Breathing and respiration

1. Starter - Peak potential

Required Resources

• Video: Inter-service rugby

Delivery

• Play Video: Inter-service rugby which contains footage of an inter-services rugby final.
• Ask students what it is that permits the players to run so quickly. Expect answers such as muscular fitness, fast-twitch muscles etc. If not volunteered, highlight the vital role of the lungs in distributing efficiently oxygen to the muscles for optimum performance.
• Introduce the lesson topic.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Play the video again, with special reference to the players' breathing (deep, efficient breathing using the diaphragm rather than the chest).

Higher Ability:

Ask students to prepare for the lesson by reviewing their own and their peers' respiratory fitness in school sports lessons. Specifically they should compare one another's respiratory exertion (panting, breaths per minute, time taken to return to normal breathing etc) after similar levels of exercise.