Sports science

This clip shows Anthony measuring blood pressure and fitness levels.

Anthony enjoys sports and fitness and hopes to work for the London Fire Brigade one day, so he decided a BTEC National in Sports and Exercise Sciences would build on the knowledge he gained in GCSE Science to achieve his goal.

Anthony’s course will equip him with the skills for a range of jobs, as he learns about the application of science in sport including anatomy, psychology and physiology. The qualification can lead to careers in personal training, gym instructing and sport rehabilitation. Additionally he has gained knowledge of basic first aid which is useful in everyday life as well as when when he becomes a firefighter.

With thanks to: City and Islington College

Curriculum topics covered:

• Health and fitness
• The human body (anatomy, physiology)
• Respiration

Also in this film:

• Working in a gym
• Obesity related to BMI
• Measuring blood pressure
• Sports-related careers

Suggested practicals:

Interpreting information about sweating and temperature
Body temperature and the rate of sweating vary during exercise. It is useful to understand these changes as a guide to what is going on in the body.

Measuring reaction time of a human reflex action
Find out how reaction times change after taking caffeine (and learn about the design of a double-blind test).

Pushes, pulls and muscles
Model the arm and biceps muscle to see how the arm works as a lever. This is one of the actions seen in the film.