Welcome to the Movement Framework!
Ever wondered why some people look so graceful when they play sports, while others look a bit clumsy? It usually comes down to how well they understand the Movement Concepts and Motor Skills Framework. Think of this framework as the "Lego blocks" of all physical activities. Once you understand the basic blocks, you can build any sport or movement you want!
In this chapter, we are going to look at the two main parts of this framework: Motor Skills (the actions we do) and Movement Concepts (how we modify those actions).
Part 1: The Three Types of Motor Skills
Before we can run a marathon or score a goal, we need basic skills. We categorize these into three main groups. Don't worry if these terms sound fancy; you actually use them every single day!
1. Locomotor Skills
These are skills used to move the body from one place to another. If you are traveling from Point A to Point B, you are using locomotor skills.
Examples: Running, jumping, hopping, galloping, and sliding.
Analogy: Think of Locomotor skills like the engine of a car—it's what gets the car moving down the road.
2. Non-Locomotor Skills (Stability Skills)
These are movements where the body stays in one place but moves around its own axis. You aren't "traveling" anywhere, but you are still active.
Examples: Stretching, twisting, turning, balancing, and swinging.
Real-world example: A gymnast holding a balance on a beam or a pitcher winding up their arm before a throw.
3. Manipulative Skills (Object Control)
These skills involve handling or "manipulating" an object, usually with the hands or feet. This is where most sports get their specific flavor!
Examples: Throwing, catching, kicking, striking (with a bat), and dribbling.
Common Mistake: Students often think "manipulative" sounds like something bad! In sports science, it just means you are controlling an object like a ball or a racket.
Quick Review: The Skill Types
Locomotor: Moving across the floor (Run).
Non-Locomotor: Moving while staying put (Stretch).
Manipulative: Using a "tool" or ball (Kick).
Part 2: The Movement Concepts (The "How" of Moving)
Now that we know what we are doing (the skills), we need to look at how we do them. This is the Movement Concepts part of the framework. We use these concepts to make our skills more effective or harder for an opponent to predict.
1. Body Awareness (The "What")
This is about understanding what the body is doing and which parts are involved.
• Body Shapes: Can you make your body narrow like a pencil or wide like a star?
• Body Parts: Knowing which parts are supporting your weight (e.g., balancing on one foot vs. two hands).
2. Space Awareness (The "Where")
This is about where the body moves in the environment.
• Levels: Are you moving high (jumping), medium (running), or low (crawling)?
• Pathways: Are you moving in a straight line, a zigzag, or a curve?
• Directions: Moving forwards, backwards, or sideways.
Did you know? In sports like Rugby or Basketball, the best players are experts at Space Awareness because they know exactly how to find "open space" to avoid defenders!
3. Effort Awareness (The "How")
This describes the quality of the movement—how the movement feels.
• Time/Speed: Is the movement fast (explosive sprint) or slow (tai chi)?
• Force/Weight: Is the movement strong (heavy weightlifting) or light (placing a golf ball gently)?
4. Relationship Awareness (The "Who/With")
This is about who or what you are moving with.
• With Objects: Are you moving over a hurdle, under a bar, or around a cone?
• With People: Are you moving with a partner (doubles tennis) or against an opponent (wrestling)?
Putting It All Together: A Memory Aid
To remember the 4 Movement Concepts, just remember the word BERS:
Body (What is moving?)
Effort (How is it moving?)
Relationships (Who/What is it moving with?)
Space (Where is it moving?)
Why Does This Framework Matter?
You might be thinking, "This is just common sense!" But for a sports scientist, this framework is a powerful tool for two reasons:
1. Skill Analysis: If a coach sees a student struggling to hit a ball, they can look at the framework. Is the problem a Manipulative Skill (bad grip on the bat) or Space Awareness (standing at the wrong level)?
2. Skill Variety: By changing the concepts, we can create new drills. For example, "Run (Locomotor) in a zigzag (Space: Pathway) while carrying a ball (Manipulative) at a fast speed (Effort: Time)."
Key Takeaways for the Exam
• Motor Skills are divided into Locomotor (traveling), Non-Locomotor (staying on the spot), and Manipulative (handling objects).
• Movement Concepts (Body, Space, Effort, Relationships) modify how a skill is performed.
• Pro-Tip: When answering exam questions, always use the specific terms. Instead of saying "he ran fast," say "he used a locomotor skill with fast effort."
Don't worry if this seems like a lot of categories! Just pick a sport you love—like Football—and try to spot one Locomotor skill (running), one Manipulative skill (kicking), and one Space Awareness concept (running into an open lane). You'll realize you're already an expert at this framework without even knowing it!