Welcome to Sports Psychology!
Ever watched a professional athlete and thought, "How do they make it look so easy?" In this chapter, we are diving into Sports Psychology to understand the "brain" side of sports. We will learn how to define a motor skill, what makes a movement "skilful," and how we group different skills together using scales called continua.
Don't worry if some of these terms sound a bit technical at first—we'll break them down using everyday examples that make sense!
1. What is a "Motor Skill"?
Before we classify skills, we need to know what they are. A motor skill is simply an action or a task that has a specific goal (like scoring a goal or hitting a ball) and requires voluntary body movement to get it done.
Quick Review: A skill isn't something you are born with (like a reflex). It is something you learn and practice until you can do it well.
2. Characteristics of Skilful Movement
When we say someone is "skilful," we usually mean they are "good" at the sport. But for your OCR exam, you need to use five specific words to describe a skilful movement. A great way to remember these is the mnemonic: "A.C.E. P.F." (like a tennis Ace and a Post-Forward).
- Aesthetic: The movement looks good. It is pleasing to watch.
Example: A high diver performing a perfect somersault with no splash. - Co-ordinated: The performer uses different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently.
Example: A tennis player tossing the ball up while swinging the racket at the exact right moment. - Efficiency: No wasted energy. The athlete does only what is needed to succeed.
Example: A top-tier swimmer who moves through the water with very little splashing. - Pre-determined: The performer knows exactly what they are going to do before they start the movement.
Example: A gymnast knows every move of their floor routine before the music starts. - Fluent: The movement is smooth and flows from one part to the next without looking jerky.
Example: A basketball player transitioning from a dribble into a layup in one smooth motion.
Did you know? Even if a beginner scores a lucky goal, it might not be "skilful" because it wasn't fluent or pre-determined!
Key Takeaway: Skilful movement is Aesthetic, Co-ordinated, Efficient, Pre-determined, and Fluent.
3. Classification of Skills (The Continua)
In PE, we don't just put skills into boxes. Instead, we use a continuum (plural: continua). Think of a continuum as a sliding scale or a line. A skill can be anywhere along that line depending on the situation.
A. The Difficulty Continuum (Simple to Complex)
This scale looks at how much thinking and decision-making is required.
- Simple Skills: These require very few decisions. They are basic movements that don't change much.
Example: Sprinting. You just run as fast as you can in a straight line. There aren't many choices to make. - Complex Skills: These involve lots of decisions, timing, and many "sub-routines" (different parts of the skill) happening at once.
Example: A pass in midfield during a football match. You have to look at where your teammates are, where the defenders are, how hard to kick the ball, and where to aim.
Common Mistake: Don't assume a skill is "complex" just because it's physically hard. Weightlifting is physically exhausting, but because it involves very few decisions, it is closer to the simple end of the scale!
B. The Environmental Continuum (Open to Closed)
This scale looks at how much the surroundings (the environment) affect the skill. The "environment" includes things like the weather, other players, or the terrain.
- Open Skills: These are heavily affected by the environment. The performer has to react to what is happening around them. The situation is unpredictable.
Example: Tackling in rugby. You don't know exactly when or where the opponent will move, so you have to change your technique constantly. - Closed Skills: These are not affected by the environment. They are usually repetitive, and the performer starts the movement when they are ready. The situation is predictable.
Example: A shot put throw. The circle doesn't move, the weight of the ball stays the same, and no one is trying to tackle you while you throw.
Top Tip for Exams: When justifying your answer, always mention decision-making for the difficulty continuum and predictability for the environmental continuum.
Quick Review Box
Simple Skill: Few decisions. (e.g., a chest pass in netball with no defenders nearby).
Complex Skill: Many decisions. (e.g., a somersault in trampolining).
Open Skill: Environment is unpredictable/changing. (e.g., a return of serve in tennis).
Closed Skill: Environment is stable/predictable. (e.g., a gymnast’s vault).
Summary: Placing Skills on the Scale
Remember, a skill can be both Complex and Open at the same time! For example, a dribble through defenders in hockey is complex (lots of decisions) and open (the defenders keep moving, changing the environment).
How to answer "Justify" questions:
1. State where it sits on the scale (e.g., "A penalty kick in football is a closed skill").
2. Say WHY (e.g., "Because the environment is stable, the goal doesn't move, and the player can take the kick when they are ready without being tackled").