1. Standard Grade Knowledge & Understanding
Skills & Techniques - Mechanical Principles
Balance

2. Balance
Balance is the ability to retain the centre of gravity over your base of support.
Balance – The ability to remain balanced depends on 2 things:
A) Base of Support
B) Centre of Gravity
If your base of support is large your balance will be more stable
If your base of support is small, it is harder to keep your balance

3. Balance
To remain balanced for a period of time, you have to tighten the muscles in your body – this is called body tension
The exact muscle requirements depend upon the nature of the task.
Static balances such as headstand in gymnastics require you to hold a balance
Dynamic balances require you to maintain balance under constantly changing conditions. When skiing you constantly adjust your dynamic balance as you travel over changing terrain in order to remain balance
Static
Dynamic

4. Centre of Gravity
Centre of Gravity – is your point of balance. When standing upright it is near your belly button
If your centre of gravity is low you will balance more easily
If you move your centre of gravity outside your base of support, you will lose your balance.

5. Good balance is very important to be successful in lots of activities:
A large base allows the golfer to be balanced in preparation for his swing
Having his centre of gravity over his base allows the footballer to be balanced during his shooting action
A low centre of gravity allows a volleyball player to remain balanced when performing a dig

6. Questions On a A4 sheet of paper answer the following:
What is balance?
What is body tension?
Describe two points about your centre of gravity which will help you remained balanced.

7. Evaluating What is the phase we use to remember Evaluating!?!?!
With your partner complete the table!

8. Some Answers Direction Speed Shape Forwards Quickly Slowly Still
Technique
Direction
Speed
Shape
Body part
Overhead clear
High serve
Chest pass
Lay-up shot
Volley pass
Dig pass
Forward roll
Handstand
In-step pass
Volley shot
Front drop
Forwards
Backwards
Diagonally
Upwards
Sideways
clockwise
High
Low
Above
Below
*target (name)
Quickly
Slowly
Accelerated
Still
Explosive
Controlled
Fast
steady
Tucked
Straight
Arched
Wide
Flat
Extended
Crouched
Rounded
Apart
High/low
Right hand
Left hand
Head
Shoulder
Knees
Left foot
Right foot
Both feet
Elbow
Two hands