Components of fitness
An explanation of the different components of physical fitness
The ability to meet the demands of the environment. can be broken down into different components or parts.
Health-related components
Skill-related components
These sub-divisions make it easier to understand fitness and also to understand the different requirements of sporting activities and the different roles within the same activity.
For example, if we look at the game of field hockey, the top three fitness requirements of the goalkeeper and the midfielder might look like this:
| Goalkeeper | Midfield player |
| 1. Agility | 1. Cardiovascular fitness |
| 2. Reaction time | 2. Power |
| 3. Flexibility | 3. Muscular endurance |
| Goalkeeper | 1. Agility |
|---|---|
| Midfield player | 1. Cardiovascular fitness |
| Goalkeeper | 2. Reaction time |
|---|---|
| Midfield player | 2. Power |
| Goalkeeper | 3. Flexibility |
|---|---|
| Midfield player | 3. Muscular endurance |
It is obvious that the training for these two performers must be completely different and must focus on the specific requirements of the individual position.
Fitness testing is a central and essential feature of all fitness A planned programme which uses scientific principles to improve performance, skill, game ability and physical fitness. and will be used before training begins, during the training programme and again at the end of the training programme.
The importance of fitness testing
See also the goal setting guide.