Planes and Axes of Movement
The three planes a movement happens within and the three axes it turns around: how to tell a plane from an axis, and which everyday sporting actions belong to each.
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Describing how the body moves
To analyse a movement, we describe the flat surface it happens within, called a plane, and the line it turns around, called an axis. There are three planes and three axes. Getting them right lets you describe any action, from a somersault to a spin. This module looks at the planes and axes of movement.
Plane and axis words
Learn these four terms before you study movement analysis.
Plane or axis?
These two are the most confused pair in movement analysis.
Within or around?
To reach the top grades, keep plane and axis separate. A plane is the flat surface a movement happens within; an axis is the line a movement turns around. The same names, transverse and sagittal, are used for both, so always say whether you mean a plane or an axis.
Match the plane
- the sagittal plane
- the frontal plane
- the transverse plane
- the longitudinal axis
- forward and backward moves like a somersault
- side to side moves like a cartwheel
- rotating moves like a spin
- the up and down line a spin turns around
Match the action
- a forward roll
- a star jump
- a discus turn
- a spin on the spot
- happens in the sagittal plane
- happens in the frontal plane
- happens in the transverse plane
- turns around the longitudinal axis
Within or around?
A gymnast spins on the spot. What do we call the line she spins around?
- An axis.
- A plane.
- A lever.
- A joint.
Moves in the sagittal plane
Select the TWO movements that happen in the sagittal plane.
- A forward somersault.
- Running in a straight line.
- A cartwheel.
- A spin on the spot.
Analyse a movement
Put the steps of describing a movement in order, earliest first.
- Watch the movement carefully
- Decide if it is forward-back, side-side or rotating
- Name the plane it happens within
- Name the axis it turns around
Name the plane or axis
Forward and backward moves like a somersault happen in the _____ plane. Side to side moves like a cartwheel happen in the _____ plane. Rotating moves like a spin happen in the _____ plane. A spin turns around the up-and-down, or _____, axis. Movement analysis uses three planes and three _____.
Count the degrees
An ice skater does two full spins on the spot. Each full spin turns 360 degrees around the longitudinal axis. How many degrees does the skater turn in total?
Find the rotating moves
Tap the TWO movements that are rotations in the transverse plane.
- a spinning skater
- a forward somersault
- a discus thrower turning
- a cartwheel
Which plane is it?
Read each movement and choose which plane it happens within.
- A gymnast performs a forward somersault
- A gymnast performs a cartwheel to the side
- A skater spins round and round on the spot
Explain planes and axes
Explain the difference between a plane and an axis of movement. Name the three planes and give an example action for each.
- Explain what a plane is and what an axis is
- Name the three planes of movement
- Give an example action for each plane