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Skills can be classified according to how complex or difficult the movement is.

The two different characteristics of the difficulty continuum are 'basic' and 'complex'.

Basic skills (simple skills) form the foundation of more complex skills. They do not include complicated movements. Basic skills are often generic to many sports. Sportspeople need to master basic skills before they attempt more complex skills. Examples of basic skills are running, jumping, throwing, catching and striking.

Complex skills are more difficult. They include complicated movements that require high levels of co-ordination and control. They are usually sport-specific. Examples of complex skills are serving in tennis, throwing the discus in athletics and performing a vault in gymnastics. All of these complex skills are based upon the basic skills described above.

Sportspeople also use mental skills when they perform. These include skills such as interpretation, making judgements and decision-making. Skills become more complex when they involve more interpretation, judgement and decision-making. For example, in cricket a bowler has to judge when and how often to use a reverse swing bowling action as well as be able to execute it.

Most skills are not totally basic or complex but range between the two. They are somewhere on the complexity continuum between basic and complex.