As ability is innate so cannot be trained very well, but I can be trained to a certain degree. In a team game like football, when playing a posistion like striker or playing on the wing, having good speed is an advantage, as you can track players back and accelerate away from players when attacking. To train the gross motor ability of speed within a training schedule them can do circuits that involve shuttle runs and running through a ladder then accelerating out, after a few training sessions of doing the circuit, footballs could be brought in, so you could do shuttle runs whilist driblling a ball. In a racket game such as tennis reaction time is important when dealing with fast returns by your opponent. This ability can be trained by having a coach hit balls of different speeds at you, such as they could hit a slow ball then a really fast one. This could also be done individually by hitting the ball against a wall. With an individual activity such as weightlighting strength is very important. This ability can be trained by going to the gym and doing various activity such as squats with weights, bench press and bicep curls.
A skill is a learned ability which is goal directed, it is very co-ordinated and controlled as well as being very efficient.
“The learned ability to bring about a pre-determined result with the maximum certainty often with the mimimun outlay of time, energy or both.”
Gutherie – ‘Skill in Sport’ modified by B Knapp
“While a task can be physical or mental, one generally thinks of a skill as some type of manipulative efficiency. A skilled movement is one in which a pre-determined objective is accomplished with max efficiency.”
M Robb – ‘The Dynamics of Skill Acquisition
Skills can be ordered into three groups these are:
Motor Skills: ie passing, catching and running
Perceptional Skill: reading the game well by taking in information from around you
Cognitive Skills: Thinking skills, which are intellectually based and involve problem solving
Passing in football is a vital skill. This skill can be design by doing many drills, one drill involves having 3 players stood in a triangle passing the ball to each other, trying to only use one touch, this would train short distance passing. To practice long distance passing you can have to players the width of the field from each other passing the ball to each other. These drills will improve passing accuracy aswell as control as the secondary benefit of the drill. At a later stage you can bring in defenders who try to intercept the ball.
Technique is associated with skill and ability. Technique is how we execute a skill and how well we perform it in relation to a perfect model. Simply: Skill=Ability+Technique
If you think about the definitions of skill and ability you will see that elite athletes need to be born with abilities, which they can use to develop techniques that enable them to perform a skill at the highest level.
