Classification of Skills

• Skill Classification is one way of analysing skills. It is the grouping together of skills that have similar characteristics that are based on set criteria
• The Muscular Involvement Continuum classifies skills between gross and fine
• A gross skill involves large muscle movements, the skills are not very precise, ballistic skills, the skills include many basic movement patterns
• Fine skills involve small muscle groups, the skills tend to be very precise and intircate, the skills generally require a high degree of hand-eye co-ordination, this is associated with industrial motor skills
• The continuity continuum classifies skills between discrete serial and continuous. This considers whether the movement has a definite beginning or end
• Discrete skills have a clear beginning and end, they are quick skills, the skill can be repeated, but the performer must start again from the beginning, it is one single skill.
• Serial skills are made up of several discrete elements that are put together to form one integrated. movement or sequence of movements, the order of the elements is important.
• Continuous skills have no obvious beginning or end, the end of one cycle of movement starts the next, the skill is not easy to split into sections
• The environmental continuum classifies skills between open and closed.
• Open skills are affected by the environment, the movement patterns have to be adapted to suit the environment, the skills involve perception, decision making and lots of information processing.
• Closed skills are not affected by the environment, which remains stable, the movement patterns are fixed, repeated and movement is habitual, there are few decisions to make and limited information processing required, the skills tend to be self-paced.
• The pacing continuum classifies skills between externally paced and self paced.
• Externally paced skills are controlled by the environment and the environment decides when the skill is initiated and the rate at which it is performed, the skill often involves reaction and is most often an open skill.
• Self paced skills are initated by the performer and the performer chosses the rate at which the skill is completed. The skill involves proaction, and is most often a closed skill.
• The difficulty continuum considers how technically difficult a skill is and places them between complex and simple.
• Complex skills are technically difficult to perform and the skills require lots of perception and decision-making.
• Simple skills are technically relatively easy to perform and require little to no percpetion and decision-making.
• The organisation continuum determines whether the skill is easily broken down into sub-routines or not and classifies them between low organisation and high organisation.
• Low organisation skills can easily be broken down into their sub-routines and the skill can easily be practiced in parts.
• High organisation skills can not easily be split into sub-routines and these skills are better practiced or learned as a whole