Skilful movement
Motor skills
A is a movement that has been learned, to achieve a goal: for example, a forward roll, a chest pass or a tennis serve. Skills aren't natural: they improve with practice.
A skilful performer does the skill well, again and again. A beginner can do the same skill, but less well and less often.
Key terms
The five characteristics of skilful movement
| Characteristic | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Little wasted effort or energy, so the skill looks easy | A cricket bowler saving energy, so they can bowl more overs | |
| The performer knows what they want to happen, and it does | A golfer landing the ball on the green | |
| Co-ordinated | Different body parts work together at the same time | A boxer moving round the ring while punching |
| Smooth and flowing, with the parts linked together | A gymnast linking moves into a routine | |
| Looks good: pleasing to watch | A diver entering the water with very little splash |
Key terms
Skilled and unskilled performers
| Skilled performer | Unskilled performer | |
|---|---|---|
| Makes it look easy | Tires quickly, with wasted movement | |
| Result | Gets the result they intended, consistently | Often misses, or gets a different result |
| Body parts | Move together, at the right time | Out of time with each other |
| Movement | Smooth and flowing | Jerky, with pauses |
| Look | Pleasing to watch | Awkward |
Example: a skilled netball shooter balances, aims and releases the ball in one smooth action, and scores most of her shots. A beginner wobbles, pushes the ball with too much effort, and misses more than she scores.
Remember
Efficient, Pre-determined, Co-ordinated, Fluent, Aesthetic.