Classification of skills

Question 1

what are the six continua?

Answer 1

environmental influence
difficulty
muscular involvement
pacing
continuity
organisation

Question 2

what is the environmental influence continuum?

Answer 2

the effect the situation (environment) has on the production of the skill

Question 3

what are the types of skill on the environmental influence continuum?

Answer 3

open + closed

Question 4

what is an open skill?

Answer 4

• the environment is constantly changing
• the performer has to adapt to the changes
• the performer interprets the information + makes a correct decision
• e.g. passing, dribbling, sailing

Question 5

what is a closed skill?

Answer 5

• the environment is constant + predictable
• the skills are repeated without adjustment
• e.g. tennis serve, gymnastics vault, discus throw

Question 6

what is the difficulty continuum?

Answer 6

the amount of information to process, the level of decision-making + judgement required to produce the skill

Question 7

what are the types of skill on the difficulty continuum?

Answer 7

simple + complex

Question 8

what is a simple skill?

Answer 8

• the performer has a limited amount of information to process
• limited perception
• skill can be taught whole
• e.g. running, throwing

Question 9

what is a complex skill?

Answer 9

• a large amount of information to process
• lots of decision-making by the performer
• the performer adapts to the environment
• e.g. gymnastics vault, platform dive

Question 10

what is the muscular involvement continuum?

Answer 10

the muscles and precision required to produce the skill

Question 11

what are the types of skill on the muscular involvement continuum?

Answer 11

fine + gross

Question 12

what is a fine skill?

Answer 12

• performed with small muscle groups
• requires precision
• e.g. pistol shooting, spin bowling

Question 13

what is a gross skill?

Answer 13

• performed using large muscle groups
• low level of precision
• e.g. rugby tackle, shot put

Question 14

what is the pacing continuum?

Answer 14

how much control the performer has on the timing + speed of the movement

Question 15

what are the types of skill on the pacing continuum?

Answer 15

externally-paced + self-paced

Question 16

what is an externally-paced skill?

Answer 16

• the environment controls the timing + speed of the skill
• e.g. footballer receiving a pass

Question 17

what is a self-paced skill?

Answer 17

• the performer controls the timing + speed of the skill
• e.g. a tennis player deciding to serve

Question 18

what is the continuity continuum?

Answer 18

the clarity of the start + end of the movement, + how closely linked the subroutines are

Question 19

what are the types of skill on the continuity continuum?

Answer 19

discrete + serial + continuous

Question 20

what is a discrete skill?

Answer 20

• clear beginning + end
• a single action
• e.g. a penalty

Question 21

what is a serial skill?

Answer 21

• a number of discrete skills grouped together
• e.g. triple jump

Question 22

what is a continuous skill?

Answer 22

• no clear beginning + end
• cyclic skills
• e.g. cycling

Question 23

what is the organisation continuum?

Answer 23

how closely the subroutines are linked + whether the performer can practise each subroutine in isolation

Question 24

what are the types of skill on the organisation continuum?

Answer 24

high organisation + low organisation

Question 25

what is a high organisation skill?

Answer 25

• hard to break down into subroutines + practice individually
• practice skill as whole
• e.g. pole vault

Question 26

what is a low organisation skill?

Answer 26

• easy to separate into subroutines + practice individually
• skill can be isolated
• e.g. breaststroke