The purpose and importance of classifying skills

Skills in physical education refer to learned abilities that allow performers to carry out movements effectively in sports and activities. Classifying skills helps coaches and teachers understand how different skills work, which in turn guides how to teach them and design targeted training programmes.

Skills are not fixed in one category but exist on continua - scales that gradually shift from one extreme to another.

The three main continua used in skill classification:

• Basic to complex
• Open to closed
• Fine to gross

The basic to complex skills continuum

Skills can range from basic to complex depending on the level of coordination, concentration, and decision-making required.

Basic skills

Basic skills are simple movements that require less concentration and coordination compared with complex skills. Examples include throwing, catching, hitting a ball, and running.

Complex skills

Complex skills are more difficult skills that require a higher level of coordination and concentration. Basic skills typically need to be mastered before learning complex ones. Complex skills tend to need more time to learn and perfect.

As performers practise and develop their coordination, they can move from basic to complex skills.

The open to closed skills continuum

Skills can also be classified based on how much they are influenced by the environment, including other performers, weather, or unpredictable factors.

Closed skills

Closed skills are skills that are not affected by the environment or the performers within it.

Open skills

Open skills are skills that are affected by the environment. The performer has to react and adjust to the situation and this will constantly change.

The fine to gross skills continuum

This continuum categorises skills by the size of the muscle groups involved and the precision required.

Fine skills

Fine skills are precise movements that require high levels of accuracy and technique. They are often small movements that require small groups of muscles such as in the fingers.

Gross skills

Gross skills are movements that use large muscle groups to produce big, powerful movements. Gross skills are usually performed by the arms and legs.

Practical examples of skills on the continua

To apply these classifications, consider how real sports skills fit on the continua. No skill is entirely at one end; instead, it occupies a position based on the situation.

Examples across the continua

Basic to complex continuum:

• Running involves relatively basic skills with simple arm and leg movements.
• Competitive figure skating involves more complex movements of the body such as spins and jumps, requiring coordination and timing.

Open to closed continuum:

• Shooting free throws in basketball is a relatively closed skill.
• A football goalkeeper saving shots is a more open skill requiring adjustments to player position, ball speed, and trajectory.

Fine to gross continuum:

• A dart throw is a fine skill, relying on precise finger and wrist movements for accuracy.
• A rugby tackle is a gross skill, using large muscle groups for powerful, full-body contact.