Describe the path taken by blood from the right ventricle to the left ventricle.

Distinguish how cardiac output, stroke volume and resting heart rate would differ between trained and untrained women during exercise.

Draw a flowchart with features that can be used for match analysis in a team invasion game of choice.

Discuss how exercise affects susceptibility to infectious disease in a highly-trained athlete.

Using examples from team sports, evaluate the concept of the psychological refractory period (PRP).

from the right ventricle blood travels «through pulmonary valve» into pulmonary artery ✔

from pulmonary artery blood travels to the lungs «gets oxygenated» and back to the heart via pulmonary vein ✔

from pulmonary vein blood enters the left atrium ✔

from left atrium blood travels to left ventricle «via bicuspid valve» ✔

Accept a labelled diagram.

For a set task at submaximal level Q will be the same but SV will be higher in trained✔

and HR will be higher in untrained✔

the player who has possession ✔

the location (in the field of play) for a change in possession ✔

the player who gains possession ✔

the method of change in possession (for example, tackle or interception) ✔

eg

Award [1 max] if not drawn.

Award [1 max] if not in sequential order.

Accept any appropriate example.

the relationship can be seen as a J curve ✔

highly-trained athletes are more susceptible to infections than their sedentary peers ✔

highly-trained athletes have lower leucocyte numbers caused by the stress of the exercise ✔

highly trained athletes can experience inflammation caused by muscle damage ✔

athletes have greater exposure to airborne bacteria and viruses because of an increased rate and depth of breathing ✔

moderate exercise, however, is associated with reduced susceptibility to infection ✔

Award [2 max] for a list.

psychological refractory period/PRP is the increase in reaction time to a second stimulus caused when the second stimulus has been delivered while the performer is responding to the first stimulus
OR
it is the time delay in reaction time caused by the arrival of a second stimulus before the first is processed ✔

this is believed to take place due to brain processing information on a single track/using the single channel mechanism ✔

in sports you can use PRP as an advantage by introducing a dummy stimulus before the real movement ✔

strengths:
can be used to help a performer have greater chances of success eg pretending to pass / run one direction then quickly changing to pass / run the other way ✔

provides a performer with a greater range of options in their play ✔

external noise eg: other players calling, or crowd noise can enhance the effectiveness of the PRP ✔

the more options that a player has will increase the reaction time to the stimulus <Hick’s law> ✔

limitations:
if a performer uses it too often, they will become predictable and this limits success✔

PRP may be reduced by anticipation/early cue detection / effective coach analysis / practicing «open» skills ✔

anxiety might make the performer get the timing wrong and thus the PRP is not effective ✔

Award [2 max] for an annotated diagram of the single channel hypothesis for mark points 1 and 2.

Award 4 [max] if only strengths or limitations provided

Award [4 max] if no example given

Most candidates were able to access all the marks for this question; those who provided an annotated diagram were commonly successful. Generally, candidates struggled with identifying the correct blood vessel leaving the right ventricle and entering the left atrium.

Most candidates were able to distinguish between stroke volume and cardiac output. However, some candidates struggled to specify the difference in HR by not referring to resting or sub-maximal heart rate.

This question was poorly answered. Some candidates struggled to draw a flow chart. Many candidates were unable to provide a specific flow chart for a specified invasion game. Some flow charts were vague and did not focus on the elements of the analysis.

Many candidates were able to draw and annotate a J curve, and this allowed them to access the higher marks. Most candidates were able to discuss the reason for an increased susceptibility in elite athletes, but were not able to focus on the susceptibility in relation to other population groups.

Most candidates could describe PRP and provide examples of its use in a team sport. However, very few candidates were able to evaluate the concept of PRP.