Psychology: Classification of Skills

Understanding Skills and Skill Classification

Skills refer to the learned ability to bring about pre-determined results with maximum certainty and efficiency.
A skill continuum is a series of stages from beginner to mastery that represents a person’s progress in learning a skill.
Skill classification is the process of grouping skills based on shared characteristics.

Open and Closed Skills

Open skills are performed in unpredictable and constantly changing environments where the performer has to adjust their actions in response to the situation. Examples include team sports like football or rugby.
Closed skills occur in a predictable and stable environment where the performer can plan their actions in advance, and the situation doesn’t change while performing. An example of a closed skill is a gymnastic floor routine.

Self-Paced and Externally Paced Skills

Self-paced skills are initiated by the performer and can be performed at a pace that suits them. For instance, a high jump in athletics.
In externally paced skills, the timing, speed or both are decided by external factors like an opponent or the environment. Examples include responding to a serve in tennis.

Gross and Fine Skills

Gross skills involve large muscle movements and are not very precise. These often include many fundamental movement patterns such as walking or jumping. Rugby and football are examples of sports demanding gross skills.
Fine skills involve intricate, precise movements using small muscle groups. These skills require high levels of hand-eye coordination. Examples include the snooker shot or archery.

Discrete, Serial and Continuous Skills

Discrete skills have a clear start and finish. They are single, specific skills that make up the actions involved in a variety of sports such as a throw or a catch.
Serial skills are a group of discrete skills strung together to make a complex movement. An example is a gymnastics routine which includes a variety of discrete skills performed in a sequence.
Continuous skills have no clear beginning or end and the end of one cycle of movements flows naturally into the start of the next. Examples include cycling and running.

Simple and Complex Skills

Simple skills require little concentration and cognitive effort. An example is running.
Complex skills require a high level of concentration and cognitive effort as they have several components that need to be successfully carried out. Examples include a rugby tackle or a gymnastics routine.

Understanding the Classification of Skills Helps to Enhance Performance

By understanding skill classification, performers can adapt their training and learning strategies to suit the type of skill they are trying to master.
Training can be modified to focus on improving certain aspects of a skill. For example, an open skill might be practised in a variety of environments to prepare for competition.
Understanding the demands of a skill can help performers to optimise their mental and physical readiness.