Defining Skill & Ability (Edexcel GCSE Physical Education): Revision Notes

Defining Skill & Ability

Classifying Skills on a Continuum

• You need to classify skills on a continuum!
• A continuum is a line that goes between two extremes!
• We can put information on the continuum!

Open Skills Description

Open skills ARE affected by their surrounding environment. Extreme open skills 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 Description

Closed skills are NOT affected by their surrounding environment. Extremely closed skills 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 Description

It is simple to perform and requires little thought. Don't need much information to be processed requires little decision-making

Self-Paced Skills Description

The skill is started when the performer decides to. The performer controls the speed, rate and pace of the skill

Complex Skills Description

Are difficult to perform require thought and concentration, require a lot of information to be processed, and require a lot of decision-making

Gross Skills Description

Skills are big, strong, powerful movements. They involve large muscle groups to perform

Externally Paced Skills Description

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

Fine Skills Description

Skills are small and precise movements, showing high levels of accuracy and coordination. They involve small muscle groups