Group/Combined Events – JSS3 Physical & Health Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

Combined events are competitions that bring together several track and field events. Athletes score points in each event, and the athlete with the highest total at the end wins. They were started in the ancient Olympic Games to test the all-round athletic ability of the competitors. The three types are the decathlon, the heptathlon and the pentathlon.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the three types of combined events;
• explain the meaning of decathlon, pentathlon and heptathlon;
• list the events in each combined event;
• explain how winners are decided in combined events.

What are combined events?

Combined events are a combination of various track and field events. They started during the ancient Olympic Games to test the all-round athletic ability of the competitors.

There are three types of combined events:

1. Decathlon (for men)
2. Heptathlon (for both men and women)
3. Pentathlon (for women)

What is the decathlon?

The term “decathlon” is a Greek term that means “ten test”. The decathlon consists of ten athletics events. They are events mainly for men. They are held on two consecutive days. Points are awarded for each event to find the best all-round athlete. An athlete who competes in a decathlon is called a decathlete.

Events in the modern decathlon

What is the pentathlon?

The term “pentathlon” is a Greek term that means “five test”. The pentathlon consists of five athletics events. An athlete who competes in a pentathlon is called a pentathlete. They are events mainly for women. They are held in one day in the following order:

1. Long jump
2. Javelin throw
3. 200m race
4. Discus throw
5. 1,500m race

What is the heptathlon?

The term “heptathlon” is a Greek term that means “seven tests”. The heptathlon consists of seven athletics events. They are events mainly for women. They are held on two consecutive days in the following order:

How are combined events scored?

The score is calculated by adding the points awarded for the athlete’s performance in each event. Performance is judged by the points earned in each event, not by the position achieved.

Winning: The competitor with the highest total score (points) at the end of all the events is the winner.

Evaluation

1. Name the three types of combined events.
2. What does the word “decathlon” mean?
3. List the events held on the second day of the decathlon.
4. How is the winner decided in a combined event?

Assignment

1. List the five events of the pentathlon in the order in which they are held.
2. List the events of the heptathlon for day one and day two.