Before we can answer the question of whether all sports skills are equal it is necessary to define what is meant by a sports skill. The reason for this is obvious if you talk to most coaches who teach football skills.
For example, there are some coaches who consider basic skills as most important. This includes how to run, jump, throw, kick, hit, and combinations of these as, for example, run and jump, catch and throw, catch and kick, run and throw, etc. Teaching basic skills is directed more toward improving or perfecting the skill execution (technique).
Other coaches do not teach these basic skills as they believe they are innate and cannot be improved. But as has been proven many times over, such skills are not innate and must be taught and perfected. But when coaches believe that basic skills are innate they teach what can be considered movement skills (patterns) related to what the athlete must do in his position.
In essence, the athlete is taught where he should go depending upon the tactics and strategy employed. For example, these coaches do not work with the quarterback on how to improve his ability to throw the ball but work more on what the quarterback should do in regard to his movements and where or to whom he should pass the ball.
For example, a quarterback usually works on perfecting pass plays, learning to read defenses, calling plays etc. Linemen usually learn different plays and where they must move, as for example, to the right, left, forward, pull back, etc. or a combination of them.
Not looked at is the lineman’s ability to execute these movements faster, how to use different foot patterns for movement forward, laterally, or combinations of them. Nor is the ability to perfect more effective foot patterns and stances for blocking, more effective tackling techniques, or how to become more explosive in the initial movement taken into consideration. General strength training or general explosive training does not fulfill this objective!
The most effective way is to work on both types of skills but not at the same time. Basic skills should be worked on in the off-season and movement skills should be worked on during training camp and competitive periods. In-season should be devoted to improving and perfecting the tactics and strategy being employed by the team.
In many cases the basic skills such as running and jumping should be worked on by the strength coach especially if he knows anything about specialized strength exercises that can enhance a player’s technique. Movement patterns skills should be worked on mainly by the position coach.
By Dr. Michael Yessis, President, Sports Training, Inc. and
Author of the book, “Build a Better Athlete”