Knowledge and understanding - Physical factorsSkill related fitness

There are different aspects of skill related fitness and each can impact on performance in either a positive or negative way. Aspects include:

• agility
• balance
• control
• co-ordination
• reaction time

Co-ordination

Co-ordination is when actions are linked smoothly in the correct order. For example, when catching, kicking or throwing, all parts of the body work in time together to achieve success in the action.

Positive impact

A sprint hurdler with good co-ordination will combine many movements of the upper body together with the different leg actions all in the correct order and with good timing. This gets them over the hurdle smoothly and gives them a better chance of success in a race.

Good co-ordination for a goalkeeper will mean they combine the timing of their jump with the extension of the arms at the correct moment to meet a cross and catch it. This gives the attackers less chances to head the ball towards goal.

A tennis player with good co-ordination will be able to consistently throw the ball at the correct height, then time their forward swing with the racket to meet the ball at full extension of the arm. This means the ball will travel much faster away from the racket, giving the opponent less time to move to return the ball.

Negative impact

A table tennis player with poor co-ordination will struggle to move the bat to a point after the bounce of the ball in a fast enough time. This means the player has their bat in the wrong position and cannot play as accurate a shot back over the net, putting them under pressure.

A breast stroke swimmer with poor co-ordination mistimes the leg kick against the arm drive, resulting in less forward propulsion. This means the swimmer takes more strokes to get to the end, lessening their chances of winning the race.

A rugby player attempting a drop goal who has poor co-ordination will drop the ball at a moment when the foot is not quite ready. They then swing the foot at the wrong moment the timing of the kick at the bounce is off and the ball goes in the wrong direction, lessening the chances of it going between the posts.