Classification of Movement Skills

Movement skills can be categorised in several ways, each providing a different perspective on the nature of the skill. Understanding these classifications helps in skill analysis, practice design, and performance improvement.

1. Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS)

• Definition: Foundation skills that provide the basis for the development of more sport-specific skills.
• Categories:
  • Locomotor skills: Skills that involve moving the body from one place to another (e.g., running, jumping, hopping, skipping).
  • Object control skills: Skills that involve controlling an object (e.g., throwing, catching, kicking, striking).
  • Stability skills: Skills that involve maintaining balance (e.g., balancing, twisting, bending, stretching).
• Importance: Proficiency in FMS is crucial for participation and success in a wide range of physical activities and sports.
• Development: FMS are typically developed during childhood and adolescence.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Mastering fundamental movement skills is the bedrock for acquiring more complex sport-specific abilities.

2. Sport-Specific Skills

• Definition: Advanced skills that are specific to a particular sport or activity.
• Development: Sport-specific skills are built upon a foundation of FMS and require specialized training and practice.
• Examples:
  • Tennis serve
  • Basketball layup
  • Swimming freestyle stroke
• Specificity: These skills are highly specific to the demands of the sport and require adaptation of FMS.

APPLICATION: A basketball layup integrates fundamental skills like running (locomotor) and throwing (object control) but requires specific timing and coordination.

3. Open and Closed Skills

• Classification based on environmental predictability:
  • Open skills: Performed in a dynamic and unpredictable environment. The performer must adapt to changing conditions.
    • Characteristics: Externally paced, variable, requires perceptual and decision-making skills.
    • Examples: Dribbling a basketball in a game, tackling in football, surfing.
  • Closed skills: Performed in a stable and predictable environment. The performer has greater control over the performance conditions.
    • Characteristics: Self-paced, consistent, emphasis on technique and repetition.
    • Examples: Gymnastics routine, archery, weightlifting.

EXAM TIP: When classifying skills as open or closed, consider the degree of environmental variability and the performer’s control over the situation.

4. Gross and Fine Motor Skills

• Classification based on muscle involvement:
  • Gross motor skills: Involve large muscle groups and whole body movements.
    • Characteristics: Emphasis on power, strength, and coordination of large muscle groups.
    • Examples: Running, jumping, kicking, swimming.
  • Fine motor skills: Involve small muscle groups and precise movements.
    • Characteristics: Emphasis on accuracy, precision, and hand-eye coordination.
    • Examples: Writing, sewing, playing a musical instrument, dart throwing.

COMMON MISTAKE: Students often confuse gross and fine motor skills with simple and complex skills. Remember, it’s about the size of the muscle groups involved, not the difficulty of the task.

5. Discrete, Serial, and Continuous Motor Skills

• Classification based on the nature of the movement:
  • Discrete motor skills: Have a distinct beginning and end point.
    • Examples: Throwing a ball, kicking a ball, hitting a golf ball.
  • Serial motor skills: A sequence of discrete skills combined to create a more complex movement.
    • Examples: Gymnastics routine, dance routine, triple jump.
  • Continuous motor skills: Have no distinct beginning or end point; the movement is ongoing and repetitive.
    • Examples: Running, swimming, cycling.

REMEMBER: Discrete skills are like single notes, serial skills are like a melody (sequence of notes), and continuous skills are like a sustained chord.

Summary Table of Movement Skill Classifications

VCAA FOCUS: Be prepared to classify a given movement skill according to multiple classifications (e.g., a golf swing is a closed, gross, discrete skill).