Singapore · SEABSyllabus
Sports Science syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Singapore Sports Sciencesyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
Biomechanics and Movement Analysis
Module overview →- How do force, speed and Newton's laws explain how athletes move and change motion in sport?Apply the concepts of force, speed and Newton's laws of motion to sporting actions9 min answer →
- How do the lever systems of the body produce and control movement, and what is mechanical advantage?Classify the three lever systems in the body and calculate mechanical advantage to explain force and range of movement9 min answer →
- How do the planes and axes of the body describe the direction of a sporting movement?Describe the planes and axes of movement and use them to analyse sporting actions such as somersaults and twists8 min answer →
- What decides how far and high a projectile travels in sport, and why does it follow a curved path?Explain the factors affecting the flight path of a projectile, including angle, speed and height of release8 min answer →
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
Module overview →- What does blood carry, and how do arteries, veins and capillaries deliver it around the body during exercise?Describe the components and functions of blood and the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries, including vascular shunting in exercise8 min answer →
- How does breathing move air in and out, and how does gas exchange respond to exercise?Explain the mechanics of breathing and gas exchange, and describe how breathing rate and tidal volume change with exercise9 min answer →
- How is the heart structured, and how does its double pump send blood to the lungs and the body?Describe the structure of the heart and trace the path of blood through its chambers and major vessels9 min answer →
- How does the heart cycle through filling and pumping, and how do heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output change with exercise?Describe the cardiac cycle and define heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output, calculating target heart-rate training zones9 min answer →
- How is the respiratory system structured, and how does the path of air carry oxygen to the alveoli?Describe the structure of the respiratory system and trace the passage of air from the nose to the alveoli8 min answer →
Energy Systems and Fitness Components
Module overview →- How does the body produce energy with and without oxygen, and how do these systems suit different activities?Compare aerobic and anaerobic energy production, including the role of oxygen, lactic acid and EPOC, with sporting examples9 min answer →
- What is physical fitness made of, and how do its health-related and skill-related components differ?Distinguish health-related from skill-related fitness and define each component with a sporting example8 min answer →
- How is health-related fitness measured, and what does body mass index tell us about body composition?Describe tests for health-related fitness and calculate and interpret body mass index as a measure of body composition9 min answer →
- How is skill-related fitness measured, and how do scores guide an athlete's training?Describe tests for skill-related fitness and interpret scores against norm tables to identify training needs8 min answer →
Principles and Methods of Training
Module overview →- What methods of training exist, and how does a coach choose the right one for a goal?Describe the main methods of training (continuous, interval, circuit, fartlek, weight, flexibility) and match each to a fitness goal9 min answer →
- How is a training year structured, and why is recovery essential to improvement?Explain periodisation of a training year and the role of rest, recovery and overtraining in adaptation8 min answer →
- What principles must a training programme follow to improve fitness safely and effectively?Explain the principles of training (specificity, progressive overload, reversibility, tedium) and apply FITT to a programme9 min answer →
- How is training intensity measured, and where do the aerobic and anaerobic training thresholds lie?Explain training intensity using heart-rate thresholds and determine which training zone a measured heart rate falls into8 min answer →
Safety and Injury Prevention
Module overview →- What are the common injuries in sport, and how do their causes and signs differ?Classify common sports injuries as acute or chronic and describe the causes and signs of soft-tissue and hard-tissue injuries8 min answer →
- How should a soft-tissue injury be treated immediately, and when is further help needed?Apply the RICE procedure to treat soft-tissue injuries and identify when professional medical help is required8 min answer →
- How does a risk assessment reduce the chance of injury, and what measures keep participants safe?Explain how a risk assessment is carried out and describe measures that prevent injury in sport and physical activity8 min answer →
- Why are a warm-up and cool-down important, and what should each include?Describe the structure and benefits of a warm-up and a cool-down and explain how each reduces injury and aids recovery8 min answer →
Skill Acquisition
Module overview →- How are motor skills classified, and why does placing a skill on a continuum help a coach teach it?Classify motor skills using continua (open and closed, gross and fine, simple and complex) and justify the placement8 min answer →
- How does an athlete take in information, decide and act, and what affects reaction time?Describe the information-processing model (input, decision making, output, feedback) and the factors affecting reaction time9 min answer →
- How does a learner progress from beginner to expert, and how should coaching change at each stage?Describe the cognitive, associative and autonomous stages of learning and the coaching appropriate to each8 min answer →
- What types of practice, guidance and feedback develop skill, and when should each be used?Describe the types of practice, guidance and feedback and select the most appropriate for a given skill and learner9 min answer →
Sports Psychology
Module overview →- What is aggression in sport, how does it differ from assertion, and how can it be managed?Distinguish aggression from assertion in sport and describe strategies a performer can use to control aggression8 min answer →
- How does arousal affect performance, and how can an athlete manage anxiety to perform at their best?Explain the relationship between arousal and performance and describe techniques to control anxiety8 min answer →
- How does setting goals improve performance, and what makes a goal effective?Explain the benefits of goal setting and apply the SMART principles to write effective sporting goals8 min answer →
- What drives an athlete to train and compete, and how can intrinsic and extrinsic motivation be used well?Explain intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and describe how each can be used to improve sporting performance8 min answer →
The Musculoskeletal System
Module overview →- How do muscles work in pairs, and what are the roles of agonist, antagonist, fixator and synergist in movement?Explain how muscles work in antagonistic pairs and describe the roles of agonist, antagonist, fixator and synergist using sporting actions8 min answer →
- What types of joint does the body have, and what range of movement does each allow in sport?Classify the main types of synovial joint and describe the movements each permits, with sporting examples9 min answer →
- What are the functions of the skeleton, and how do the different types of bone support movement and protect the body?Describe the functions of the skeleton and classify bones by shape, relating each to its role in support, protection and movement8 min answer →
- What are the three types of muscle, and how do skeletal muscle fibre types affect sporting performance?Distinguish the three muscle types, locate the major skeletal muscles, and explain how slow and fast twitch fibres suit different events9 min answer →