movement analysis in sport
4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.
Lesson Overview
Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Learning Objectives
- Explain the key ideas of movement analysis in sport
- Apply movement analysis in sport to exam-style questions
- Develop independent study skills
- Build cross-topic connections
Prerequisites
- Read the revision notes for movement analysis in sport first (GCSE Revise summary)
- Key vocab to pre-teach: Shoulder joint, Elbow joint, Hip joint
- Basic skills: reading the summary notes and answering the practice questions there
Materials & Equipment
- Exercise book, coloured pens
- Ruler
- Printed revision notes (link below)
- Internet for videos (see Resources)
Lesson 1: Introduction: movement analysis in sport
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about movement analysis in sport. Then check against the key terms: Shoulder joint, Elbow joint, Hip joint. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Shoulder joint, Elbow joint, Hip joint.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Shoulder joint, Elbow joint, Hip joint.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: movement analysis in sport. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Physical Education because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: movement analysis in sport. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Physical Education because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look
Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: Identify the joint, movement and agonist muscle when a cricketer bowls the ball forward.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about movement analysis in sport.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: movement analysis in sport
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on movement analysis in sport. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Shoulder joint: Ball-and-socket joint allowing a wide range of movement including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation and circumduction.
Elbow joint: Hinge joint allowing only flexion and extension.
Hip joint: Ball-and-socket joint allowing flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation and circumduction.
Knee joint: Hinge joint (modified) allowing primarily flexion and extension, with slight rotation when flexed.
Abduction: = moving a limb away from the midline of the body. Adduction = moving a limb towards the midline of the body.
Ankle joint: Hinge joint allowing plantar flexion (pointing foot down) and dorsiflexion (pulling foot up).
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion at shoulder | Moving the arm forwards and upwards | Anterior deltoids, pectorals |
| Extension at shoulder | Moving the arm backwards and downwards | Latissimus dorsi, posterior deltoids |
| Abduction at shoulder | Moving the arm away from the body sideways | Deltoids (middle fibres) |
| Adduction at shoulder | Moving the arm towards the body from the side | Pectorals, latissimus dorsi |
| Flexion at elbow | Bending the elbow, decreasing the angle | Biceps (agonist), brachialis |
| Extension at elbow | Straightening the elbow, increasing the angle | Triceps (agonist) |
| Flexion at hip | Lifting the leg forwards and upwards | Iliopsoas (hip flexors), rectus femoris |
| Extension at hip | Moving the leg backwards | Gluteals, hamstrings |
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: Identify the joint, movement and agonist muscle when a cricketer bowls the ball forward.
Answer: Joint: Shoulder (ball-and-socket). Movement: Flexion (the arm swings forwards and upwards). Agonist: Anterior deltoids and pectorals.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: movement analysis in sport
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: Shoulder joint, Elbow joint, Hip joint. Define each in one sentence.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
Q1: Identify the joint, movement and agonist muscle when a cricketer bowls the ball forward.
Answer: Joint: Shoulder (ball-and-socket). Movement: Flexion (the arm swings forwards and upwards). Agonist: Anterior deltoids and pectorals.
Q2: Describe the movement at the knee during the upward phase of a squat and name the agonist muscle.
Answer: Movement: Extension at the knee (the angle increases as the leg straightens). Agonist: Quadriceps contract concentrically.
Q3: What movement occurs at the shoulder during the arm-raising phase of a star jump? Name the agonist muscle.
Answer: Movement: Abduction at the shoulder (the arms move away from the midline of the body). Agonist: Deltoids (middle fibres).
Q4: Explain the difference between plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, giving a sporting example of each.
Answer: Plantar flexion is pointing the foot downward (e.g. rising onto toes in a sprint start, using the gastrocnemius). Dorsiflexion is pulling the foot upward towards the shin (e.g. lifting the foot when walking uphill, using the tibialis anterior).
Q5: Describe the movement at the hip when a footballer kicks a ball and name the agonist and antagonist muscles.
Answer: Movement: Flexion at the hip (the leg swings forwards). Agonist: Iliopsoas (hip flexors). Antagonist: Gluteals (relax to allow the hip to flex).
Q6: During a press-up, describe the movement at the elbow when pushing up and state the agonist muscle.
Answer: Movement: Extension at the elbow (the arm straightens). Agonist: Triceps contracts concentrically to push the body upwards.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Error Review
Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.
Lesson 4: Exam Practice: movement analysis in sport
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Command Words
Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).
Main Content (35 minutes)
Exam-Style Question
Attempt a past-paper style question on movement analysis in sport from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.
Exam Tips: Always give: joint → movement → muscle, in that order | Use the correct joint name (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle) - don't say "arm" or "leg" | Use precise movement terms: flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, plantar flexion/dorsiflexion | Name the specific muscle as the agonist - don't just say "the muscle" | Practise analysing a range of sporting actions - this is a very common 4-6 mark question | Remember: hinge joints (elbow, knee, ankle) only allow flexion/extension; ball-and-socket (shoulder, hip) allow all movements
Common Errors: Watch Out! Students often think second class levers are the most common in the body. Wrong: Second class levers are the most common in the body Correct: Third class levers are the most common in the human body (e.g. biceps curl, hamstring kick). They favour range of movement and speed over force. Students often think the effort is always at the muscle. Wrong: The effort is always at the muscle Correct: The effort is where the muscle inserts on the bone, not where the muscle belly is. The insertion is usually close to the joint (fulcrum), creating a third class lever. Students often think planes and axes are the same thing. Wrong: Planes and axes are the same thing Correct: A plane is a flat
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
- Synoptic links: explain how movement analysis in sport connects to another Physical Education topic you have studied
- Real-world: research one real-world use or example of movement analysis in sport
- Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in movement analysis in sport?"
Plenary (5 minutes)
Assessment Criteria
- Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
- Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
- Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2
Homework & Consolidation
- Consolidation: Re-answer any Lesson 3 practice questions answered incorrectly (20 mins)
- Retrieval: Write flashcards for the key terms: Shoulder joint, Elbow joint, Hip joint (10 mins)
- Exam practice: One past-paper question on movement analysis in sport from the board websites (15 mins)
- Extension: Explain movement analysis in sport to someone else in your own words (10 mins)