Fitness is not just about how long you can exercise before becoming exhausted. There are actually different types of fitness, and some people perform better in some areas than others. Scroll through below to learn about some of the different types of fitness.
AGILITY: Agility is the ability to change direction quickly. It is different from speed, because speed is the ability to move quickly in a straight line. Sports that require high levels of agility include AFL, basketball, netball and tennis. The video on the right shows an agility test, called the 'T Test,' being performed.
SPEED: Speed is the ability to move your limbs quickly. Examples include sprinting or the long jump run-up. Watch Usain Bolt break the world record on the right.
MUSCULAR STRENGTH: People with high levels of muscular strength can lift large amounts of weight. Strength depends mostly on how big your muscles are.
MUSCULAR POWER: Muscular power is different to muscular strength. Power is the ability to produce strength very quickly. For example:
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Accelerating off the starting blocks in a sprint.
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Powerfully extending your leg to kick a football as far as possible.
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Boxing.
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Shot put and javelin throwing.
MUSCULAR ENDURANCE: Muscular endurance is the ability to keep using the same muscles without getting tired. You will often feel your muscles 'burn' after completing the same movement over and over again, or holding the same position. Cyclists require high levels of muscular endurance in their legs, especially when cycling uphill.
TEST YOUR MUSCULAR ENDURANCE:
Try holding a heavy book out in front of you with straight arms for as long as possible. How long can you last? Try doing the exercise in the picture to the right by squatting with your back against a wall with your knees at 90 degrees. How long can you last?
FLEXIBILITY: Flexibility is how far you can move a joint through a range of motion. This is important in most sports. Can you keep your legs straight and touch your toes?
CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE: Also known as aerobic fitness or stamina, this refers to how long you can exercise continuously without tiring. Marathon runners are good examples of athletes who require high levels of cardiovascular endurance.
