Classification of Skills

Open skills are predominantly perceptual, with no clear beginning or end, are affected by environment, are externally-paced, in response to many actions of others. For example, receiving a pass at soccer or hockey.

On the other hand, closed skills are predominantly habitual, with a clear beginning and end, and are not affected much by environment. For example, an athlete performing a shot putt.

Gross skills are those that use large muscle movements, for example, weight lifting.

Fine skills are those that use small muscle movements

Self-paced skills are those in which the performer has control over movement, for example, serving in volleyball.

Externally-paced skills are those in which the environment has more control, for example, blocking in volleyball.

Skills with low organisation are uncomplicated and have little organisational structure and whose subroutines tend to be discrete and may be practised separately. For example, swimming.

Skills with high organisation have a complex organisational structure with subroutines which are closely linked and cannot be practised separately (the skill must be practised as a whole). They require far more attention and concentration to be performed successfully, for example, the pole vault.

Simple skills are straightforward skills with few subroutines requiring little concentration and cognitive activity on the part of the performer, for example, walking or running.

Complex skills are complicated skills requiring a lot of attention or practice, the complexity of which can be perceived differently by different individuals. Complex skills require a large number of (interlinked) subroutines, some of which may be habitual and learned, which affects the ease with which the performer performs the skill, for example, a gymnastic floor exercise.