# data[].attributes.body
Psychomotor abilities are used when performing movements with fine motors skills. If a performer can have a high level of these abilities then it will make performing many other skills a lot easier. These abilities are: reaction time, coordination, balance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Haydn hitting a lob shot showing strong coordination abilities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Arturo Coello performing a dropshot in a competitive match.

# data[].attributes.body
This performer is 6'3 and 23 years old. His skill level is elite as a performer. He is ranked as the No.1 padel player in the world, by the International Padel Federation. He is a unique player as he is left-handed and is seen to have mastered playing with his left hand, leading to performing some spectacular shots. His career so far has seen him win 20 titles with over 136 professional matches played with an 89% win rate. Coello has been playing professionally for 5 years after making his debut at 17 in 2019.

# data[].attributes.body
Upload your performance portfolio document below.

# data[].attributes.body
The two types of skills are open, closed skills. Open Skills are the skills that player is constantly adapting and changing dependant on what is happening around them (environment, opposition etc). Closed skills are pre-learned patterns of their game that they can complete like a routine with very little awareness/reference to what is going on around them.

An open skill is padel may be playing a smash shot due to recognising the height that the ball has bounced - the surroundings have affected this decision.

A closed skill in padel is something like a serve, that they can take without having to reference the surroundings. Attached is a clip of Davis completing a serve which shows the closed skill in practice as the surroundings don't have an effect on him. For an elite performer this stays the same however they may need to consider a crowd and the pressure that come with this.

# data[].attributes.headline
What are the qualities of a skill performance?

# data[].attributes.subject
What are the qualities of a skill performance?

# data[].attributes.body
Qualities of a skill performance in my opinion will have less to do with how technically strong a player is/their ability. Qualities of a good skill performance is aspects like: hard-working, desire to win, passionate, smart, positive mindset and resilience. The player needs to have these qualities within a game for their performance to be skilled. I think this because, often within a padel match, players will attempt to get inside the head of the opponent or a player will be inside their own head following a mistake. If this happens then it can be difficult for them to step back and focus on their skills and abilities within the game. Lots of the game is played through emotion and desire; if a player wants to win a game wholeheartedly then they may make a sprint across court to return a difficult shot that wins their point. This is a quality of a skilled performance as it is is using the best Energy Expenditure Meeting the Demands of the Task and showing the best character within the game.

# data[].attributes.body
Fluency is how smooth a player can perform a skill. For example, if a skill is performed with fluency it will seem easy and natural for the performer to do this action.

An example of fluency in padel is this attached clips where you can see Haydn moving around the court to return different types of successful shots. Although these shots are successful it is not as fluent in the movements and returns that an elite performer would complete. As you can see Haydn looks quite stiff when performing in this clip, whereas for an elite performer it would seem effortless.

# data[].attributes.body
This performer is 6'1, 46 years old, from Argentina and has been a very well recognised padel player for over 20 years. He was already competing at 16 years old in the professional level. He has 34 years experience in the sport and his elite ability can not be questioned. He won the decisive point to win the World Padel Championships in 2016. He is an elite skill level performer.

# data[].attributes.body
Skills can be classified according to the environment in which they are performed. The environment can change the way that a player may move across court or anticipate the return of a shot. For example, if there is lots of wind when playing on an outdoor court, the player may take a few steps back or hesitate in anticipation of the ball changing trajectory which causes them to rush the shot, affecting their performance.

An example of the environment having an effect on the performer is this clip attached. You can see that Haydn had to adjust his positioning and step backwards in order to predict and see the trajectory of the ball that changes. This change in motion may have been caused in the way that he saw the ball travelling initially or the way that the ball picked up speed in the wind. Either way the environment made it so that they performer had to change their play.

# data[].attributes.headline
How do abilities contribute to the production of Sport Skills?

# data[].attributes.subject
How do abilities contribute to the production of Sport Skills?

# data[].attributes.body
Some good abilities' of a skill performance would be if they can anticipate well, have strong decision making, fluency in movements and consistent in their shots. If a player has these abilities then it will mean that their skills are performed to a much higher level. Let's say that a player is slow with their movements and struggle to anticipate the next shot, this will mean that their game is slowed down and they will not win many points - due to the strain on their skill performance levels through the lack of said abilities.

An example of this in action would be the attached clip of Haydn hitting a smash shot. This forehand smash shot is so successful for him as he has these abilities: strength, good hand-eye coordination, anticipated the bounce well and consistent with this shot. Without these qualities he may struggle to perform this skill as it is not easy to do consistently and win the points. One difference that you may find with an elite performer is that the ability to recognise his foot placement and body shape to hit the shot more successfully. In this scenario an elite performer may open up their body and adjust their feet to have more control and consistency of outcome over the shot.

# data[].attributes.body
Control is where a performer has the correct level of accuracy, speed and distance in a movement. All of these factors need to be present to have control of a skill/action. For example, if a player can serve to the exact place on the court, at the correct speed with the correct distance that they visualise before hitting through the ball, then they have complete control over their serve skill.

An example of this in padel is the clip attached where you can see Haydn hit a sequence of two shots. The shots were very different but helped him in winning the point. He demonstrated good control to hit a tap to invite the opponent to lob where he hit a smash. This is played well from Haydn to be aware of the way that the point is going and his control and disciple to hit both shots with the correct speed, accuracy and distance. An elite opponent may be able to see this play, so they would control the placement of the returns. If Haydn was a higher level he would have to adjust the style according to the opponents responses.

# data[].attributes.body
Gross motor abilities are actions/movements like running. They focus on controlling and using their body, usually required for young children to get used to sport at a young age. These abilities are: strength, speed and flexibility.

# data[].attributes.body
Economy of efficiency of movement theorises that the execution of a skill must be successful in the minimal amount of time with minimal errors. This means that a skill must be performed successfully as quick as they can but without messing it up. For example, a performer shifting their body quickly from a return to hit it back into an area that will win the point without hitting it astray.

An example from Haydn in this clip is the shot that he returns with ease. He has returned the shot successfully at a decent speed and without an error - showing a good example of Economy of Efficiency of movement. An elite performer may hit this shot a bit quicker and with a bit more pace which may help to make the shot more successful. However, for the level that the current performer is at it was a well hit shot.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Haydn preparing for an intense match at Branston Padel Courts. 

# data[].attributes.body
This performer is 6'0, 89kg and 18 years old. He loves to play a forehand smash shot, the skill level he is at is beginner. He is yet to play a professional padel game and has 0 wins to record. He has played for roughly 10 hours in total, so is not a very experienced performer.

# data[].attributes.body
Movements involving skill classification can come down to two categories: these are fine skills and gross skills. Fine skills focus on smaller, specific part of the body to complete smaller movements/actions. For example, the arm/wrist movement of a dropshot. Whereas, gross skills require movements from more than one area/entire of the body and focuses on the larger muscle groups. For example, shifting to the across the court to hit a backhand shot return off the glass. Within padel, players use a lot more gross skills than fine skills as it requires the use of many muscle groups working together to complete successful shots.

# data[].attributes.headline
What is the difference between Abilities & Skills?

# data[].attributes.subject
What is the difference between Abilities & Skills?

# data[].attributes.body
The difference between abilities and skills in my opinion is this: abilities of a performer are developed throughout their entire life - personal and sporting. Cooking a large meal can help to develop abilities like hand eye coordination, which is crucial within padel. SO these are being developed constantly and without us always recognising that they may be beneficial to our sport. However, skills are the performed through the application of many of our abilities simultaneously. When developing one of our skills in padel for example a dropshot, the player will need to focus in on some of their abilities like anticipating a bounce to have their skill to a high level. When considering this, you can recognise that if one of your abilities is lacking then this will affect the performance of the skill, no matter how strong a different ability is.

Therefore, I think that this is the difference between the two, despite them being aligned and skills reliant on abilities at times.

# data[].attributes.body
Perceptual abilities involve the way that a performer views and then utilises information that is received by the body from its senses. These come mostly from the environment that a player may see, feel, hear etc. These include: interpreting information and decision making.

# data[].attributes.headline
Energy Expenditure Meeting the Demands of the Task

# data[].attributes.subject
Energy Expenditure Meeting the Demands of the Task

# data[].attributes.body
This is where a performer should minimise their energy expenditure through the reduction of unwanted movements when executing a skill. This stops energy being wasted on unwanted movements so that the execution of skills can be more consistent and a high level.

For example, sprinting across the court to attempt to return the ball when it is going to clearly bounce twice and not be a saveable point. This is not good EEMDoT as they are over expending their energy and not using it wisely.

# data[].attributes.body
This performer is 6'1, 18 years of age and has limited experience when playing padel. He had played for roughly 14 hours in total and hasn't played competitively before. He is a beginner level performer due to the factors above.

# data[].attributes.body
The distinctiveness of beginning and ending of movements can be in three types: continuous, discrete and serial. Continuous skills are those that have no obvious beginning or end, they can be completed for as long as the performer wishes with the end of the skill becoming the beginning of the next. For example, running or walking, possibly in relation to running around the court to return shots, with the shots being a seperate skill. Discrete skills have a clear beginning and ending. The skill can be repeated over and over but the player will start the full action/process again. For example, a serve in padel, has a clear beginning and end to the skill and will be repeated in a timely, controlled manner if needed. Serial Skills is a series of discrete skills put together to produce an organised movement. The order in which the skills take place is often important with each part of the skill being an area that can be developed. This may be a section the end of a rally in padel, where if the opponent hits a smash shot, you have a series of discrete skills/pattern in which the next two/three shots will be the same to win you the point.

# data[].attributes.body
Consistency of outcome is performing high levels of performance repeatedly.

For example, winning the point from a smash shot every time that you try to perform a smash. This is consistent in the outcome of the skill.

# data[].attributes.body
There are two types: self-paced skills or externally paced skills. Self paced skills are completed at the speed that the performer desires including pace, timing and the execution of the skill. For example, serving in padel, chose at the pace, timing and execution of the player. Externally paced skills is where an external factor determines/influences the pace, timing or execution of the skill. An example of this in padel, is returning any shot as the bounce influences the pace, timing and execution of the shot.

An example of a self paced skill is seen in the clip attached. This is Miguel Lamperti after conceding a point and he is serving. He is solely determining the pace, timing and execution of this skill. Also, his first attempt at the serve is unsuccessful, but despite this he still determines the pace of his second serve through repeating the same process and ensuring that he has the correct accuracy and placement. A novice performer may rush the second serve after a mistake and this could cause them to concede the point.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Davis hitting a smash shot showing his combined movements.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Coello gross motor example to do a multiple muscle group movement to return the ball off the glass in the corner.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Coello Psychomotor example showing good reaction and coordination to return multiple consecutive shots.

# data[].attributes.body
Within the two examples shown you can see a shot performed from Haydn where he has hit a lob shot. This shows that he has good coordination to follow the trajectory of the ball. adjust his body and feet, process the type of shot to play and then return it successful. This shows lots of different abilities that he will need to perform this skill, however, the shot is quite slow and restricting if something changes in the environment or his process that means he may have to perform a different shot. His upper body is not as flexible as the elite performer which can have a negative effect on the way that his psychomotor abilities work.

The clip of the elite performer Arturo Coello shows him using a mixture of psychomotor abilities. He has strong coordination, agility and reaction time to adjust to the returns of the opponent and hit a shot back with power and pace. When comparing this clip to the one of Haydn it shows that the Coello is much more agile and quick to react, recognise and anticipate shots that may come at him from a short distance repeatedly and still return them successfully.

# data[].attributes.body
In the clip of Davis hitting the smash shot you can see clearly that he is using multiple muscle groups in a large movements in order to hit the ball at height with power and accuracy. Also, he may struggle more with this shot as it requires multiple muscles to work in conjunction and may not be one that he can hit comfortably and consistently. Therefore, it takes a lot more effort for a novice performer to hit a more high level shot like this.

When comparing this to the clip of Coello, you can see that the gross motor ability to make this large movement of a step back, spin and hit the shot is one that many performers could find difficult. However, due to his experience and elite level abilities look easy and effortless. Despite the multiple muscles groups being used, upper legs, knees and hips to perform the spin and the shoulder, chest and arm to return the shot post-spin. This is not to mention the neurological abilities to anticipate the balls double bounce off the glass. This proves how difficult the shot is and when comparing its clear the level of class and skill that the elite performer has.