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