Classification of Skill

This is whether the large, gross muscle groups or small, delicate muscle groups are being used.

Gross skill = Strong, Powerful movement using major muscle groups. e.g kicking, throwing a ball and long jump.

Fine Skill = Small, Precise movement with high accuracy using smaller muscle groups. e.g a tennis drop shot.

This is whether or not an observer can see a clear beginning or end to a movement, whether it is composed of seperate elements, or whether the movement has no clear beginning or end.


Discrete = movement with a clear beginning and end. e.g a basket ball throw.

Serial Skill = Series of specific movements chained together in a sequence. e.g gymnastics routine.

Continuous Skill = no clear beggining or end, one end of phase blends into the start of the next phase. Cycling, Swimming, Running.

The pacing continuum is concerned with what controls the rate at which the skill is performed and what controls the start of the movement.

Externally Paced = The rate of movement is influenced by external factors ( oppenents).  e.g football defender reacting to the attacker.

Self Paced = The rate of movement is controlled by the performer. e.g start of a dive in swimming.

Deciding whether a skill is open or closed depends on how stable the environment is and whether what is happening in the environment affects how the skill is performed.

Open Skill = Skill that is affected by the environment (mostly invasion games) e.g the changing flight of a ball.

Closed Skill = Skill performed in a stable, unchanging environment where the environment has little impact on the performance of the skill. e.g athletics are - shot putt.