Hello and welcome to BTEC Sport!
My name is Nicky Avery and I’m the Head of Department for Sport and Public Services. I’m really pleased you’ve chosen to study Sport at Reigate College and I’m looking forward to welcoming you to our busy department in person at the start of the academic year.
To make sure you’re ready for the course, I’d like you to complete a series of tasks and activities over the coming months. These tasks will be the same whether you’re planning on taking the Extended Certificate (the equivalent of one A Level) or the Diploma course (the equivalent of two A Levels).
Whichever course you’ve chosen, you’ll have the chance to share what you’ve learnt in September so please throw yourself into each activity, and above all enjoy them.
The tasks will be released here, in three phases (see table below) and should be completed by Choices Day on 1 September 2021. Please throw yourself into them and above all enjoy them!
Please note, some Course Leaders (for example for Music) may release their tasks earlier, as they may form part of the College’s audition process. If this applies to you, you’ll be notified separately.
New Starters Course Tasks and Activities
| Release date | To be completed by | |
| Explore your Subject | 1 June | 1 July |
| Get Going | 1 July | 1 Aug |
| Aim High | 1 Aug | 1 Sep |
Explore your Subject
Fitness training and programming
Knowledge of fitness training and programming is essential for Unit 2 of BTEC Level 3 Sport.
Breaking it down
It’s important to have a good understanding of the components of fitness, both physical and skill-related.
Task 1: Watch the following video on Ronaldo and answer the questions below.
- Which fitness components can you identify?
- Why is each fitness component you have identified important in sport?
Know your Sport!
An essential skill within any BTEC subject is being able to research and interpret information from the Internet.
Task 2: Choose a sport and then use the Internet to do some research into that sport to find out the following information (the websites listed below may help you with this):
- Describe three suitable training methods a performer would use for this sport;
- List three benefits a performer would gain by using this training method;
- Outline how a performer would use the principles of training (eg. SPORT and FITT) when developing their training programme.
Lifestyle choices
Most people know the importance of exercise, yet fail to participate on a regular basis and experience the true benefits.
Task 3: State five lifestyle factors you think influence the choices that people make. These can be positive or negative.
Useful websites:
You may find the following websites useful in your research for the above tasks.
https://prezi.com/rzjzp42nvh0e/lifestyle-factors-affecting-sport-training-and-performance/ (this link only works on Google Chrome.)
Get Going
Understanding Anatomy and Physiology
Basic knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology is essential for Unit 1 of the Sport, BTEC Level 3 course. You will need to be familiar with the following body systems:
- Skeletal system – bone locations, skeletal functions, joint types and sporting movements
- Muscular system – muscle locations, muscle types, antagonistic muscle action and fibre types
- Respiratory system – lung structure and function, breathing mechanisms and lung volumes
- Cardiovascular system – heart structure and function, blood vessels and how the heart beats
- Energy systems – aerobic and anaerobic energy systems and the sports associated with each.
TASK: Print off the below pdf showing blank diagrams of the following four body systems.(If you do not have access to a printer, please do a sketch for each.) On the relevant diagrams, label the key components shown in italics below:
- Skeletal system – cranium, clavicle, ribs, sternum, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges, pelvis, vertebral column, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals
- Muscular system – deltoids, biceps, triceps, pectorals, abdominals, obliques, quadriceps, hip flexors, tibialis anterior, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, gluteals, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, soleus
- Respiratory system – nasal cavity, epiglottis, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchus, bronchioles, lungs, alveoli, diaphragm, intercostal muscles
- Cardiovascular system /Heart structure – atria, ventricles, bicuspid valve, tricuspid valve, semi-lunar valves, septum, aorta, vena cava, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, coronary arteries
A good knowledge of these body systems will really help you in the BTEC course so please try to memorise the labelled diagrams.
Aim High
Careers in Sport
A good understanding of the different careers in sport is necessary for Unit 1 (Professional Development) of the Sport, BTEC Level 3 course. It may also help you decide on your future career path within the sports industry.
For this series of tasks, I’d like you to start investigating jobs within sport.
TASK 1: Please research one sports job role of your choice.
This can be anything within the sports industry, but it should be something that you could apply for now as a 16/17 year old, such as a lifeguard, assistant sports coach or official.
Once you’ve chosen which job to research, you’ll need to:
- Find examples of job advertisements (think about where this job might be advertised)
- Find examples of job descriptions
- Find out and write down the skills required
- Find out and write down the different pathways into this career
Please make use of the following websites in your research:
https://careers-in-sport.co.uk/
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
TASK 2: We’d now like you to start thinking about you as a person, your interests and your personal achievements, both academic and sporting, in order to create your own CV.
Take a look at the following websites for an introduction to how to write a CV:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cv
https://www.online-cv.co.uk/write-a-cv/
Now, create your own CV, making sure to include:
- your name, address and contact details
- your academic qualifications (you can fill in your GCSE grades when you get them)
- any work history/experience
- your interests and hobbies
- the contact details of someone who could act as a referee – you must agree this prior to submitting an application form
When doing this, think back to the previous task and think about how your CV could demonstrate that you have the skills needed for a particular role.
Don’t worry if you find this difficult – during your time at College, we’ll give you lots of help and guidance on how to write a successful CV.
Head of Sport and Public Services
