Physical qualities

Train by physical quality

Every sport builds a mix of physical qualities. Explore each one — what it is, why it matters and which sports develop it — to train with a purpose.

The building blocks of fitness

Choose a quality to build

Pick a physical quality to see how it works and the sports that develop it best.

The ability to sustain whole-body activity for a long time while your heart, lungs and muscles keep up.

How much force your muscles can produce in a single effort — the quality behind lifting, pushing, holding and driving off the ground.

The ability of a muscle group to keep working for many repetitions without tiring.

Producing force quickly — strength expressed at speed, as in a jump or a sprint start.

How quickly you can move your body or a part of it from one point to another.

Changing direction quickly and under control while staying balanced — decelerating, reorienting and re-accelerating without losing your feet.

The range of movement available at a joint or group of joints, and how comfortably you can reach the end of it under your own control.

Keeping your body stable and controlled, whether still or moving. Vision, the inner ear and your own body sense feed it continuously.

Getting your body parts to work together smoothly and accurately, often with what you see.

The ability of the muscles around your trunk to keep it stable while your limbs move.

Using a joint’s range of movement actively, with control and strength throughout.

How quickly you respond to something you see, hear or feel — recognising the signal matters as much as the speed of the movement itself.

Put it together

How movement supports body and mind.

Find a sport that builds what you want.

Fuel your training sensibly.

Make training a routine that lasts.

The terms behind the training.

Start with clear, careful guides.

Train with purpose

Whether it's endurance, strength or agility you're after, there's a sport for it. Explore and get started.