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I just wondered if you could tell me where I could find the qualities of a hockey player in game situation. If you could that would be a great help in my GCSE course work. Please help?

Could you please tell me how psychological factors affect the different netball players in their different positions in different ways and why?
Thanks.

Could u please show me a picture of a perfect model of a set shot in basketball?

What is a brief analysis on the definition of sport?

Could you please explain the role the government has in attempting to raise standards in national health.
Thank you.

Q. I am currently involved in AS coursework for PE and have focused on netball. Could you please help me finding some pictures of the perfect model so that I can compare myself to them? Thank you very much
26th January 2004

Q. Can you please tell me the steps taken to test for drugs in sport (in numbered stages)?
20th January 2004

Q. I am study BTEC National in Sports (performance and excellence) I am doing an assignment on short term and long term effects on cardiovascular and respiratory systems of two contrasting exercises. What information should I look for? What kind of effect on the exercise? How would I critically evaluate my results and draw the valid conclusion?
21st January 2004

Q. Have you got a website where it could tell me the components of fitness?
19th January 2004

We don't list the information on our website. You could try your exam board to get a list of components from the GCSE specification - www.ocr.org.uk, www.edexcel.org.uk or www.aqa.org.uk (try .co.uk if org doesn't work - or do a search). If you try the 'fitness for health and performance' chapter links from our website you should find some information. If all else fails look in our book!

Q. I am currently doing a class project on the topic of 'finance'. I was hoping that, if it was possible, you might send me some information on the topic of my project.
18th January 2004

Finance is a huge topic. Try to get a copy of our book from your school PE department or library. It has many references to finance and sport. If you have any specific questions after that we would be delighted to help.

Q. Many thanks for your valuable help last time around. I was just wondering if you could help me answer this question as part of a college assignment?
Q) Why after a sustained period of strength training will there be an increase in muscle capillaries and connective tissue? Also why after a period of flexibility training will there be a decrease in power?
10th January 2004

We did mention that we are GCSE authors and this question is clearly aimed at post 16 courses (Highers?). You will need to look at specialist sites to discover the latest research regarding loss of power following stretching. Much of the new trend for active pre-match stretching is based on this evidence, but we do not have it to hand.
Good luck

Q. Thanks for your valuable help last time, hope you can help me with the following question:
Why, after a sustained period of strength training will there be an increase in:
1) Capillary Density per muscle fibre
2) Connective tissue
3) Testosterone.
Any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks!
7th January 2004

This looks like 'A' Level work to us! Remember, we only write for GCSE. All of the effects are adaptations that take place in response to the load placed on the tissues during the training sessions. You need more blood flow to the muscles and stronger tissues to avoid injury when under load. Testosterone is the hormone that stimulates masculinisation (making us muscular like men!) it is released to trigger the adaptations. More detail will have to come from 'A' level texts or other websites.
Hope this helps

Q. Can you explain the process of closed loop control by using examples from sport?
5th January 2004

Nice 'A' Level question - but we only write for GCSE! It's a theory about internal feedback telling you how well you performed, say, a spike in Volleyball. You know if it felt right and can then replicate it without too much conscious thought. Well, that's the theory - but not
everyone is convinced that it explains everything we do. Ask your teacher for more detail.

Q. Please can you send me some information on what makes a perfect centre player in netball, and some important facts and pictures on netball for my school project? Thank you very much.
10th November 2003

We don't do pictures of netball players for this purpose and can only suggest that you look at Netball coaching books in your school library. The All England Netball Association has a website with information and links.

Q. I am in my last year of school. I have been asked to find out what the four S's stand for and what ABCPRS means.
9th November 2003

The four S's are the main types of fitness: Stamina, Strength, Speed, and Suppleness.
ABCPRS is a new one for us. DRABC refers to the emergency treatment checklist Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Is it related to First Aid, training or fitness? You'd better ask your teacher.
Good luck

Q. I have been asked to write some advantages and disadvantages of international sports (easing international tensions and increasing international problems). Can you help me please?
4th November 2003

There are many examples of sport and politics being linked. The hijacking of international sport by political groups began when Hitler used the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin for propaganda purposes. Since then we have seen countries boycotting international events for political purposes (USA boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the USSR boycotted Los Angeles in 1984) South Africa were banned for many years because of their Apartheid regime. In 1968 black power gestures were made by winning American athletes. The 1972 Olympics saw the massacre of Israeli athletes in an attempt to highlight Arab grievances over the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
In recent years security has been heightened and political organisations have many other methods of publicising their cause. It is certainly the case that many friendships have been made between individuals who have competed in international sport and this can only bring greater understanding across nations.
You might like to investigate matches between countries that have been in conflict (USA-USSR, USA-Iran, USSR-Czechoslovakia, India-Pakistan and so on) to see if they led to a warming of relations between the countries. We cannot provide a full response, but hope that this helps. Good luck

Q. Hello author - I'm in high school and I’m 12 years old. Can you please help me with them?
1) When, where and why were the first ancient Olympics held?
2) How were the ancient Olympic games organised?
3) What events took place at the ancient Olympic games?
4) Why were the ancient Olympic games stopped?
5) Who was responsible for the rebirth of the modern Olympic games?
6) When and where were the first modern Olympic games held?
7) When did women first participate in the modern Olympic games?
8) When did the winter Olympics start?
9) What is the procedure for choosing the Host City for the Olympic games?
10) What are the advantages of the host city?
11) List ten cities who have hosted modern Olympic games?
12) List and explain 4 of the major troubles the modern Olympic games have experienced?
13) Give the names of 5 great Olympians and state their accomplishments?
14) Give the names of 3 Olympians who have represented Trinidad and Tobago and state their accomplishments?
Thank you for your most valuable time.
2nd November 2003

You have a very interesting project to complete! We are very keen to help GCSE students (aged 14-16 with their work, but will always tell them that they must actually DO the work otherwise it is our achievement and not theirs). So, you must do a little more research for yourself if you are to hand in the project as you own. However, here are a few answers to get you started.
1) Olympia, Greece 776 BC as a religious festival
2) The first lasted one day, then it was extended to 5 days. Men only.
3) Athletics Sprint (200m), double sprint (400m) long distance (4800m), pentathlon, long jump, discus, javelin, boxing, wrestling, pankration (fighting) and chariot racing.
4) Gradually declined owing to corruption, cheating, Romans conquering Greece.393AD Christian Emperor Theodosius banned them saying that they were a pagan festival.
5) Baron Pierre de Coubertin
6) 1896 Athens
Now you need to read a book or search the net for the other answers. Good luck!

Q. Why do you have to tie your hair back during athletics?
21st October 2003

It could be:
a. streamlining
b. so you can see where you're going
c. because your teacher says so
d. all of the above.

If you think about the game of Hockey you should be able to come up with some qualities yourself. For example, speed, stamina, co-ordination etc. You can then add some mental qualities - resilience, sportsmanship, competitiveness and so on. If you need to get more detailed information try looking in some coaching manuals. Copies are in most libraries - or try a websearch.
Good luck.

Q. Could you please tell me how psychological factors affect the different netball players in their different positions in different ways and why?
Thanks.
18th October 2003

This is an enormous question which impinges on personality traits, demands of the game, level of competition, experience of the players and so on. It is certainly too big for this forum. If you really push the point you might say that the goal shooter needs to be more composed than, say, the centre - but if the centre is not composed she will give away needless fouls and
produce bad decisions and passes. You should discuss this with your teacher to see if s/he has any answers. If not look for some psychological profiles of Netball players on the web.
Good luck.

Q. Could u please show me a picture of a perfect model of a set shot in basketball?
7th October 2003

Sorry, we can only point you to a web search or, better still a coaching book such as 'Know the game' basketball, which features perfect models of many techniques.
Good luck

Q. What is a brief analysis on the definition of sport?
8th September 2003

You must begin with a definition of 'sport'. On e-dictionary defines it as 'activity engaged in as recreation'. Once you have this you can discuss whether it needs to be activity - how about chess? You can also discuss competition - is sport just for fun?
Hope this helps

Q. Could you please explain the role the government has in attempting to raise standards in national health.
Thank you.
2nd September 2003

Health issues and sport are, of course, closely linked. The government funds sport in a number of ways both for high achievers and to encourage participation (see World of Sport Examined 2nd Edition). Standards of health provision and the healthiness of the nation are constantly monitored through government agencies and independent commissions. The following link provides information about a recent study of the effectiveness of the NHS.