A Level PE Skill Acquisition

What is a skill

A skill is the learned ability to bring about predetermined results with maximum certainty; often with the minimum outlay of time or energy or both. A motor skill is a skill which involves movement and muscular control to achieve the goal e.g. running, swing, jumping etc.

What are the 6 types of skill classification systems

There are 6 types of skill classification continuums; difficulty, environmental influence, pacing, muscular involvement, continuity, and organisation.

The difficulty continuum

The difficulty continuum has simple and complex extremes.

Simple skills are straightforward with very few judgments and decisions. They also require little concentration and cognitive ability of the performer. Examples of simple skills include swimming and sprinting.

Complex skills involve many decisions and judgments. They are complicated and are practised in training repeatedly to make it easier to perform in competition. Examples of complex skills include the somersault and a tennis serve.

The environmental influence continuum

The environmental influence continuum has open and closed extremes.

Open skills are affected by the environment (e.g. team games). The environment is constantly changing, and so movements have to be continually adapted. Therefore, skills are predominantly perceptual. Examples of open skills include a pass in netball, football, hockey, etc.

Closed skills are not affected by the environment. The environment is predictable and the performer knows exactly what to do and when. Movement bullet set patterns and have a clear beginning and end. The screws tend to be self-paced. Examples of close skills a free trip in basketball or a serve in tennis.

The pacing continuum

The pacing continuum has externally and internally paced extremes.

Internally paced or self-paced skills are skills where the performer controls the rate at which the skill is executed. These skills are usually closed skills. Examples of internally paced skills are the javelin throw and the discus.

Externally paced skills are skills where the environment controls the rate of performing the skill. The performer must pay attention to external events in order to control rate of movement. These skills involve reaction and are usually open skills. An example of an externally paced skill is open wind surfing.

The muscular movement or muscular involvement continuum

The muscular movement or muscular involvement continuum has gross and fine extremes.

Gross skills are large muscle movements using large muscle groups which are not very precise. Movement patterns include walking, running, and jumping. An example of a gross skill is the shotput.

Find skills are intricate movements using small muscle groups which tend to be precise and generally involve high levels of hand-eye coordination. An example of a fine skill is a snooker shot.

The continuity continuum

The continuity continuum has discrete, serial and continuous skills.

Discrete skills are brief, well-defined actions that have a clear beginning and end. They are single, specific skills. An example of a discrete skill is a penalty flick in hockey.

Serial skills are a group of discrete skills strung together to make a new and complex movement. An example of a serial skill is the sequence of skills for the triple jump.

Continuous skills have no obvious beginning or end. The end of one cycle of movements is the beginning of the next, and the skill is repeated. Examples of continuous movements includes swimming, running, and cycling.

The organisation continuum

The organisation continuum has high organisation and low organisation extremes.

A low organisation skill is very easy and uncomplicated. Moves such as riding a bike and the phases that make the skill are usually discrete and might be practised in training repeatedly to make technique better. Sub-routines are easy to separate. Examples of low organisation skills include swimming strokes or a trampolining sequence.

A high organisation skill is where many sub-routines are closely linked together to make this skill. They cannot be broken down and practiced. Examples of high organisation skills include a cartwheel or a golf swing.

What are practice conditions

Practice conditions are the type and style of practice administered by the coach. The appropriate type of practice will ensure the opportunity for the performer to make improvement. The conditions in which a skill is learned or practiced replicate real performance conditions as much as possible.

Part practice

Part practice is working on an isolated sub-routine with the aim of perfecting it. It is used with skills that are low organisation or if the task is complex and dangerous. It allows performers to make sense of a skill, gaining confidence as they learn each element. Reduces the possibility of overload. An example of part practice is practising the backswing only in the tennis serve.

Whole practice

Whole practice is skills being taught without breaking down into sub-routines or parts. It is used with skills that are high in organisation and need to be taught as a whole. It allows the performer to experience the feel of the skill- kinaesthesis. Examples of whole practice are sprinting and dribbling because of their cyclic nature or a gold swing.

Whole-part-whole practice

Whole-part-whole practice is practicing the whole skill, then practicing a sub-routine in isolation, then practising the whole skill again. It is used with serial skills or skills with low organisation when sub-routines have distinct features. It is used to recognise strengths and weaknesses, then correct specific skill errors. It allows for some feel of the skill. An example is practicing a whole swimming stroke, then practicing leg kick in isolation using a float, then practicing the whole stroke again.

Progressive-part practice

Progressive-part practice is when skills are broken down into sub-routines where the performer learns one link, then a second link and practices these, then further links are then added on (known as chaining). It is used with complex skills as it reduces information load, with low organisation skills, and serial skills. It is used as it is helpful to allow a performer to learn links between sub-routines and transfer these into the whole skill. Examples of this include a gymnastics floor routine, or the triple jump.

Massed practice

Massed practice is a practice session which involves very short or no rest intervals. It is good for discrete skills of short duration and can be used with highly motivated performers with good fitness levels. It is used to groove skills and to stimulate elements of fatigue. An example of massed practice is basketball players practising their shooting skills by doing drills which involve many shots from different positions around the key.

Distributed practice

Distributed practice is a practice session with rest intervals included. It is used with continuous skills, and with beginners or those with low levels of fitness and motivation. It is used because rest intervals allow performers to receive feedback and helps maintain motivation. An example of distributed practice is a swimmer swims a width and then has a rest while the coach gives feedback.

Fixed practice

Fixed practice is when a specific movement pattern is practiced repeatedly in a stable environment, sometimes called a drill. It is used with closed skills that require specific movement patterns to become overlearned. It allows skills to become habitual and automatic. An example of this is a discus thrower practising in the discus circle using the same weight implement.

Varied practice

Varied practice is when a skill is practised in many environments. It is used with open skills and practice conditions must be as realistic as possible. It allows the development of experiences in long-term memory, which performers can draw on, and develops performers’ perceptual and decision-making skills. An example of varied practice is a small sided game in football, where the performer can work on passing, positional play and strategy.