Skills can be affected by the weather and surrounding environment, they can be classified as either open or closed skills.
“Open skills are those in which the form of the action is constantly being varied according to what is happening around the performer. The environment is unpredictable.” (Davis 2000)
Closed skills are those that have no outside physical influences acting upon them. They are the same each time they are performed.
Ability is closely linked with skill. In order to learn any skill in sport we must have the abilities required. They are innate; you are born with them or they are developed early in life. Without the basic building blocks or movement vocabulary we will never be able to develop skill fully (McAdedle 1994). Abilities required to play sport would be hand eye co-ordination; flexibility and speed without these you will never become a superstar.
“Technique can sometimes be confused with skill. To perform a particular skill in sport we must learn the required technique, but in order to learn the technique fully we must have the necessary abilities.” (Morton 2000).
This equation can be used;
SKILL = ABILITY + TECHNIQUE (Galligan 2000)
In gymnastics a person would have the natural ability i.e. be quite flexible and would have to learn the correct techniques before they can actually perform a certain skill. A skill would be doing a front flip.
Some components of fitness are flexibility, strength, power, speed co-ordination, reaction time, body composition and stamina. Each different sport will require all these different components of fitness to be able to perform in their sport. Some sports will require different or more than others.
“Components of fitness are important because without them a performer would not be able to perform their chosen sport or activity. High levels of fitness will hopefully improve the way they undertake their sport, giving a higher performance level. Practice will improve this.” (Roscoe 2001).
Practice can be defined as,
“The repetition of technique and skill, often taken out of the context of a whole game, so that it can be improved.” (Sharp 1992)
There are different types of practices that could be used;
Fixed practice involves repetition of an activity leading to automatic responses. The movement becomes second nature, ideal for non-adaptive skills always the same. This could be a golfer practising putting who will place several balls on a green and keep on putting them and trying to get them in the hole. This is a closed skill.
Variable practice involves a variety of activities and situations. The learner applies the skill to a number of different environments. In practice one learns to apply it to a range of different circumstances (www.sportinfo.com), i.e. starting with a football and moving it from side to side whilst stationary, then at walking pace, then running and finally adding defenders in which to beat. This is known as an open skill. It tests out what abilities we have.
Distributed practice is usually to do with variable practice; the session is divided into sections. This practice is aimed at early learners with less experience and maybe a lower level of fitness. Each break allows time for rest, extrinsic feedback, changes and explanations. Most suited to dangerous skills or skills that cause considerable fatigue, for example weight lifting.
Massed practice involves a continuous session with no breaks. It could improve stamina. It is normally used for experienced performers who have a higher level of fitness and is most suited to fixed practice. Skill is tested to fatigue and real life or conditioned games (www.practicesinsport.com), i.e. a circuit where performers move from one activity to another with no break. This could be shooting at a netball post for the whole of the time also, is suitable for simple skills, for example forehand drives.
Different kinds of methods can also be used to enhance skills and techniques,
‘Whole method is best used to improve a skill, as it involves fast ballistic movements that interact very closely, whereas to improve a technique part learning may be best as it can be broken up in to stages to gain a near perfect skill.’ (Morton 2000).
Feedback,
‘This is the use of information that is available during and after a performance to alter and hopefully improve performance.’ (Roscoe 2001).
This is very important.
“ Intrinsic feedback occurs during the performance and extrinsic feedback occurs after a performance is completed and is provided by external sources. Feedback should be motivating, reinforcing and informational, there should be positive reactions trying to encourage all of the time.” (McArdle 1994)
No one can be perfect. It does not exist, although practice can make the skills you have learned permanent, as long as the practice that you are doing is correct for the sport being undertaken.
In conclusion is clear that there are differences between skill and ability and that people will use the word skill, but really mean technique.
“Technique is how you carry out your actions in a sport, if the correct technique is not taught then the performer will pick up bad habits, which then may affect their performance in the next game.” (Barry 2000)
Skills and abilities are needed in every sport but at different levels some sports need more than others.
“ Performers at the elite level must have been born with natural abilities and they develop the specific techniques for them to perform the skills at such a high level.” (Galligan 2000).
REFERENCE PAGE
Morton D et al (2000) Advanced physical education through diagram
Roscoe D et al (2001) PE and sports studies advanced level student
Beashel P et al (1996) Advanced studies in physical education
McArdle WD et al (1994) Essentials of exercise physiology
Davids B et al (2000) Physical education and the study of sport
Sharpe B (1992) Acquiring skill in sport
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