EXPH 2106 - Individual Abilities

Abilities are what

Born with

Some foundational questions

Why do some people perform certain motor activities better than others?

- Is it a result of practice? Culture? Gender? Age?

Are people born with special motor abilities or is it the result of practice? (IMPORTANT ONE)

How can success in two similar activities not ensure success in other similar activities?

Can an individual's capability for an activity be measured and evaluated?

- If so, can we use this information to provide better instructional assistance?

Abilities (Nature side of debate) features

Genetically determined characteristics i.e. inherited traits

Underlie the performance of different skills (Building blocks)

The "hardware" for motor performance

Fewer in number

The potential for performance success (Capacity of what to do)

Skill (Nuture side of debate) features

Developed as a result of practice (NOT born, acquire through practice)

Different skilled tasks are dependent on different subsets of abilities

What you do with the "hardware" i.e. the software

Many in number

The individual's actual performance success after practice!!

Categories of Abilities

Depending on the source, it is estimated that there can be as few as 50 and as many as 1000identifiable motor abilities.

4 commonly identified categories include:

- Sensory abilities

- Physical abilities

- Perceptual - motor abilities

- Cognitive abilities

Superpowers are a common example

Sensory abilities

Detection and interpret

Physical abilities

Strength, speed, flexibility

Perceptual - motor abilities

Connection of perception and what to do

Cognitive abilities

Puzzles, math, etc

Linking abilities to skill

REVIEW DIAGRAM SLIDE 6!!

Abilities for archery

Tau

Depth perception

Arm strength

Shoulder stability

Abilities for downhill skiing

Reaction time

Contrast sensitivity

Leg strength

Nature vs Nuture

Individuals have unique strengths & repertoires of abilities

- How much of one's success is genetic vs. coaching, practice, environment, etc.? (Mix of one's nature and nuture)

DID YOU KNOW?

- There are 12 sets of brothers playing in the NFL...!

- Trey, Terrell and Tremaine

- Also (not shown)JJ, TJ & Derek WattDan, Chris, Ron Gronkowski

"All around" elite athletes are rare!!

Jessica Ennis

Heptathalon

Most athletes aren't able to successfully cross over (2 examples)

Nike sponsored endurance runners for across country ski team (NOT good with balance)

Michael Jordan (basketball -> baseball)

Performance success

Its rare to be strong in all the abilities required for a particular task

Depends on what

Depends on:

- Ability to compensate for weaker abilities

- Incorporation of appropriate stronger abilities

- Quantity & quality of the practice experience (shaped by the other factors)***

Playing strengths of more consistent ball contact features

- Speed of limb movement (Move quickly)

- Reaction time

- Perceptual timing (Interpret ball just right)

- Motor timing

- Force control

Playing strengths of covers the court better features

Speed of limb movement

Reaction time

Response orientation

Explosive strength

Gets to ball quicker to interpret and body positions

What do you think are key abilities for success in basketball examples?

Rajon Rondo - Arm and finger length

- Wingspan longer than height

- Giant hands at ends of long arms

Isaiah Thomas - Launch angle on floaters

- Decreases COM with balance and has a 70 degree angle launch angle

Zach Lavine - Higher max leap

- Leap is initiated by 90 degrees of knee flexion

Other Factors for Performance Success

Previous related movement experience

Body configuration

Personal characteristics (mood, risk-taking, competitiveness, etc.)

Social / cultural influences

"When will Kenya Discover Triathalon"

Endurance athletes

Kenyans have dominated the distance running sports

They hoped to debut in Olympic Triathalon in 2000

None knew how to swim or ride bikes

The best triathletes are those who BLEND the ideals for these 3 sports

Individual Abilities Research

Focuses on 2 main factors

1. Identification of underlying abilities that contribute to specific motor tasks

2. Prediction of success

Example: Abilities related to success in basketball shooting

Which for free throwing -> Static visual acuity

Which for field goal throwing -> Dynamic visual acuity

No effects of depth perception and size consistency

Example: Trying to identify abilities that predict success

The Flemish GymnasticsFoundation (Belgium) annually selects 7- 8 y.o. gymnasts for their national talent development program to become elite gymnasts

A multidimensional test battery was performed and compared to their all-around competition results2 yrs later

Test Battery included what

Running backward

Skipping

Hopping

Shuffle pass

Cross steps

Bouncing

Jumping jacks

Tuck jumps

Giant jumps

Generic motor coordination score:

- Walking backward on different width balance beams

- Moving sideways on wooden platforms for 20sec

- Jumping sideways with 2 feet over a wooden slat for 15 sec

- Hopping on 1 leg over foam obstacles of different heights

Physical characteristics of the gymnast

Expert coaches eval'd technical skills

Results

The only meaningful predictor of competition result 2 yrs later was the motor coordination score (non-gymnastics-specific test)

- Walking backward on different width balance beams

- Moving sideways on wooden platforms for 20 sec

- Jumping sideways with 2 feet over a wooden slat for 15 sec

- Hopping on 1 leg over foam obstacles of different heights

None predicted outcomes for sub-elite gymnasts

Coaches' evaluations were not significant predictors

We don't really know until researcher and experts need to do research

Example: Prediction of success Higher vs. Lower skilled Hockey Players

14 different psychological, motor, and physiologic abilities were assessed. Can you guess the top 4?

1. forward skating speed

2. anaerobic power

3. achievement motivation

4. visual-perceptual speed

Prediction of Success - Be careful

Youth sports - play the best or play them all?

Application Considerations Part 1

Early stages of learning require higher cognitive ability to figure out instructions, rules, strategies, etc.

Success in later stage of learning will be more dependent on the production and refinement of movement, predictions, etc.

Application Considerations Part 2

Determine the requirements of the task (task analysis)

Identify the important abilities needed to meet the requirements of the task

Look at skilled performers

Evaluate the individual's performance & design learning experiences that enhance their own abilities