ABSTRACT
Those who have participated in any sport at any level will be well aware that they have a certain level of proficiency in that sport. They will also be aware that, as they learn a sport, at whatever level, they develop existing and new skills. Each sport requires a different range of skills. Thinking more generally, we all have a set of basic physical abilities, including speed and strength, which underlie our skills. The aim of this chapter is to explore the nature of skills and abilities, and to look at how we might enhance our own sporting skills and those of other athletes. First, it might be helpful to look more closely at precisely what psychologists mean when they use the terms ‘ability’ and ‘skill’.
