PDFE #7 "Personal Ability Inventory"

Personal Ability Inventory:
Multilimb coordination         4
Control precision                  3
Response orientation            3
Reaction time                       4
Rate control                          3
Manual dexterity                  4
Finger dexterity                    4
Arm-hand steadiness            4
Wrist-finger speed                2
Aiming                                  4

Explosive strength                3
Static strength                       3
Dynamic strength                 1
Truck strength                      1
Extent flexibility                  1
Dynamic flexibility              1
Gross body equalibrium       3
Balance with visual cues      3
Speed of limb movement     3
Gross body coordination     4
Stamina                                3

Movement rate                    2
Motor timing                       4
Perceptual timing                4
Force control                       4

Five High-Level Proficiency Skills I Can Perform:
1. Throw a lacrosse ball with a stick
2. Run while cradling the ball
3. Quick Stick
4. Accurately shoot a ball at a goal
5. Accurately predict when to release the ball at a moving target (feed behind the goal)

Ideal Ability Profile:
Skill: Accurately predict when to release the all at a moving target (feed behind the goal)
1. Control precision
2. Aiming
3. Manual Dexterity
4. Multilimb coordination
5. Motor timing
6. Perceptual Timing
7. Force control

Discussion:
The skill I chose is used in lacrosse on the attack side. If a player goes behind the goal with the ball, they typically watch for their teammates to cut in front of the goal to receive the pass. This can be very difficult when you add a goalie and defenders block the way. The pass must be extremely accurate and precisely timed to be effective. People with a non-ideal ability profile for the skill I chose could become successful in two ways. First, they could use the perceptual-motor abilities of response orientation, reaction time, and rate control to anticipate the movement of the opponents and determine if the ball can be thrown safely to the player. The other way to compensate for their lack of the ideal abilities I listed above is to use the physical proficiency abilities of explosive strength, gross body coordination, and speed of limb movement to dodge around the opponents to get the ball closer to the moving player so that accuracy is not as important.

My personal ability inventory matches the ideal ability profile fairly well. I gave myself a 3 (average) for control precision, but I gave myself a 4 (above average) on all the other abilities necessary for the skill I chose. At the same time, I have been practicing this skill for about six years, so I cannot determine to what extent my skill is due to ability and not practice.

*Note: This lab was very interesting to break down my skills into specific abilities. However, the numbered rankings are relative to how the person views his/herself. I did not give myself a 5 on any ability because I consider that to be equivalent to an Olympic athlete.