2.1 - Classification of skills

Learning objectives

To be able to describe the different types of skill classification.

To be able to categorise sporting events on a skill classification continuum.

To understand the types of practice using by coaches.

To apply knowledge of practices to different sporting activities.

Classification of skills

How are sports skills classified?

Skill differs from ability in that it is not innate, skills are learnt.

Classification of skills

They are developed from ability after a period of practice.

To produce a skilled performance, the player must practise so that the required abilities are enhanced.

Skills are usually classified on a sliding scale called a continuum. This is a visual guide to indicate where a skill fits into a specific category.

Classification of skills

A continuum is a line that goes between two

extremes

You will need to learn three continua

Classification of skills

Open Closed

Continuum 1

“A continuum is a line that goes

between two extremes”

Classification of skills

Basic

(simple) Complex

Continuum 2

“A continuum is a line that goes

between two extremes”

Classification of skills

Continuum 3

“A continuum is a line that goes

between two extremes”

Low

Organisation

High

Organisation

An open skill is one that is affected by the sporting environment. The performer has to make decisions in response to their surroundings. Rugby tacklingDribbling in football and passing in hockey

A closed skill involves less decision making because it has a predictable environment. The performer can take their time to execute the skill. Taking a penalty in football, free throw in basketball and serving in squash and tennis

OPENCLOSED

Skill Classification – Open/Closed

Can you name other skills and where would they fit on the continuum?Draw out a continuum and write your skills on there

Lots of skills can be grouped together from lots

of different sports

In your exam it

will be your job

to decide

which skills are

open and

which are

closed

From this picture- pick out a closed skill and an

open skill

Answer the following question on whiteboards:

• What is a definition of a continuum?

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboards:

• What is a definition of a continuum?

Answer:

- A line that goes between two extremes.

You do

Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are open skills?

• What types of things affect how a performer executes an open skill?

You do

Answers:

• What are open skills?

- skills that are affected by the surrounding environment

• What types of things affect how a performer executes an open skill?

- opposition, teammates, weather, playing surface

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these open or closed skills? Explain your answer.

- a pass in hockey

- dribbling in football

- a rugby tackle

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these open or closed skills? Explain your answer.

- a pass in hockey

- dribbling in football

- a rugby tackle

They are open skills because execution of the skill needs to be adapted according to the opposition and teammates move, to the weather conditions and to the playing surface.

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Explain why a penalty kick in football, a gymnastic vault and a tennis serve are all closed skills

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Explain why a penalty kick in football, a gymnastic vault and a tennis serve are all closed skills

There is a limit how much the environment is affecting the execution of the skill

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Which skill is more open from the following? A penalty kick in football or a penalty kick in rugby

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Which skill is more open from the following? A penalty kick in football or a penalty kick in rugby

- A penalty kick in football is more open than a penalty kick in rugby because the goalkeeper can affect how the football player takes his kick whereas none of the opposition in rugby can affect the kick.

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Draw a open/close skill continuum line like this:

Open Closed

• Now place three skills from football on the continuum:

i) Goalkeeper saving a penalty

ii) Forward taking a penalty

iii) Midfielder dribbling the ball

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Draw a open/close skill continuum line like this:

Open Closed

Midfielder

dribbling

the ball

Goalkeeper

saving a

penalty

Forward

taking a

penalty

Classification of skills

Basic

(simple) Complex

Continuum 2

“A continuum is a line that goes

between two extremes”

A complex skill involves a high level of decision making and has a large cognitive or thinking element to it. E.g. lay up in basketball/passing a relay baton and getting past a defender.

Simple skills have a limited amount of information to process. The skill has a smaller cognitive element. E.g. running, cycling and chest pass

COMPLEXBASIC/SIMPLE

Skill Classification – Basic/Simple & Complex

Can you name other skills and where would they fit on the continuum?Draw out your continuum and write them on there

Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are basic skills?

You do

Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are basic skills?

They are simple and require little thought. They don’t require cognitive process and little decision making

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these basic or complex? Explain your answer.

Rock Climbing

Passing a relay baton

Lay up in basket ball

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these basic or complex? Explain your answer.

Rock Climbing

Passing a relay baton

Lay up in basket ball

These skills are complex skills. They a difficult and require a lot of concentration and information to be processed.

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Explain why running, cycling and swimming are all basic skills

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Explain why running, cycling and swimming are all basic skills

These skills are all basic skills as they require little thought and decision making. They do not need much information to be processed.

You do

Recall

Name the 2 continuum

Draw out each continua

Give sporting examples of each classification of skill on your continua.

Classification of skills

Continuum 3

“A continuum is a line that goes

between two extremes”

Low

Organisation

High

Organisation

A low organised skill can be broken down into parts, or subroutines. Set shot and triple jump.

A highly organised skill is hard to break down since it is fast in its execution. Golf swing and summersault.

Skill Classification – Organisation

Can you name other skills and where would they fit on the continuum?Draw out this continuum and label them on

LOW ORGANISED HIGH ORGANISED

Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are High Organisation skills?

You do

Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are High Organisation skills?

High Organisation skills are those that are harder to do. They have phases but they are not clearly broken down without effecting the skill. This makes is really hard to practice

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these Low or high Organisation skills? Explain your answer.

Tennis serve

Triple jump

Long jump

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these Low or high Organisation skills? Explain your answer.

Tennis serve

Triple jump

Long jump

All of these skills are low organisation. They have clear separate phases, making them easier to break down and easier to do.

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Explain why a golf swing and a somersault in gymnastics are high organisation

You do

Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your book.

• Explain why a golf swing and a somersault in gymnastics are high organisation

They are harder to do and are not clearly broken down without affecting the skill. They are hard to practice without doing it all together.

You do

Exam practice- I do and we do

Give one example of a closed skill and briefly explain why it falls into this classification. (3)

A vault in gymnastics is a closed skill. This is because the gymnast decides when to start (1), and therefore they can pre-plan the vault (1) As the opposition does not have direct contact, the skill does not need to be adapted (1)

Now you have seen a modelled answer, what would you give for this question?

Exam style Question- I do

Which one of the following is the most complex skill?

A) Running on a track

B) Swimming in a pool

C) Laying up a shot in basketball

D) Cycling on a track

C) Laying up a shot in basketball

Exam Style Question- You do

Give one example of a high organisation skill and briefly explain why it falls into this classification. (2 Marks)

Exam Style Question- You do

Give one example of a high organisation skill and briefly explain why it falls into this classification. (2 Marks)

Gives and example of a high organisation skill 1 mark

Describe what high organisation is (Hard to do, has phases but are not clearly broken down) 1 mark

Exam style question- you do

Which one of the following is the most basic skill

a) Running on a track

b) Passing the baton in relay

c) Lay up in basketball

d) Tumbling in swimming

Exam style question- you do

Which one of the following is the most basic skill

a) Running on a track

b) Passing the baton in relay

c) Lay up in basketball

d) Tumbling in swimming

A) Running on a track

Plenary

Draw out the 3 continua

Label each extreme of the continua

Give sporting example of each