LEARNING PHYSICAL SKILLS

Week 1

Key Content

• Definitions of skill• Classification of motor skills• Characteristics of a skilled

performance

What is Skill?

1. In your own words what is ‘skill’?2. List 5 skills – they don’t have to all

be sports related

Skill

• Two meanings:• An action or specific movement

• Eg: basketball free throw

• The quality of a performance (“skilled performance”)• Eg: Lauren Jackson is a skilled basketball

player

Motor Skill

• A motor skill is either part of a movement or a group of movements that produces a desired outcome when performed in a sequence.

Motor Ability

• Some people seem to be naturals at many sports…why is this so?• See page 6 (table 1.1) for a list of

motor abilities• Motor ability: The general capacity

of the individual related to the performance of a variety of skills or tasks

Organisation of Motor Skills

• A series of motor skills can be put together to make up a motor program

• The individual motor skill that make up a motor program are called sub-routines

Example of a Motor Program (Baseball Hit)

Baseball Hit

Grip Stance Swing ContactFollow through

Step

Motor Program

Motor Skills or Sub-routines

Classification of Motor Skills• Helps to indicate how easy or difficult a

skill it is to learn and perform• Important starting point for teacher and

coach• 3 categories that need to be determined

when classifying motor skills1. Muscular effort involved in the skill2. Type of movement to be performed3. Environment in which the skill is performed

1. Muscular Effort

• Fine motor skills• Use of _______ muscle groups with the sight

and touch senses. A fine balance of touch and control is needed.

• Eg: Playing the piano, writing

• Gross motor skills• _________ muscle actions that result in

coordinated movement• Eg: Throwing, kicking

2. Type of Movement

• Discrete skill• _________ movement with distinct start and

finish• Eg: Catch, throw

• Serial skill• Series of __________ skills put together

• Gymnastics routine, serve and volley in tennis

• Continuous skill• No distinct beginning or end

• Eg: Swimming, cycling

3. Environment

• Closed motor skill• Environment is _________ and

predictable• Eg: Billiards, darts

• Open motor skill• Environment is constantly _________

and unpredictable• Eg: Soccer goal keeping, drive in

basketball

Closed / Open Skill Continuum

• Read pages 8 & 9• 1. Why is a continuum needed?• 2. An open skill should be _______

_____ for beginners to make it easier to learn.

• 3. List the ways to move a hockey strike from closed skill to open skill.

Rank these pictures along the closed/open continuum

Applying this Knowledge…

• We know that not everyone is a skilled performer• So what makes us sit back and say

he/she is a skilled performer?• What do we mean we when say

Michael Jordan is the most skilled basketball player of all?

Characteristics of a Skilled Performance• Performs consistently• Is accurate• Can vary speed, accuracy, and uniformity of movement• Efficient and coordinated (smooth) movements • Can react and adapt quickly to the demands of the

activity• Focuses on strategies of the game rather than

performing movements• Is well organised, ‘has all the time in the world’• Seems to be able to anticipate what movement or

action is needed• Maximises the chance of success• Minimises the energy expenditure• Minimises the time take to complete the task

Characteristics of a Skilled Performance

1. Name 3 skilled performers2. Why are they more skilled than

others in the same sport?3. What words do the media use to

describe these people?

Homework Task

A. Structured questionsB. Pick a sport of your choice and a motor

program1. List/draw the subroutines2. Contrast how a skilled and unskilled

performer may perform the motor skill by discussing the sub-routines

3. Using this same skill how would you progress it from closed to open skilled? Use at least three examples