Skill and Ability

Question 1

What is the definition of skill?

Answer 1

The learned, efficient movement performed with a purpose and to a consistently high standard.

Question 2

What is the definition of ability?

Answer 2

The innate quality that we have - it is something that we’re born with, and the relative magnitude of that quality is determined by our genetic inheritance.

Question 3

What is motor ability?

Answer 3

Concerned with movement - determining an individuals: balance, coordination, reaction time etc.

Question 4

What is perceptual ability?

Answer 4

Ability to take in information, recognise it and make sense of it (the ability to sense and interpret information)

Question 5

What is cognitive skill?

Answer 5

Skills that involve thought process and intellectual ability to solve a problem. E.g. devising tactics and strategies to outwit an opponent etc.

Question 6

What is psychomotor skill?

Answer 6

Analysing the situation and completing the skill

Question 7

What is perceptual skill?

Answer 7

Skills that involve the detection and interpretation of stimuli from the environment.

Question 8

What is motor skill?

Answer 8

Skills that involve physical movement and muscular control linked to a specific objective.

Question 9

What is an open skill?

Answer 9

Skill affected by the environment, or performed in a dynamic, changing environment or situation.

Question 10

What is a closed skill?

Answer 10

Skill is performed in a stable, unchanging environment, where the environment has little or no impact on the performance of the skill

Question 11

What is a discrete skill?

Answer 11

A movement with a clear beginning and end

Question 12

What is a serial skill?

Answer 12

Series of specific movements (often discrete) chained together in a sequence

Question 13

What is a continuous skill?

Answer 13

No clear beginning or end, one end phase of the movement blends into the start phase of the next cycle.

Question 14

What is a gross skill?

Answer 14

A strong powerful movement requiring the use of major muscle groups, where fine control is not possible or required.

Question 15

What is a fine skill?

Answer 15

Small, precise movement showing high levels of accuracy and co-ordination, using small muscle groups.

Question 16

What is a self-paced skill?

Answer 16

The performer decides when the movement is begun and the pace at which the movement is performed.

Question 17

What is an externally paced skill?

Answer 17

A skill that is initiated by factors other than the performer. The pace at which the skill is performed is dictated by factors other than the performer.

Question 18

Using examples from a swimming start, explain the difference between ‘motor ability’ and ‘perceptual ability’.

Answer 18

Motor ability is concerned with the movements that the performer does e.g. pushing off the blocks in the swimming start. Whereas perceptual ability is the ability to take in information, recognise it and make sense of it e.g. reacting to the starting gun in the swimming start.

Question 19

Using examples explain the difference between cognitive and psychomotor skills.

Answer 19

Cognitive skills require a thought process and intellectual ability e.g. devising tactics to outwit an opponent. Whereas psychomotor skills is analysing the situation/display and performing the skill e.g. finding where a player is free and passing the ball to them.

Question 20

What are the characteristics of a skilled performance? (7)

Answer 20

1. There is an objective
2. It has to be learned
3. It has to be economic and efficient
4. It has to be flowing and aesthetically pleasing
5. It has to be in the right place at the right time
6. It has to be consistently successful
7. It has to follow a technical model and be controlled