4.1 Classification Of Motor Skills Flashcards
What is classification?
Process of grouping similar skills together and giving them a generic label 
What is a continuum?
An imaginary scale between two extremes which show a gradual increase/decrease in a number of characteristics 
What three factors affect motor skills
1.precision of movement
2.definite beginning/end
3.environmental influence
What are the six different continuum?
– Difficulty (simple/complex)
– environmental influence (open/closed)
- pacing (self-paced/externally paced)
- Muscular involvement (gross/fine)
– continuity (discreet/serial/continuous)
Organisation (low/high)
Simple skills
– Straightforward skills.
– routines
– Hardy, any judgement or decisions
– taught as a whole
Complex skills
– complicated skills
– requiring a lot of attention/practice.
– require a large number of interlink subroutines.
– involve lots of decisions.
– taught in stages
Example of simple skill
Sprint start in swimming
Example of complex skill
Slip, catch in cricket
Open skills
– Require perceptual monitoring (the performer, perceives information which stimulates the skill response)
– occur in an unpredictable environment.
– requires decision-making.
– usually externally paste
Example of open skill
Pass in football
Simple – complex continuum
Based on types of judgements and decision performer has to make
Open - closed continuum
Concerned with the effects of environment
Closed skills
– Pre-learned and habitual
– no external requirements.
– occur in a predictable environment.
– follow a set pattern with a definite beginning and end.
– usually self-paced paste
Example of closed skills
Tennis serve
Externally paced - self paced continuum
Refers to timing of movement
Externally paced skills
– Speed and precision, with which the skill is executed or controlled by the environment/surroundings of the performer.
– involves reaction.
– usually an open skill
Example of externally paced skills
Receiving tennis serve
Self-paced skills
– Rate of action is controlled by the performer.
– skill is generally more closed habitual
Example of self-paced skills
Tennis serve
Gross – fine continuum
Concerned with the precision of movement
Gross skills
– Use large muscle movements.
– little need for precision.
– include many fundamental movement patterns, such as jumping
Example of gross skill
Olympic weightlifting
Fine skills
- use small muscle groups
- intricate movements
- need for precision
- high degree of hand eye coordination
Example of fine skills
Snooker shot
Discreet – serial – continuous continuum
Concerned with how clear the beginning and end of a skill 
Discrete skills
- Have a clear, beginning and end
– single specific skill.
– before a must start again, to repeat the skill
Example of discrete skill
Penalty kick
Serial skills
Have a number of discrete skills/sub routines
– a link together into performance, consisting of several phases
Example of serial skills
Triple jump
Continuous skills
– Cannot be split into subroutines or easily distinguishable parts.
– no definite beginning or end.
– the end of one cycle is the beginning of the next
Example of continuous skills
Cycling
Low – high organisational continuum
How closely link sub routines of the movement skills are
Low organisation
– Uncomplicated and have little organisational structure.
– sub routines tend to be discreet, they can be split up easily and practice separately
Example of low organisation skill
Gymnastics routine
High organisation
– Have a complex organisational structure.
– celerity the cosy linked.
– cannot be practised separately, must be practised as a whole.
– require farmer, attention and concentration to perform successfully
Example of high organisation skill
Golf swing
What is an individual skill?
Skill is performed without reference to another player, e.g. throwing a javelin
What is a coactive skill?
Whether others are involved called co actors, e.g. blocking in volleyball
What is an interactive skill?
If the skill is dependent upon interaction with the environment, e.g. many sailing skills
