Skill, Ability and Technique in Fitness

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Skill, Ability and Technique in Fitness

Both skill and technique are learnt and developed, whereas ability is

innate. Because skill and technique are learnt, they are dependent on

practice to be able to progress. As ability is innate, you are born

with specific abilities, which will help you to develop skills and

techniques. For example, if you are of average height, have good

coordination and have an abundance of fast-twitch fibres in your legs

then you have the ability to become a sprinter. Although ability is

said to be innate, research has shown that some abilities can be

enhanced, especially in early childhood. However, innate abilities are

needed to reach the highest levels in sport.

There are 3 types of skill:

Cognitive - involves thought processes

Perceptual - involves interpretation of information

Motor - involves movement

The relationship between skill, ability and technique can be defined

with the equation:

SKILL = ABILITY + TECHNIQUE

The other components of fitness are: power, speed, muscular endurance,

mobility, cardio-vascular endurance, co- ordination, local muscular

endurance anaerobic endurance, and reaction time and body composition.

Each different sport will require all theses different components of

fitness to be able to perform in their sport. Some sports will require

different or more than others. Components of fitness are important

because without them a performer would not be able to perform their

chosen sport or activity. High levels of fitness will hopefully

improve the way they undertake their sport, giving a higher

performance level. Practices can be used to improve levels of fitne...

... middle of paper ...

...ed and hand/eye co-ordination can be

improved by special methods, which have been put forward by experts on

the subject. And also that certain coaching methods can improve an

athletes overall ability. The idea that skill equals ability plus

technique is the perfect way to describe how to be able to achieve a

particular skill. However there are a number of different aspects

which come into consideration when performing a skill and being

successful at that skill. Skills can be enhanced easily through

training, as long as the athlete's technique, ability and the type of

skill that is being trained have all been taken into account, before

setting up a training program

Overall skill is developed by having good ability and having technique

that suits your body and mind, with a thought out training programs to

suit you.

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