2.

1 - Classification of skills
Learning objectives

To be able to describe the different types of skill classification.

To be able to categorise sporting events on a skill classification

continuum.

To understand the types of practice using by coaches.

To apply knowledge of practices to different sporting activities.

Classification of skills

How are sports skills classified?

Classification of skills
Skill differs from ability in that it is not innate, skills are learnt.

They are developed from ability after a period of practice.

To produce a skilled performance, the player must practise so that

the required abilities are enhanced.
Classification of skills
Skills are usually classified on a sliding scale called a continuum.
This is a visual guide to indicate where a skill fits into a specific
category.

A continuum is a line that goes between two

extremes
You will need to learn three continua
Classification of skills

Continuum 1
“A continuum is a line that goes
between two extremes”

Open Closed
Classification of skills

Continuum 2
“A continuum is a line that goes
between two extremes”

Basic
(simple) Complex
Classification of skills

Continuum 3
“A continuum is a line that goes
between two extremes”

Low High
Organisation Organisation
Skill Classification – Open/Closed
An open skill is one that is
affected by the sporting
environment. The performer
has to make decisions in
response to their
surroundings. Rugby tackling
Dribbling in football and
passing in hockey
A closed skill involves less
decision making because it has
a predictable environment.
The performer can take their
time to execute the skill.
Taking a penalty in football,
free throw in basketball and
serving in squash and tennis

CLOSED
OPEN

Can you name other skills and where would they fit on the continuum?
Draw out a continuum and write your skills on there
 Lots of skills can be grouped together from lots
of different sports

In your exam it
will be your job
to decide
which skills are
open and
which are
closed

From this picture- pick out a closed skill and an

open skill
Answer the following question on whiteboards:

• What is a definition of a continuum?

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboards:

• What is a definition of a continuum?

Answer:
- A line that goes between two extremes.

You do
Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are open skills?

• What types of things affect how a performer

executes an open skill?

You do
Answers:

• What are open skills?

- skills that are affected by the surrounding
environment
• What types of things affect how a performer
executes an open skill?
- opposition, teammates, weather, playing
surface

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these open or closed skills? Explain your

answer.
- a pass in hockey
- dribbling in football
- a rugby tackle

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these open or closed skills? Explain your

answer.
- a pass in hockey
- dribbling in football
- a rugby tackle
They are open skills because execution of the
skill needs to be adapted according to the
opposition and teammates move, to the
weather conditions and to the playing surface.
You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Explain why a penalty kick in football, a
gymnastic vault and a tennis serve are all
closed skills

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Explain why a penalty kick in football, a
gymnastic vault and a tennis serve are all
closed skills
There is a limit how much the environment is
affecting the execution of the skill

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Which skill is more open from the following?
A penalty kick in football or a penalty kick in
rugby

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Which skill is more open from the following?
A penalty kick in football or a penalty kick in
rugby
- A penalty kick in football is more open than a
penalty kick in rugby because the goalkeeper
can affect how the football player takes his kick
whereas none of the opposition in rugby can
affect the kick.

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Draw a open/close skill continuum line like
this:

Open Closed

• Now place three skills from football on the

continuum:
i) Goalkeeper saving a penalty
ii) Forward taking a penalty
iii) Midfielder dribbling the ball
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Draw a open/close skill continuum line like
this:

Open Closed
Midfielder Goalkeeper Forward
dribbling saving a taking a
the ball penalty penalty
Classification of skills

Continuum 2
“A continuum is a line that goes
between two extremes”

Basic
(simple) Complex
 Skill Classification – Basic/Simple & Complex
A complex skill involves a
Simple skills have a limited high level of decision making
amount of information to and has a large cognitive or
process. The skill has a smaller thinking element to it. E.g. lay
cognitive element. E.g. up in basketball/passing a
running, cycling and chest pass relay baton and getting past a
defender.

COMPLEX
BASIC/SIMPLE

Can you name other skills and where would they fit on the
continuum?
Draw out your continuum and write them on there
Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are basic skills?

You do
Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are basic skills?

They are simple and require little thought. They
don’t require cognitive process and little
decision making

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these basic or complex? Explain your

answer.
Rock Climbing
Passing a relay baton
Lay up in basket ball

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these basic or complex? Explain your

answer.
Rock Climbing
Passing a relay baton
Lay up in basket ball
These skills are complex skills. They a difficult
and require a lot of concentration and
information to be processed.
You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Explain why running, cycling and swimming
are all basic skills

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Explain why running, cycling and swimming
are all basic skills
These skills are all basic skills as they require
little thought and decision making. They do not
need much information to be processed.

You do
Recall

Name the 2 continuum

Draw out each continua
Give sporting examples of each classification of
skill on your continua.
Classification of skills

Continuum 3
“A continuum is a line that goes
between two extremes”

Low High
Organisation Organisation
Skill Classification – Organisation
A low organised skill can be
broken down into parts, or
subroutines. Set shot and
triple jump.
A highly organised skill is hard
to break down since it is fast in
its execution. Golf swing and
summersault.

LOW ORGANISED HIGH ORGANISED

Can you name other skills and where would they fit on the continuum?
Draw out this continuum and label them on
Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are High Organisation skills?

You do
Answer the following questions on whiteboards:

• What are High Organisation skills?

High Organisation skills are those that are
harder to do. They have phases but they are not
clearly broken down without effecting the skill.
This makes is really hard to practice

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these Low or high Organisation skills?

Explain your answer.
Tennis serve
Triple jump
Long jump

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard.

• Are these Low or high Organisation skills?

Explain your answer.
Tennis serve
Triple jump
Long jump
All of these skills are low organisation. They
have clear separate phases, making them easier
to break down and easier to do.
You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Explain why a golf swing and a somersault in
gymnastics are high organisation

You do
Answer the following question on whiteboard/in your
book.
• Explain why a golf swing and a somersault in
gymnastics are high organisation
They are harder to do and are not clearly broken
down without affecting the skill. They are hard
to practice without doing it all together.

You do
Exam practice- I do and we do

Give one example of a closed skill and briefly

explain why it falls into this classification. (3)

A vault in gymnastics is a closed skill. This is because

the gymnast decides when to start (1), and therefore
they can pre-plan the vault (1) As the opposition does
not have direct contact, the skill does not need to be
adapted (1)

Now you have seen a modelled answer, what would

you give for this question?
Exam style Question- I do

Which one of the following is the most complex

skill?
A) Running on a track
B) Swimming in a pool
C) Laying up a shot in basketball
D) Cycling on a track

C) Laying up a shot in basketball

Exam Style Question- You do

Give one example of a high organisation skill

and briefly explain why it falls into this
classification. (2 Marks)
Exam Style Question- You do

Give one example of a high organisation skill

and briefly explain why it falls into this
classification. (2 Marks)
Gives and example of a high organisation skill 1
mark
Describe what high organisation is (Hard to do,
has phases but are not clearly broken down) 1
mark
Exam style question- you do

Which one of the following is the most basic skill

a) Running on a track
b) Passing the baton in relay
c) Lay up in basketball
d) Tumbling in swimming
Exam style question- you do

Which one of the following is the most basic skill

a) Running on a track
b) Passing the baton in relay
c) Lay up in basketball
d) Tumbling in swimming

A) Running on a track
Plenary

Draw out the 3 continua

Label each extreme of the continua
Give sporting example of each