6.1.1
Skills
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Skill and Ability
There are key differences between skill and ability.

Skill
- Skills are actions or behaviours that can be learned. The reason we learn skills is to bring about a goal using the least amount of time or energy possible.
- When a skill has been mastered, it can be used consistently and made to look easy (e.g. a 3 point set shot in basketball).

Ability
- Abilities are inherited genetically (relates to genes) from your parents. Abilities are traits (characteristics) that determine a person's potential to learn new skills.
- Abilities are things that you are naturally good at because you are born with them. Abilities can help performers to learn new skills quickly (a gymnast with the ability of balance will learn skills needed for the beam more easily).
Basic Information Processing
Basic information processing can be split into the following 4 stages:

Input
- Information is gained from the body’s senses.
- The performer will pick out the most relevant input cues from the environment.
- E.g. When fielding in cricket, the performer will pick out the ball to make a catch as it's the most relevant signal.

Decision-making
- The decision-making process involves comparing the current situation (held in the short term memory) with previous experiences (held in the long-term memory) to come up with an appropriate action.
- In this decision-making phase, the performer must decide what to do after identifying the stimulus (signal).
- E.g. The fielder will have to decide whether they need to move their feet and hands to catch the ball.

Output
- The action is performed using the movement pattern stored in long-term memory. Once the action is done, the situation and the result are stored in the long-term memory for future use.
- E.g. The performer must instruct their muscles to move to take the catch.

Feedback
- The performer uses information received via intrinsic or extrinsic sources to repeat or change the processes, depending on the outcome.
- Was the performance successful? If not, what needs correcting?
1Applied Anatomy & Physiology
1.1The Musculoskeletal System
1.2The Cardio-Respiratory System
1.2.1Pathway of Air1.2.2Blood Vessels1.2.3Blood Vessels 21.2.4Structure of the Heart1.2.5Cardiac Cycle1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 21.2.9The Lungs1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Pathway of Blood1.2.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cardiac Output
1.3Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise
1.4Short-Term Effects of Exercise
2Movement Analysis
2.1Lever Systems
3Physical Training
3.1Health & Fitness
3.2The Components of Fitness
3.2.1The Components of Fitness3.2.2Sports & Fitness3.2.3Fitness Testing3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests
4The Principles of Training
4.1Principles of Training
5Using Data
5.1Types of Data
5.2Data Presentation & Analysis
6Sports Psychology
6.2Feedback & Preparation
7Socio-cultural Influences
7.1Engagement Patterns of Different Social Groups
7.2Commercialisation
7.3Ethical & Socio-cultural Issues
7.3.1Impact of Technology on Performers7.3.2Impact of Technology on Performers 27.3.3Impact of Technology on Sport7.3.4Impact of Technology on Sport 27.3.5Sporting Conduct & Banned Substances7.3.6Blood Doping7.3.7Drug Restrictions7.3.8Drug Restrictions 27.3.9Spectator Behaviour7.3.10End of Topic Test - Ethical Issues7.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Performance Enhancing Drugs7.3.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Conduct in Sport
8Health & Fitness
8.1Overview of Health
8.2Sedentary Lifestyles
Jump to other topics
1Applied Anatomy & Physiology
1.1The Musculoskeletal System
1.2The Cardio-Respiratory System
1.2.1Pathway of Air1.2.2Blood Vessels1.2.3Blood Vessels 21.2.4Structure of the Heart1.2.5Cardiac Cycle1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 21.2.9The Lungs1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Pathway of Blood1.2.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cardiac Output
1.3Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise
1.4Short-Term Effects of Exercise
2Movement Analysis
2.1Lever Systems
3Physical Training
3.1Health & Fitness
3.2The Components of Fitness
3.2.1The Components of Fitness3.2.2Sports & Fitness3.2.3Fitness Testing3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests
4The Principles of Training
4.1Principles of Training
5Using Data
5.1Types of Data
5.2Data Presentation & Analysis
6Sports Psychology
6.2Feedback & Preparation
7Socio-cultural Influences
7.1Engagement Patterns of Different Social Groups
7.2Commercialisation
7.3Ethical & Socio-cultural Issues
7.3.1Impact of Technology on Performers7.3.2Impact of Technology on Performers 27.3.3Impact of Technology on Sport7.3.4Impact of Technology on Sport 27.3.5Sporting Conduct & Banned Substances7.3.6Blood Doping7.3.7Drug Restrictions7.3.8Drug Restrictions 27.3.9Spectator Behaviour7.3.10End of Topic Test - Ethical Issues7.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Performance Enhancing Drugs7.3.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Conduct in Sport
8Health & Fitness
8.1Overview of Health
8.2Sedentary Lifestyles
Practice questions on Skills
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Which of the following is an ability rather than a skill?Multiple choice
- 2Which of these do you LEARN?Multiple choice
- 3What are the 4 stages in basic information processing?Fill in the list
- 4Basic Information ProcessingPut in order
- 5
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