IGCSE P.E. Ch. 8.3: Skills Classification

by Mr Wasim Aziz

​Identify different types of skills, including:

• basic and complex

• fine and gross

• open and closed.

Place specific physical skills on the various continua and justify these choices

​Classifying skills is useful as it helps us to understand how the skill can be taught most effectively.

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​Giving targeted guidance and training enables a performer to be successful at the skill.

​Rather than listing skills as easy or difficult, we classify them by placing them on a Skill continuum.

​On the most straightforward level, skills can be either Basic or Complex.

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​Basic Skills tend to need less concentration and coordination to perform.

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A performer's coordination will develop and improve as they master basic skills. Typically, they would need to master basic skills before being able to learn and perform complex ones.​

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​Complex Skills are more difficult skills that require a higher level of coordination and concentration.

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Complex skills will often include multiple subroutines.​

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​A performer will need more time to learn, practice and perfect a Complex Skill.

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​​Basic Skill

​​Complex Skill

​​Basic Skill

​​Complex Skill

​Dribble strong hand

​Crossover

Pass

Catching ball

Shooting

Layup

​Another way to classify skills is Closed and Open Skills.

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​Closed skills are skills that are not affected by any other factors (environment or other performers).

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​The outcome of these skills is solely determined by the performers ability to perform the skill.

​Open Skills are skills that are affected by the environment, meaning the performer has to react (or adjust) to the situation and this will constantly change.

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​Open Skills are often found in team sports such as football where the performer decision might be determined by what the opposition is doing.

Some sports will have instances where performers will demonstrate both Closed and Open Skills.

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​Football is a sport which usually requires athletes to implement open skills.

However, there are instances such as a goal kick where a performer demonstrates Closed Skills.

​Some sports require a high level of accuracy and precision; whereas other sports depend on brute strength or explosive power.

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​This leads to another classification: Fine and Gross skills

Fine skills require precise movements that require high levels of concentration, accuracy and techinque.

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​Fine skills are often small movements that require small groups of muscles such as in the fingers.

Gross Skills are skills that use large muscle groups to produce larger, powerful movements.

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​Gross Skills are usually performed by the arms and legs.