ABSTRACT
The ability to execute motor skills is an essential element of performance in the field sports. As spectators, we often marvel at the technical skills demonstrated by elite performers. For example, consider the sublime ball wizardry of Cristiano Ronaldo as he dribbles the ball past a string of helpless defenders on the soccer field or the amazing accuracy and reliability of Jonny Wilkinson as he kicks a rugby ball between the goal posts located at an angle some 40 metres away. The key features of such skills are they are goal oriented (performed with a specific aim in mind), effective and reliable (achieved with maximum certainty and consistency), efficient (employ no more effort than necessary), adaptable (can be used in a range of situations) and learned (developed with practice). While there remains considerable
Introduction 24
Learning and performance 25
Qualitative analysis of performance 28
Quantitative analysis of performance 30
Outcome measures of performance 31
Process measures of performance 33
Conclusion 40
References 40
CHAPTER CONTENTS
debate as to the type of practice and instruction that best facilitates the effective acquisition of motor skills (Williams and Hodges, 2004, 2005), an essential task for practitioners and scientists is to assess how well players execute such skills. The capacity to measure performance accurately is essential in determining the effectiveness of training and in identifying areas of weakness that players need to improve upon in future. It can also be useful in reducing the risk of injury through incorrect execution of motor skills.
