What is Skill?
A learned ability to perform a planned movement
with maximum certainty
with efficiency
with minimum time and energy example: a tennis serve, basketball lay-up, sprint start
-
Ability vs Skill
Ability = natural talent you are born with (e.g., speed, balance, reaction time).
Skill = learned through practice.
You need ability to develop high levels of skill.
Types of Skills
A. Motor Skills - Movement skills that use muscles in a goal-directed way.
Type Meaning Example
Gross motor skills Large muscle movements Kicking a football
Fine motor skills Small, precise movements Finger roll in basketball
B. Basic vs Complex Skills
Type Meaning Example
Basic skills Simple, learned early Running, jumping
Complex skills Difficult, combination skills Tennis serve, high jump
Classifying Skills
Skills exist on a continuum from open to closed (they are not completely open or closed)
Open Skills
Environment changes
Must adapt constantly
Found mostly in games
Example: Passing in football (position of opponents changes).
Closed Skills
Environment is stable
Same movement each time
Example: Gymnastics vault.
Most sport skills are partly open and partly closed as they have varying levels of environmental influence.
Phases of Skill Learning
We move through three stages when learning skills:
1. Cognitive Stage (Beginner)
Learning what to do
Many mistakes
Needs clear demonstrations and simple instructions
Focus on technique
2. Associative Stage (Improver)
Get a feel for the skill through more practice
Fewer mistakes
Better coordination
Uses feedback to improve through self-analysis of own movements (internal feedback from our enses) and external
feedback from the coach/teacher
Can self-correct
3. Autonomous Stage (Advanced)
Skill becomes automatic
More concentration and focus is given to tactics and strategy
Little need for coach correction. Coaches assist with finer details of the skill such as tactics and mental preparation
What Helps Us Learn Skills?
1. Guidance – Demonstrations, verbal instructions
2. Practice – Whole method or part method
3. Feedback – Information about performance
4. Experience – Transfer of skills from one sport to another
o Positive transfer (Netball → Basketball)
o Negative transfer (Table tennis wrist action in lawn tennis)
Information Processing Model (How We Perform Skills)
The brain works like a computer with 4 stages:
1. Input - Information received through the senses.
Includes proprioception (body awareness & balance).
2. Decision Making
Brain interprets information.
Uses memory:
o Short-term memory (temporary workspace)
o Long-term memory (stores skills permanently)
Uses selective attention (focus on important cues).
3. Output
Movement performed (muscles act).
4. Feedback
Information about success or failure.
Types of Feedback
Type Meaning Example
Internal Feeling a good
From your senses
feedback basketball release
External Comes from knowledge of results (outcome: goal scored, time achieved) or knowledge of Coach correcting
feedback performance (how well technique was performed / information from coach, teammate) technique
Importance of Feedback
Feedback:
Improves performance
Identifies strengths & weaknesses
Increases motivation & helps goal setting
Good feedback should:
1. Be given quickly
2. Be clear and specific
3. Allow time to improve
Factors affecting performance
Performance is influenced by three main groups.
Physiological (Body) Factors
Skill level
Fitness
Physique (body type)
Age
Body composition
Fatigue
Injury/illness
Diet
Drugs
Psychological (Mental) Factors
Personality
Motivation (intrinsic & extrinsic)
Arousal level
Stress
Religion (may limit participation)
Environmental Factors
Weather
Altitude (less oxygen at high heights)
Pollution