Skill and ability
I can define and explain the differences between skill and ability.
Skill and ability
I can define and explain the differences between skill and ability.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Skill refers to the learned ability to bring about predetermined results with maximum certainty.
- Ability refers to the inherited, stable traits that determine an individual's potential to learn or acquire skills.
- Unlike skills, abilities are not learned but can influence the ease and speed of skill acquisition.
Keywords
Ability - inherited, stable traits that determine an individual's potential to learn or acquire a skill
Skill - a learned action/behaviour
Predetermined - an outcome that is decided in advance or predictable
Innate - existing in a person from birth
Common misconception
Skill and ability are interchangeable.
They are not interchangeable. Skill is learnt and developed through practice, while ability is a natural and inherited trait often considered innate. An ability provides an opportunity or the potential to develop a skill.
To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Skill and ability, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Skill and ability, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Sport psychology: skill and ability unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Videos of skills in slow motion as well as real time to open up discussion on skill execution.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
dribbling around an opponent with a basketball
remaining upright with a dance motif
throwing a ball in dodgeball
Exit quiz
6 Questions
dribbling in and out of players in basketball
landing precisely when catching a netball with good footwork
a tennis serve