Skill Definitions and Classifications in Human Movement

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Skill Definitions

Understanding Skills in Human Movement

Skills are fundamental concepts in the study of human movement, sports science, and motor learning. They refer to the ability to bring about a desired outcome with maximum certainty, minimal energy, or minimal time. The study of skills involves analyzing how individuals perform tasks efficiently and effectively in various environments.

Skill: The ability to bring about some end result with maximum certainty and minimum outlay of energy, or of time and energy.
Skills often imply achieving a specific environmental goal, such as hitting a target or completing a movement sequence.
Skilled actions are usually distinguished from simple movements by their purposeful nature and efficiency.
Examples: Playing a musical instrument, hitting a tennis ball, or performing a gymnastics routine.

The Many Components of Skills

Key Elements in Skillful Performance

Skillful performance is multifaceted, involving several components that contribute to successful outcomes. These components are often interrelated and essential for achieving high-level performance in sports and daily activities.

Maximizing achievement certainty: Ensuring the desired outcome is reliably achieved.
Minimizing energy and time costs: Performing actions efficiently, with minimal wasted effort or time.
Balancing multiple skill aspects: Integrating sensory, cognitive, and motor processes.

For example, a skilled tennis player must not only hit the ball accurately but also decide where to place the shot and when to execute it, all while minimizing unnecessary movement.

Three Main Components of Skill

Perceiving relevant environmental features: Recognizing important cues in the environment.
Deciding what to do and when to do it: Making appropriate choices based on perception.
Producing organized muscular activity: Executing the chosen action effectively.

These components are supported by postural, movement, and manipulation elements, which together enable complex actions such as playing sports or performing daily tasks.

Skill Classifications

Open and Closed Skills

Skills can be classified based on the predictability of the environment in which they are performed. This classification helps in understanding the demands placed on the performer and the types of preparation required.

Closed skills	Open skills
Predictable environment	Unpredictable environment
Gymnastics Archery Typing	Playing soccer Wrestling Chasing a rabbit
Movements can be planned in advance	Movements must adapt to changing conditions

Additional info: Some skills fall between open and closed, such as steering a car (semi-predictable environment).

Discrete, Serial, and Continuous Skills

Another classification is based on the structure of the movement:

Discrete skills	Serial skills	Continuous skills
Distinct beginning and end	Series of discrete actions linked together	No distinct beginning or end
Throwing a dart Catching a ball Shooting a rifle	Assembly-line task Gymnastics routine	Steering a car Swimming Tracking a target

Discrete skills are brief and well-defined, serial skills are sequences of discrete actions, and continuous skills are ongoing and repetitive.

Motor and Cognitive Skills

Skills can also be classified based on the relative importance of motor control and cognitive decision-making:

Motor skills	Some decision dimension	Cognitive skills
Decision making minimized Motor control maximized	Some decision making Some motor control	Decision making maximized Motor control minimized
High jumping Pitching Weight lifting	Playing quarterback Driving a race car Sailing an iceboat	Playing chess Cooking a meal Coaching a sport

Most real-world skills involve both motor and cognitive elements, but the balance varies depending on the task.

Summary of Skill Components and Classifications

Skills are defined by their ability to achieve specific goals efficiently and reliably.
Key components include perception, decision-making, and movement execution.
Skills can be classified by environmental predictability (open vs. closed), movement structure (discrete, serial, continuous), and the balance of motor and cognitive demands.
Understanding these classifications aids in designing training and assessment protocols in sports and rehabilitation.