1.Define the term skill.

[1]

A learned and practiced ability that brings about the result that you want to achieve with maximum
certainty and efficiency.

C1 The qualities and characteristics a person is born with, such as speed, agility, coordination,
flexibility, balance, reaction time, that allow a person to learn or acquire skills.

2. Explain the difference between ability and skill. [2]

Ability is qualities and characteristics a person is born with and skill is a learned and practiced ability.

C2 Conor McGregor’s ability of reaction time helps him time his strikes better.

3. Motivation is a factor which affects variations in the level of skill. Describe one other named factor
which may also affect a performer’s level of skill. [2]

Environment is another factor that affects variations of skill. changes in the environment conditions
influence the learning experiences and consequently affect performance.

R Anxiety is another factor that affects a performer’s level of skill. Learning is affected by the
emotional state of a learner. Anxiety prevents a person from performing to his best.

4. Give one characteristic of a skill [1]

Consistency

C4 Performing to a high level every time with control and anxiety.

5. Name a sport of choice and state the main characteristics of skill that are required. Explain why
these skills are required to be successful in that sport. [6]

In football, being consistent is needed to perform at the required level every time. You have to make
sure you stay consistent week in week out. Being goal-directed is also needed in football because
you have to set a specific target and try to achieve it whilst playing.

C5 In swimming, staying coordinated is vital as you have to make use of your body parts efficiency in
order to accomplish your best time. Being fluent is swimming so you can perform quick movements,
smooth and flowing, without hesitation or stumbling.

6. State one feature of a gross skill. [1]

Gross skills are not very precise but fundamental.

C6 Iniesta threw the ball to his teammate from the throw-in.

7. Describe a closed skill and give a sporting example [2]

Closed skills are skills that are not affected by the environment or the performers within it. For
example, Messi dribbled the ball past his teammate during training, this can be classified as a closed
skill because it is being performed in a relatively stable environment.

C7 Closed skills are skills that are not affected by the environment.

Sporting example: Neymar scored a penalty in training.

Catching a cricket ball would be an extremely basic skill because it’s not that hard.

Dunking in basketball is a complex skill because it is a bit difficult and can take time to perfect.

C8 Basic skills: Skills that don’t require a high level of coordination and are easy to do.

Complex skills: skills that take a high level of coordination and concentration, they usually are harder
and more complicated to perform.

9. Suggest two reasons why the majority of skills used in team games are open skills [2]

• Because open skills occur in unpredictable and constantly changing situations, for example, during
competitive team sports where players have a direct opponent, such as netball, football, rugby and
water polo.

• Open skills are dependent on external factors for example timing, the placement of the skill,
weather, skill level of opponents and spectators.

10. Provide three examples of skills from a sport of choice. Place these three skills on the basic to
complex continuum. [3]

Football

Football

Basic: Passing the ball

Middle: Taking a free-kick is a bit more complex skill because it needs to be accurate and well
powered.

Complex: Performing a rabona would be a complex skill since it’s rather difficult and takes time to
learn.

11. Name one stage in the information processing model. [1]

Decision Making

12. Explain the four-stage process that a performer goes through to make a decision and act upon it,
using a sporting example [4]

The four-stage process is what a performer goes through to make a decision and act upon it. For
example, Messi sees that there’s no one marking Jordi Alba, so at this point it’s the input where he
sees what’s going on around him, then Messi asks for the ball from Busquets so he can pass a
through ball to Alba so he can be 1v1 with Goalkeeper, so at this point he’s decided what he’s going
to do when he gets the ball, this is the second stage which is decision-making, he receives the ball
and makes the through ball pass, so this is the third stage which is output, it’s when the decision is
acted upon. The ball successfully came to Alba and he ended up putting it in the back of the net, now
this is the last stage which is feedback, it’s when the information is received about the output or
outcome of the decision.
13. State what is meant by limited channel capacity and explain how it affects performing a skill. [2]

Limited channel capacity is the idea that our brains can only process a certain amount of information
at once, too much information can affect performing a certain skill and it will result in overload.

14. (i)Complete the missing link in the table below showing the ‘simple information processing
model’ for performing a skill [2]

InputDecision makingOutputFeedback

(ii) How does this link influence the learning of a skill:

It helps us know the different stages we go through when performing a certain skill which makes it
easier.

15. Describe the characteristics of a performer during the autonomous stage of learning [2]

•You can perform the skill naturally and without conscious thought.

•You can play full games/matches putting the skills/techniques you have learnt into practice.

•When you make a mistake, you can identify what went wrong.

•The skill is performed with flair, control and accuracy.

16. There is usually rapid progress when a performer starts to learn a new physical activity. Suggest
two reasons for such progress [2]

The age and experience of a person are contributing factors to learning a new skill.

17. Identify the three stages of learning and explain each stage using a sporting example. [6]

Football (Passing)

Cognitive: They will first learn all the basic stuff for example, where to pass and when to pass,
learning passing techniques and try to get that information in their head. They will make loads of
mistakes and will rely on extrinsic feedback from a coach to learn the basics of passing.

Associative: The player will repeat their passing skills repeatedly in both isolated practices and
competitive situations. The player will start to make less mistakes as his progression goes on, and
the player will start to test himself in more difficult passing situations and rely on extrinsic feedback
to improve their skill level. The player will also now have the knowledge to start analysing their own
performance in relation to this skill.

Autonomous: The player would be able to perform the skill naturally without consciousness thought.
The player would have the knowledge to adjust his passing skills depending on the situation and be
more accurate with it. The player will be consistent with passing, mistakes will be rare, and if he’s
made a mistake then he would be able to analyse what went wrong.

18. Give one way that feedback can be given.[1]

A feedback can be given in a positive way, for example if the player has done well, the coach can
praise him and encourage him in order for the player to stay consistent with his performances.
19. Explain why a named type of feedback is extremely important to a performer during the
cognitive stage of learning [2]

Extrinsic feedback will help the performer understand what they’re doing wrong in order for them to
improve the skill they’re learning in the cognitive stage. In the cognitive stage they don’t have the
full knowledge so they’ll have to rely on extrinsic feedback to improve.

20. Name the most appropriate type of feedback for a performer during the autonomous stage of
learning [1]

Intrinsic feedback.