Classification of Skills

Question 1

Classification Type - Difficulty - Simple (4) & Complex (4)

Answer 1

Simple

• Hardly any judgements needed
• Few Decisions to be made
• Can be taught as a whole
• eg Forward roll

Complex

• Many decisions to be made
• Information needed before completing skill
• Needs to be learnt in stages
• eg Slip Catch

Question 2

Classification Type - Environment - Open (4) & Closed (6)

Answer 2

Open

• Affected by the environment
• Predominantly perceptual
• Unpredictable environment - different pitch, opposition, the position of teammates
• eg dribble in football

Closed

• Not affected by the environment
• Predominantly habitual
• Movements follow a set pattern
• Predictable environment
• Usually self-paced
• eg serve in tennis

Question 3

Classification Type - Pacing - Self (3) & External (3)

Answer 3

Self-paced

• Performer controls the rate of execution
• Performer is pro-active in the action
• eg serve in tennis

Externally paced

• Environment controls rate in which skill is executed
• Performer is reactive in the action
• eg a return in tennis

Question 4

Classification Type - Muscular Involvement - Gross (4) & Fine (5)

Answer 4

Gross

• Involves movement of large muscle groups
• Skills are not very precise
• Involves fundamental movement patterns
• eg sprint

Fine

• Involves more intricate muscles
• Uses small muscle groups
• Tendency to be precise
• High degree of hand-eye coordination
• eg snooker shot

Question 5

Classification Type - Continuity - Discrete (3) & Serial (2) & Continuous (3)

Answer 5

Discrete

• Clear beginning and end
• Skill can be repeated but has to start from beginning
• eg Darts throw

Serial

• Several discrete elements put together to make a sequence
• eg triple jump

Continous

• No obvious beginning and end
• End of a cycle is the beginning of another
• eg cycling

Question 6

Classification Type - Organisation - High (2) & Low (2)

Answer 6

High

• Number of elements or subroutines that are difficult to seperate
• eg forward roll

Low

• Split up into subroutines which are easily identified as separate movements
• eg tennis serve

Question 7

What skills is the part method good for? (3)

Answer 7

• low organisation
• serial
• complex (only if low organisation)

Question 8

What skills is the whole-part-whole method good for ?

Answer 8

• low organisation
• serial

Question 9

What skills is the progressive-part method good for ?

Answer 9

• serial and complex