skill classification

Question 1

what’s an open skill?

Answer 1

the sporting environment changes while the skill is being performed. performers must adapt and a high amount of decisions must be made

Question 2

give an example of an open skill

Answer 2

a chest pass is an open skill because your team mates and opposition are constantly moving around the pitch as you prepare to pass the ball.

Question 3

what is a closed skill?

Answer 3

the sporting environment / playing conditions are stable, enabling the performer to repeat the same movement pattern. there are few decisions to be made.

Question 4

give an example of a closed skill.

Answer 4

performing a backward roll in gymnastics is a closed skill because the environment doesn’t change.

Question 5

what is a gross skill?

Answer 5

large muscle groups are used to perform the skill.

Question 6

what is an example of a gross skill?

Answer 6

a sprint start is a gross skill, as the quadriceps are used to drive out of the blocks.

Question 7

what is a fine skill?

Answer 7

small muscles are used to perform a skill that requires a lot of precision.

Question 8

give an example of a fine skill.

Answer 8

a pistol shot is a fine skill because it uses the muscles of the hand to stabilise the gun for accuracy.

Question 9

what is a self paced skill?

Answer 9

when the performer is in control of the speed and timing of the skill.

Question 10

give an example of a self paced skill.

Answer 10

the hammer throw is self paced because the performer decides when to begin the rotations and also dictates how quickly they spin.

Question 11

what is an externally paced skill?

Answer 11

when the performer must adapt as they have no control over the speed and timing of the skill, it is in the control of the sporting environment.

Question 12

give an example of an externally paced skill.

Answer 12

when receiving a hockey pass from a team mate, the performer reacts to the speed and direction of the incoming ball. this makes is an externally paced skill, as the performer has no control over the speed of the incoming pass.

Question 13

what is a highly organised skill?

Answer 13

when the skill is difficult to break down into sub- routines/parts due to the speed at which the action is performed. whole practice is recommended for these skills.

Question 14

give an example of a highly organised skill.

Answer 14

a sprint start is a highly organised skill because it is performed rapidly and is therefore hard to breakdown into subroutines.

Question 15

what is a low organised skill?

Answer 15

when a skill can easily be broken down into sub-routines which can be practiced in isolation.

Question 16

give an example of a low organised skill.

Answer 16

back crawl in swimming is low organised because the sub routines (i.e. arm and leg motions) can easily be practiced individually for example by using a float.

Question 17

what is a simple skill?

Answer 17

when limited decision making is required.

Question 18

give an example of a simple skill.

Answer 18

a forward roll is a simple skill because there is little information processing required and few decision to be made when carrying out the action.

Question 19

what is a complex skill?

Answer 19

a complex skill is when several decisions must be made.

Question 20

give an example of a complex skill.

Answer 20

the centre player in rugby, running with the ball, takes into account the defenders’ positions before deciding what team mate to pass to during attacking play. this is a complex skill because of the large number of decisions that are made before the pass can be made.

Question 21

what is a discrete skill?

Answer 21

when the skill has a clear beginning and ending, and is one discrete action.

Question 22

give an example of a discrete skill.

Answer 22

a pirouette in dance is a discrete skill because there is a clear beginning and end - start to finish.

Question 23

what is a serial skill?

Answer 23

a number of discrete skills that are performed together sequentially, creating another skill.

Question 24

give an example of a serial skill.

Answer 24

the run up, hop, step, jump and landing are all linked together in the triple jump. they are linked in a specific order and therefore its a serial skill.

Question 25

what is a continuous skill?

Answer 25

when the skill has no clear beginning or ending. the end of a subroutine of one skill becomes the start of another subroutine- the movement is cyclical.

Question 26

give an example of a continuous skill.

Answer 26

cycling and swimming stores are continuous because of their cyclical nature - the movements are all connected without a clear ending.