Classification of Sport Skill
All sports skills
can be classified into two types, closed and open skills.
- Close Skill
Closed skills are
those skills performance under environmental conditions that are fixed, stable
or do not change. Sports such as gymnastics, and diving are closed skills. The
goal of these sports is to move (skill) in a certain way.
- Open Skill
Open skills are
those skills performed under conditions that change. You cannot predict with
any accuracy the movement (skill) you will be using. The movement is a means to
an end. Sports such as badminton, tennis, football, hockey, netball or most
them sports are open skills.
Teaching Close Skill
When teaching closed
skills focus on teaching the movement or
skill. For example, teach or get the learner to model his skill after
the ideal or correct movement. For example identify the correct dive and teach
the diver to model his dive after it.
- Modeling
- Imitating
- Drills
Teaching Open Skill
For open skills,
since there are so many skills related to the numerous changing conditions,
focus on teaching the conditions and allow the learner to think, plan and
implement his own movement.
In Badminton, (an
open skill) teach about the:
- Shuttlecock (flight, receiving, seeing prediction)
- Racket (weight, control, hitting)
- Dimensions of court
- Net
- Opponents
Important points to
observe are:
- Explain objective of skills
- Teach varying condition
- Train athlete to think, plan, perform skills to obtain observed goal.
Goal Setting
- All movement is goal directed. The goal directs movement or skill.
- The goal must be clear.
- The coach must teach players to set goals in sport. For example in the double serve in badminton, the goal is to hit the shuttlecock just over the net (1 inch) so that it lands as close as possible to the serve line. (Explain why in the doubles play situation).
Seven Steps Process
in Planning, Explaining and Demonstrating
Planning explaining
and demonstrating is a seven step process:
- Writing down why the skill (closed) or condition (open) are important.
- Choose 2 to 5 teaching points.
- Decide whether a teaching aid would help.
- Choosing an effective formation.
- Deciding what view or views participants should see.
- Deciding who will demonstrate.
- Asking participants whether they have any questions.
Feedback
Feedback is the
information learners receive about their performance. They must have his
knowledge of results to improve their skill.
The coach should:
- Observe participants carefully.
- Put observations into words, or actions,
- Speak to participants.
- Focus on individuals.
- Praise good performance and enthusiasm.
