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Lesson 5 of 12
  • Year 9

Build variation into your workouts

I can make changes to my training to maintain interest and motivation.

Lesson 5 of 12
New
New
  • Year 9

Build variation into your workouts

I can make changes to my training to maintain interest and motivation.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: using strength and conditioning exercises helps develop the muscles needed for better performance in your event.
  2. Think: including variation in your training helps avoid boredom and supports consistent improvement reaching your goals.
  3. Feel: trying something new or different in training can refresh motivation levels and keep sessions enjoyable.
  4. Connect: encouraging peers during circuit work helps maintain effort and builds shared motivation.

Keywords

  • Variation - changing the type of training to keep it interesting and effective

  • Circuit - a series of exercises performed in order, with short rests in between

  • Conditioning - exercises that strengthen muscles to support performance and reduce injury risk

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that repeating the same drills every session is the best way to improve.

Even performing the best drills or exercise will become boring after time. Therefore variation is required in a training programme, otherwise it will become boring and the athlete will lose interest.


To help you plan your year 9 physical education lesson on: Build variation into your workouts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

By using the suggested intervals, it is possible to run the two circuits alongside each other and both will finish after 18 minutes.
Teacher tip

Equipment

circuit station cards, worksheets, light weights, agility ladders

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
How does resting help the body in a training programme?

Correct answer: body can recover
leads to injury
increases heart rate

Q2.
What should your training frequency align with?

favourite sport
Correct answer: your SMART goal
school timetable

Q3.
3. What is efficiency of movement a result of?

Correct answer: correct form
sprint speed
long runs

Q4.
What might happen if you skip recovery?

improved fitness
Correct answer: injury risk
better technique

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What does variation in training help prevent?

better form
Correct answer: boredom
fitness gains

Q2.
How might a sprinter’s exercises be different to those of a middle distance runner?

Correct answer: more explosive
last longer
require more endurance

Q3.
How will encouraging others help during circuit training?

Correct answer: help effort levels
be a distraction
annoy them

Q4.
What can we use to help strengthen muscles and reduce injury risk?

avoid warm ups
always same workout
Correct answer: strength and conditioning

Additional material

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