Introduction

About your Sport Studies Cambridge National course and qualification

The world of sports is fast-moving and varied: it includes careers directly related to exercise and physical activity, but also the health and media sectors. You might want to work as a sport performer or a leader of outdoor and adventurous activities, as a journalist covering sports or for an organisation promoting youth participation in your favourite sport. Whatever you choose, you will benefit from understanding contemporary issues in sport, learning about sports performance and leadership, understanding the relationship between sport and the media, and learning about outdoor and adventurous activities. During your course, you will also develop skills in research, leadership, planning and evaluating programmes, creating presentations and reports, as well as learning important information about leading a healthy lifestyle. How will you be assessed? You have to complete three units – two mandatory units and one optional unit from a choice of two. Mandatory units: • R184 Contemporary issues in sport. You will take a written exam for this unit. The exam lasts for 1 hour 15 minutes, and is worth 70 marks. The exam is set and marked by OCR. • R185 Performance and leadership in sports activities. You will be given an assignment to complete for this unit, which is worth 60 marks. This set assignment contains three to five practical tasks. DRAFT Optional units: • R186 Sport and the media. You will be given an assignment to complete for this unit, which is worth 60 marks. This set assignment contains three to five practical tasks. R187 Increasing awareness of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities. You will be given an assignment to complete for this unit, which is worth 60 marks. This set assignment contains three to five practical tasks.

How to use this book

Throughout this book, you will notice lots of different features that will help your learning. These are explained below.

These features at the start of each unit Thought-provoking questions at the start of units and topics will get you thinking about the subject. give you guidance on the Topic Areas and how you will be assessed.DRAFT This section gives you information about what content is covered in the topic. Case studies based on real people and situations put key concepts and practices into context. The accompanying questions check your understanding and challenge you to take your learning further.

Key words are highlighted in the text and explained fully in the glossary, often using examples, to ensure you fully understand key terminology.

Stretch activities and questions give you the opportunity to try more challenging questions and to extend your knowledge. Practical activities that you can do on your own give you the opportunity to practise important skills and techniques, and to prepare for your assessments. Over to you! activities let you apply your knowledge, and think more deeply about your course. DRAFT These question boxes give you regular opportunities to test your knowledge so that you feel ready for your exam or assessment. Summary sections help you review your learning, to check you understand key concepts and can apply your learning. They also show you where to look back for more information if you need to read it again.