| There are five components of physical | | | | motion. This harmony can only be achieved if |
| fitness, muscular strength and endurance, | | | | the equipment being used is properly adjusted |
| cardiovascular strength, flexibility and body | | | | and fit to your body. If the blades on your |
| composition. There are however also minor | | | | skates aren't smooth your coordination and |
| components of physical fitness that are just | | | | balance will be affected. If your bike is |
| as important to training and improving your | | | | too tall or too small your muscles won't work |
| health and wellness. These minor components | | | | in harmony. |
| of physical fitness include balance, | | | | |
| coordination, agility and reaction time. | | | | Many athletes require agility for their |
| Most sports require athletes to be fit in | | | | sport. This minor component of physical |
| each of these components, to play at a | | | | fitness often means the difference between |
| competitive level. In fact, without these | | | | winning and losing. Agility can be both |
| minor components of physical fitness you may | | | | mental and physical. Moving through a strong |
| find that you are more prone to injury and | | | | basketball defensive line requires the |
| your performance is substandard. | | | | ability to see the scene, pick the correct |
| | | | route and move. These are split second |
| Balance is important to most sports that | | | | decisions that the athlete may not even |
| require you are off your feet and on an | | | | recall making. But they are important. |
| animal or wheels. However, balance isn't to | | | | |
| be overlooked in sports that require a | | | | The final minor component of physical fitness |
| significant amount of lateral movement such | | | | is reaction time. This is the ability to |
| as basketball or tennis. Good balance will | | | | respond to a stimulus quickly and |
| keep you upright and safe in many different | | | | appropriately. When you adjust your steering |
| situations when you are wheels or your feet. | | | | on your bike, spin quickly to the left to |
| There are specific ways of increasing your | | | | avoid a defender on the basketball court or |
| balance for each sport. In cycling you can | | | | adjust your speed and direction while running |
| improve your balance by using rollers. On | | | | on the football field you are using your |
| roller blades you can improve your balance by | | | | reaction time. This requires your brain to |
| attempting an increased challenge level | | | | register that there is an obstacle in your |
| trail. Using an exercise ball to improve | | | | path, send a message to the correct muscles |
| core muscle strength and a trampoline can | | | | and for the muscles to contract correctly and |
| also help to improve balance. | | | | in the right order. |
| | | | |
| The second minor component of physical | | | | Sports such as biking, basketball, kayaking, |
| fitness is coordination. This is an | | | | soccer and skating incorporate both of the |
| extension of balance but is in fact the | | | | five major components of physical fitness and |
| ability of muscles to function in harmony in | | | | the minor components of physical fitness. |