Skip to content

Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Year 9 - Physical education

Adapt to different distances

Athletics: fitness development of pace or power

Unit Summary

This unit will develop pupils' independence by supporting them to train and improve their pacing to sustain steady state running and/ or their power. Pupils will be exposed to different types of training as they apply the FITT principle to improve their fitness through track and field activities.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to adapt your pace and technique to race over different distances.

Key Notes

  • Move: adapting your pacing strategy helps you run more efficiently over longer distances.
  • Move: refining your stride rhythm supports controlled effort and endurance across increased distances.
  • Think: understanding the physical demands of longer races helps you plan a more effective strategy.
  • Feel: learning how to stay composed during longer races builds confidence in your ability to go further.
  • Connect: encouraging peers during challenging races helps build mutual respect and shared motivation.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • pacing: controlling your speed to match the demands of the distance
  • strategy: a plan for how to approach and complete the race
  • stride: each step taken when running, including its length and rhythm

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils often believe they can maintain their shorter distance pace over the longer distance, without needing to adjust.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Move: adapting your pacing strategy helps you run more efficiently over longer distances. Move: refining your stride rhythm supports controlled effort and endurance across increased distances.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'pacing'

controlling your speed to match the demands of the distance.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Pupils often believe they can maintain their shorter distance pace over the longer distance, without needing to adjust. Correction: Longer distances require more controlled pacing. Running a 1500m at 800m pace or a 200m at 100m pace will almost always lead to early fatigue and poor performance. Learning to distribute your effort is key to completing longer events effectively.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 9 Physical education guide library.