skill classification

• Continuum

  A line that goes between two extremes
• Classifying skills on a continuum

  1. You need to classify skills on a continuum

  2. Put information on the continuum
• Four continua


  • Open - Closed
  • Basic - Complex
  • Self-Paced - Externally Paced
  • Gross - Fine
• Open skills


  • Are affected by their surrounding environment
  • Need to be constantly adapted by the performer as situations change around them
  • Conditions are unstable and unlikely to be the same each time a skill is performed
• Closed skills


  • Are not affected by their surrounding environment
  • Don't need to be constantly adapted by the performer as situations around them are stable
  • Conditions are likely to be the same each time a skill is performed
• Basic skills


  • Are simple to perform
  • Require little thought
  • Don't need much information to be processed
  • Require little decision making
• Complex skills


  • Are difficult to perform
  • Require thought and concentration
  • Require a lot of information to be processed
  • Require a lot of decision making
• Self-paced skills


  • The skill is started when the performer decides to
  • The performer controls the speed, rate and pace of the skill
• Externally paced skills


  • The skill is started by an external factor
  • External factors such as an opponent control the speed, rate or pace of the skill
• Gross skills


  • Are big, strong, powerful movements
  • Involve large muscle groups to perform
• Fine skills


  • Are small and precise movements, showing high levels of accuracy and coordination
  • Involve small muscle groups