Skill, ability and classifying skills · GCSE PE

Skill and ability

A skill is a learned action or behaviour with the intention of bringing about pre-determined results, with maximum certainty and minimum outlay of time and energy.
Ability is an inherited, stable trait that determines a person's potential to learn a skill, such as good balance or coordination.
Skills are learned; abilities are mostly inborn. A skilled performer is consistent, efficient, controlled and makes it look easy.

Basic (simple) to complex: a basic skill needs few decisions, such as running; a complex skill needs lots of decisions and attention, such as a tennis serve with spin.
Open to closed: an open skill is affected by the environment, such as passing in football; a closed skill isn't, such as a free throw in basketball.
Self-paced to externally paced: a self-paced skill is started by the performer, such as a golf swing; an externally paced skill is controlled by others, such as returning a serve.
Low organisation to high organisation: a low-organisation skill can easily be broken into parts, such as swimming strokes; a high-organisation skill can't, such as a cartwheel.

Skills are placed on a continuum rather than in a box, and you should justify where you place them.
Classification helps coaches choose how to practise: closed skills suit repeated drills; open skills suit game-like practices.

Skill: A learned action to bring about pre-determined results with maximum certainty and minimum time and energy.
Ability: An inherited, stable trait that determines potential to learn a skill.
Open skill: A skill affected by the environment.
Closed skill: A skill not affected by the environment.
Self-paced skill: A skill where the performer controls when it starts.
Externally paced skill: A skill where the timing is controlled by others or the environment.
Continuum: A line between two extremes on which skills are placed.