Skill, Ability and Aplication to practical activity

Skill

Skill is the learned ability to bring about predetermined results with maximum certainty and efficiency.

Key Characteristics of Skill

Learned, goal directed, efficient, consistent.

Sporting Example of Skill

A football pass performed accurately and consistently.

Ability

Ability is a natural or inherited trait that helps a person perform skills.

Characteristics of Abilities

Innate, stable, difficult to change.

Sporting Examples of Abilities

Balance, coordination, reaction time.

Difference Between Skill and Ability

Skill is learned while ability is inherited.

Learning

Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour or performance due to practice or experience.

Characteristics of Learning

Caused by practice, relatively permanent, improves performance potential.

Performance

Performance is the execution of a skill in a particular situation.

Factors Affecting Performance

Motivation, fatigue, anxiety, environmental conditions.

Characteristics of Skilled Performance

Consistency, accuracy, control, coordination, fluency, aesthetic quality, efficiency, goal directed.

Gross Motor Abilities

Abilities involving large muscle groups and whole-body movement.

Examples of Gross Motor Abilities

Strength, power, stamina, balance.

Sporting Examples of Gross Motor Abilities

Sprinting, jumping, tackling.

Psychomotor Abilities

Abilities involving processing information and coordinating movement.

Examples of Psychomotor Abilities

Reaction time, coordination, anticipation, spatial awareness.

Sporting Examples of Psychomotor Abilities

Returning a tennis serve, reacting to a starting gun.

Pacing Continuum

Classifies skills based on whether the performer controls the speed/timing.

Self-Paced Skills

The performer controls the timing and speed.

Examples of Self-Paced Skills

Golf putt, gymnastics routine, free throw in basketball.

Externally Paced Skills

The timing is controlled by the environment or opponents.

Examples of Externally Paced Skills

Returning a tennis serve, receiving a football pass.

Difficulty Continuum

Classifies skills from simple to complex.

Simple Skills Characteristics

Few decisions, low information processing, basic movements.

Examples of Simple Skills

Running, straight sprinting.

Complex Skills Characteristics

Many decisions, high coordination, high information processing.

Examples of Complex Skills

Gymnastics routine, dribbling in hockey.

Organisation Continuum

Classifies skills based on how parts are interrelated.

Low Organisation Skills

Skills made up of separate parts that can be practised individually.

Examples of Low Organisation Skills

Triple jump phases, swimming stroke components.

High Organisation Skills

Skills where parts are closely linked and difficult to separate.

Examples of High Organisation Skills

Cycling, golf swing.

Continuity Continuum

Classifies skills based on the presence of a clear beginning and end.

Discrete Skills Definition

Skills with a clear beginning and end.

Examples of Discrete Skills

Penalty kick, tennis serve.

Serial Skills Definition

Several discrete skills linked together.

Examples of Serial Skills

Gymnastics routine, triple jump.

Continuous Skills Definition

Skills with no obvious beginning or end.

Examples of Continuous Skills

Running, cycling, swimming.

Muscular Involvement Continuum

Classifies skills based on the size of muscle groups involved.

Gross Skills Definition

Skills involving large muscle groups.

Examples of Gross Skills

Jumping, sprinting.

Fine Skills Definition

Skills involving small, precise muscle movements.

Examples of Fine Skills

Archery, snooker, darts.

Environmental Influence Continuum

Classifies skills based on the stability of the environment.

Open Skills Definition

Skills performed in changing and unpredictable environments.

Characteristics of Open Skills

Performer must adapt, decisions constantly change.

Examples of Open Skills

Football pass, rugby tackle, hockey dribble.

Closed Skills Definition

Skills performed in stable and predictable environments.

Characteristics of Closed Skills

Little environmental change, performer controls movement.

Examples of Closed Skills

Golf putt, gymnastics routine, diving.

Summary Table of Skill Continuums

Pacing: Self-paced vs Externally paced; Difficulty: Simple vs Complex; Organisation: Low vs High; Continuity: Discrete vs Continuous; Muscular involvement: Fine vs Gross; Environmental influence: Closed vs Open.

Skill Classification Examples

Golf putt: Self-paced, closed, fine, discrete; Football pass: Externally paced, open, gross; Running: Continuous, gross; Gymnastics routine: Complex, serial, closed.