Theme C examines the psychological factors that influence sporting participation, learning, performance, and well-being. Rather than focusing exclusively on elite athletes, the theme considers why people behave differently in exercise and health settings, how skills are acquired, what motivates people, and how psychological strategies can improve performance .

This topic examines why different people respond differently to the same sporting or exercise situations .

Motor learning examines how physical skills are acquired, practised, transferred, and perfected . You will study competing models of how motor learning occurs, including the information processing model and ecological model . You will also examine approaches such as:

• Traditional linear pedagogy
• Non-linear pedagogy
• Constraints-led approaches
• Schema theory
• Ecological dynamics theory
• Open-loop and closed-loop theories

Traditional models also describe three broad stages of skill learning:

• Cognitive
• Associative
• Autonomous

You will investigate how coaching should change as performers progress through these stages . Other concepts include the psychological refractory period , which helps explain why responding to a second stimulus can be delayed, and transfer of learning , which examines how previous experience affects the acquisition of new skills.

This topic examines why individuals begin, continue, or withdraw from sporting and physical activities . You will investigate different explanations of motivation and consider how factors within the individual interact with the sporting environment. Possible areas include:

• Achievement motivation
• Intrinsic motivation
• Extrinsic motivation
• Psychological needs
• Self-determination
• Rewards
• Goal orientation
• Coaching environments

You will also exam

Sport can create significant psychological pressure . This topic examines how stress, arousal, and anxiety influence health and performance.

The final topic examines psychological interventions that can be used to enhance performance .