Skilful Performance

Skill

“Skill is the learned ability to bring about predetermined results with maximum certainty, often with the minimum outlay of time or energy or both.” (Knapp)

What does skilful performance look like? Watch the following video clip and write

down a list of words that you think would best describe this performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRCTp57LQro&feature=related

Characteristics of skilful performance

Efficient Well co-ordinated, effortless

Fluent Well timed, precise, performer is in control

Aesthetic Pleasing to the eye, performer looks competent

Learned Practised over a period of time, consistent

Goal directed End result clearly identified and understood by the

performer. Follows a technical model

Skill

There are 3 main categories of skill: Cognitive Skills

The ability to solve problems by thinking Perceptual Skills

Perception is the process by which you sense things and interpret them.

Motor Skills Controlled muscular movement with a set goal

Skill

Give an example of each type of skill from your E & A sport.

Skill

Perceptual Motor / Psychomotor skills The skills we employ in PE/Sport usually

incorporate elements of all three types and certainly include perception and movement.

They involve thinking, detecting and interpreting information as well as performing muscular movement.

Classification of skills

How else can we classify skills?

Why might this be useful for a teacher/coach or performer?

Classification of skill

Seven elements taken into consideration: Muscular involvement Environmental requirements Continuity Pacing Difficulty Organisation Interaction

Each of these elements can be thought of as a continuum. Each end of the

continuum are opposites and there is a gradual change

characteristics from one end to the other.

Activity Analytical Phases

Athletics Track Events:

posture, leg action, arm action, head carriage, overall efficiency.

Jumping Events:

approach, take-off, flight, landing, overall efficiency

Throwing events:

initial stance, grip and preparation, travel and trunk position, throwing action, release, overall efficiency

Games Preparation, Execution, Recovery, Result, Overall efficiency

Gymnastics Vaults: shape and aesthetic quality, flight on the box, flight off the box, repulsion and landing, overall efficiency

Competitive swimming

Arm Action, leg action, body position, breathing, overall efficiency

Task

Select a clip from your chosen sport (if possible) and perform a complete analysis of the skill. You can use the sheet to help you.

Your analysis should include: Classification of the skill Key coaching points for each analytical phase. Common faults or errors Practices used to improve the skill

Homework

Prepare a short oral presentation (5 mins max) about an essential skill in your sport.

You need to demonstrate knowledge of: Analytical phases

Key coaching points Anatomy & Physiology

Types of movement, Bones, joints, muscles, types of contraction.

Classification of the skill Characteristics of skilful performance.