Write a 2 page report, aimed at elite athletes, wherein you discuss and/or explain skill classification, as well as describing and/ or explaining the difference between skill and ability.

Closed skills are exactly the opposite, these happen to take place in, predictable environments which have fixed weather conditions and the performer knows exactly what to expect. Once learned, players can perform the same skill in exactly the same way each time. In a basketball free throw, the performer's skill is the same each time; there are no outside factors that can physically interfere with performance. There isn't a need to adjust the skill because no one is blocking the shot and the net remains stationary idle. Therefore, closed skills are not affected by the environment and tend to be habitual. Player's movements follow set patterns and have a clear beginning and end. Closed skills are self-paced, another example being a serve in Squash or Tennis (when indoors).

Internally paced or self-paced skills are where by the performer controls the rate at which the skill is done. These skills are usually closed skills. For example Javelin / Discus throw or golf drive, the sports performers in these sports execute the skill when he/she wants to. Externally paced skills are sort of the opposite, in that the environment or opponent has a large influence in the flow and rate of the skill being performed. The individual must pay attention to possible external events in order to control his/her rate of movement. These skills involve reaction, and are usually open skills. For example in ball games the individual must time his actions with the actions of other players as well as the ball.

The types of skills which are needed in most sports consist of cognitive, perceptual, motor and perceptual motor. Cognitive Skills are often known as intellectual skills and involve the working of the mind. Perceptual Skills involve our ability to interpret the stimuli. Although we all see the same information as everyone else does, our brain interprets it differently. Motor Skills involve parts to our muscular system and relate to our movement and muscular ability to control. Examples would be walking or running as this involves a series of movements and muscular control to the body. Perceptual Motor Skills is absolutely essential to have when competing in a sport; this is as it involves a combinational mixture of thought, interpretation and movement. (Basically a mixture of motor and perceptual skills). It is very hard for a sports performer to compete well with only one and not the other.

Discrete / continuous / serial skills are methods of skill classifications which work on the obvious existence of a beginning and an end. In other words, identifying whether the skill is a separate aspect of the sport it is performed in which can be removed and practised on its own.

Discrete skills have a clear beginning or end. We can clearly identify with when a skill of this sort is being performed as it is completed in one single action. Like a serve in tennis for example, it is played without the opponent being able to influence the way in which it is performed. Continuous skills are those that have no obvious point at which they start or finish there movements. The skill is an on going repetitive continuation of flowing movements. Like running for example, each step flows into the next, one after the other, with no change it is not clear where each phase begins and ends. Serial skills are a mixture made up of both discrete and continuous skills combined in one. These skills are made up of a routine or sequence. Like for example a gymnast's floor routine, or a running top spin forehand in tennis.

The difference between Skill and Abilities

For athletes to be able to learn and perform any skill, they must have the required abilities at their disposal before hand. Abilities are generally seen as being innate; this meaning you are either born with them (inherited from parents). The acquisition of fundamental motor skills is probably under valued in a child's early development. Ability is the make up of an athlete which we all inherit from our parents. A person's ability in sport is the basis of being good at it, without this certain basis to work from or movement vocabulary, we would never be able to develop skills fully. The types of abilities required become much more specific in relation to the sports being considered, for example the different types of strength. Dynamic strength is used in weight lifting but explosive strength in high jump. Without these basic attributes it is rather impossible to learn skills such as the over head smash in tennis. These genetic attributes are known as abilities which are given to us naturally, we are innate with them and they tend to be enduring characteristics we possess, as opposed to skills which we can learn and develop. This is bad news for some of us who would like to get to the top of our sport yet don't have the natural ability to do so no matter how hard we try, we may never reach levels of superstardom, like the Marian Jones and Roger Federers of this world as not all of us have the same innate qualities. If you have good skill in football at dribbling, you will need to have certain abilities to do this skill, such as co-ordination (hand/foot) and balance as well as agility to change direction with the ball. You can be good at a certain sport, for example tennis, but you need good need good ability such as hand-eye co-ordination, agility and balance to play this sport even better.

Certain skills may require different sets of abilities or they may use the same abilities put together in a different type of order. Abilities are not always necessarily linked or related; a person having high levels of trunk strength may not have high levels of explosive strength. If a person is good at hitting a tennis ball, there is no guaranteed assurance that they therefore must also be good at hitting a shuttle cock. No one is born with a package of superior abilities strong enough make for an overall athletic ability; we need to also develop the specific skills required. We learn to combine and use abilities in specific situations and for carrying out specific skills.