Characteristics and Classifcations of Skill

Question 1

Can you define skill?

Answer 1

Skill is the LEARNED ABILITY to bring about pre-determined results with MAXIMUM CERTAINTY with the MINIMUM OUTLAY of TIME or ENERGY

Question 2

Can you identify 6 characteristics of skilled performance?

Answer 2

Learned
Aesthetic - looks good
Fluent
Goal Directed
Efficient
Consistent

Question 3

Can you identify the 6 different skill classification continua and label each ‘end’?

Answer 3

Environmental Influence (open/closed)
Pacing (self paced/externally paced)
Muscular Involvement (gross/fine)
Continuity (discrete/serial/continuous)
Difficulty (simple/complex)
Organisation (high/low)

Question 4

What is an OPEN skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 4

Varied movement patterns
CONSTANT reference to the environment
Often externally paced
eg. rugby tackle, return of serve, controlling a pass

Question 5

What is an CLOSED skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 5

Set pattern of movement
INITIAL or NO reference to the environment
Often self paced
eg. Golf swing, shot putt, badminton serve

Question 6

What is a SELF PACED skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 6

Where the timing and speed of production of the skill is down to the performer
eg. Tennis serve, goal kick, basketball free throw

Question 7

What is an EXTERNALLY PACED skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 7

Where the timing and speed of production of the skill is dependent on the environment
eg. a football tackle, a return of serve in tennis, an interception in netball

Question 8

What is a GROSS skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 8

Major muscle groups are involved and there is a ‘power production’ requirement. Physical Fitness is important and improves these skills.
eg. 100m sprint, javelin thrown, long jump, bench press

Question 9

What is a FINE skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 9

Small muscle groups and there is a concern for accuracy and finesse.
eg. grip in cricket spin bowling, table tennis grip and bat positioning, hand action in basketball free throw

Question 10

What is a DISCRETE skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 10

Clear beginning and end, tends to be completed quickly

eg. football pass, tennis forehand

Question 11

What is a SERIAL skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 11

A number of discrete skills that are linked together

eg. Triple jump (3 separate skills linked together)

Question 12

What is a CONTINUOUS skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 12

No clear beginning or end. One ‘cycle’ of the skills ‘flows seamlessly’ into the next
eg. running, swimming, cycling, rowing

Question 13

What is a SIMPLE skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 13

Few subroutines, few decisions to be made, not much thinking (perceptual load), easy to make the right choice
eg. Penalty in football, putt in golf

Question 14

What is a COMPLEX skill and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 14

Lots of subroutines and a high perceptual load (lots of thinking required),
e, basketball dribble, fielding on the boundary in cricket and trying to cause a run out, backhand in tennis

Question 15

What is a skill that is HIGH IN ORGANISATION and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 15

It is hard to breakdown the subroutines as fluency would be lost. Difficult to isolate subroutines for practice.
eg. golf swing, sprinting technique, cycling, bowling in cricket.

Question 16

What is a skill that is LOW IN ORGANISATION and can you think of ‘guaranteed’ example?

Answer 16

Subroutines can easily be identified and broken down for practice
eg. Tennis serve, triple jump, high jump (serial skills are often low in organisation)