other type of guidance and give a sporting example of how it could be used with a beginner. (2 marks)

Performers receive different types of feedback about their performance. OCR requires knowledge of six types, including intrinsic and extrinsic feedback.

(a) Explain the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic feedback. (2 marks)

(b) State which type of feedback (intrinsic or extrinsic) a beginner is likely to depend on more, and give a brief reason. (1 mark)

Before competing, many performers use mental preparation techniques to get into the right state to perform.

Describe how mental rehearsal (imagery) could help a performer prepare for an event, using a sporting example. (2 marks)

On the environmental continuum, a javelin throw is performed in a stable, predictable environment that the thrower controls, with no opponent to react to.

Name the end of the environmental continuum (open or closed) on which a javelin throw sits. (1 mark)