Technique and Form 

🟧 Technique and form can be defined as “a specific sequence of movements used to perform a skill”.

🟧 Demonstrating good technique involves applying optimal movement ability in order to accomplish or perform a particular skill effectively. Hence, the most common method for improving athletic performance is to improve an athlete's technique. 

🟧 Good technique is not only critical to optimum sporting performance but also heavily aids in the prevention of injury. 

The technique demonstrated in any given sport can be categorised based on the rules or requirements of that sport. We can split these technical abilities into three main groups. 

Group 1: 

🧑‍⚖️ A sport in which making a good impression on a judge is crucial.  

🧑‍⚖️ For example, figure skating and gymnastics. 

🧑‍⚖️ Within these sports, the techniques can judged for efficiency based on correct execution. 

🧑‍⚖️ They are being performed within a fixed environment and without impediment, (i.e. no one is interfering with you). 

🧑‍⚖️ The athlete's task is to develop technical skill that can be showcased in a performance of pre-determined and practiced movements

Group Three: 

🟧 The ability to display adequate technique within this grouping aids in overcoming an opponent. 

🟧 This would include netball, soccer, football (majority of team sports). 

🟧 In this group, technical ability is combined with tactical sense and reacting to a continually changing situation and varying conditions. 

🟧 The fastest or strongest athlete in this grouping of sports is not necessarily the most successful athlete. Motor abilities are developed in order to improve the application of technical skill. 

✔️ Improved performance → speed, accuracy, endurance, strength, power. 

✔️ Allows exercises to “achieve their purpose”. E.g.: weight training exercises target specific muscle groups, if performed incorrectly (with poor technique) the muscle and strength gains will not result.

✔️ Ability to progress to autonomous and associative skill acquisition stages at a faster rate.

✔️ Prevention of injury.

Sports injuries: 

🤕 Many overuse injuries are attributed to doing repetitive actions with poor technique →  this can cause excessive pressure to be applied to particular joints or muscles which can contribute to an injury. 

For example: Tennis elbow is often caused by having poor backhand technique. Over time symptoms of injuries caused by bad technique will be exacerbated and could lead to a more serious condition. 

🤕 Poor technique can also lead to more acute injuries; this can be common with misuse of exercise machines in the gym.

For example:  Where a muscle or area of soft tissue can be suddenly stretched.   

     🤕 Injuries are not the only byproduct of poor technique; performance levels will also be decreased by bad technique as this will prevent optimum strength, power and speed in the particular movement or shot.