Components of fitnessComponents of fitness

Basketball is going Basketball is going to be used as the to be used as the example of example of applying applying components of components of fitness to a training fitness to a training programme.programme.

Basketball-Components of Basketball-Components of fitnessfitness

Cardio-respiratory Cardio-respiratory enduranceendurance is required is required in general so that one in general so that one can keep producing can keep producing energy aerobically and energy aerobically and to perform tasks to perform tasks involving the whole body involving the whole body for extended periods of for extended periods of time such as a game.time such as a game.

Speed (anaerobic Speed (anaerobic capacity): capacity): is required is required so that during a game so that during a game one can put the body one can put the body parts into motion quickly parts into motion quickly and sustain high and sustain high intensity efforts eg for a intensity efforts eg for a fast break or on defense fast break or on defense to catch an attacker. to catch an attacker. (Note: this component is (Note: this component is closely related to closely related to muscular strength and muscular strength and power.power.

Basketball-Components of Basketball-Components of fitnessfitness

Agility: Agility: is required for is required for changing direction changing direction quickly and retaining quickly and retaining balance eg in turning, balance eg in turning, dodging, weaving, dodging, weaving, pivoting all required in pivoting all required in the game of basketball.the game of basketball.

Coordination:Coordination: hand- hand-eye coordination is eye coordination is required to ensure tasks required to ensure tasks can be performed can be performed smoothly and accurately smoothly and accurately such as passing, such as passing, dribbling and shooting in dribbling and shooting in basketball.basketball.

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Muscular Muscular endurance: endurance: is is required so that the required so that the muscles in the legs muscles in the legs can work for long can work for long periods of time at periods of time at less than maximum less than maximum effort eg for running effort eg for running up and down the up and down the court for the court for the duration of a game. duration of a game.

Muscular Power: Muscular Power: is required to use is required to use strength quickly to strength quickly to produce an produce an explosive effort eg explosive effort eg in jumping, in jumping, dunking, three dunking, three point shots, jump point shots, jump shots, and being shots, and being quick off the mark quick off the mark etc… in the game of etc… in the game of basketball.basketball.

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Muscular strength: Muscular strength: is is required to exert against required to exert against a resistance in a single a resistance in a single maximum contraction maximum contraction eg jostling for position in eg jostling for position in basketball.basketball.

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There are obviously too many components to include There are obviously too many components to include in a training programme therefore priorities need to in a training programme therefore priorities need to be made. This may be done by focusing on be made. This may be done by focusing on weaknesses through testing, skill analysis, knowledge weaknesses through testing, skill analysis, knowledge of weaknesses or coaching. It could be driven by of weaknesses or coaching. It could be driven by inherent needs of the sport eg specialist requirements inherent needs of the sport eg specialist requirements such as speed, agility and coordination over general such as speed, agility and coordination over general components such as cardio-respiratory and muscular components such as cardio-respiratory and muscular endurance (this can also depend on the stage of the endurance (this can also depend on the stage of the season/year). It could also be positional eg a point season/year). It could also be positional eg a point guard may focus on agility, speed and coordination guard may focus on agility, speed and coordination and a forward may focus on muscular strength and and a forward may focus on muscular strength and power.power.

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In terms of components of In terms of components of fitness, what ever fitness, what ever activity/activities you choose to activity/activities you choose to apply this to you should apply this to you should measure progress by pre testing measure progress by pre testing and testing at stages during and testing at stages during your programme so that your programme so that success of goals can be success of goals can be measured.measured.