Classification of skills

• The difficulty spectrum includes simple and complex.
• Simple skill: one with limited decision making/info to process and few subroutines e.g. sprinting.
• Complex skill: one with a high perceptual load (lots of info to process) and many subroutines e.g. a tennis serve.
• The environmental spectrum includes closed and open skills.
• Closed skill: not affected by the environment and is usually self-paced e.g. hammer throw.
• Open skill: performed in a constantly changing environment e.g. a hockey pass in a match.
• The pacing spectrum includes self-paced and externally-paced skills.
• The organisation spectrum includes low organisation and high organisation skills.
• Low organisational skill: subroutines can be easily separated/isolated for practice e.g. a roll in a gym sequence.
• High organisational skill: made up of closely linked subroutines that are usually practiced as a whole e.g. a golf swing.
• The continuity spectrum included discrete, serial and continuous skills.
• Discrete skill: has a clear beginning and end e.g. throwing a javelin.
• Serial skill: has a number of discrete elements/subroutines e.g. triple jump.
• Continuous skill: has no clear beginning or end e.g. cycling.
• The muscular involvement spectrum included fine and gross skills.
• Fine skill: one that involves intricate movement using small muscle groups e.g. the finger and wrist action of a spin bowler.
• Gross skill: one involving large muscle groups/movements e.g. weightlifting.