The difference between skill and technique

Technique

The physical movements required to perform an action. Every technique is made up of small and sequential actions. 

 

How accurately and efficiently these actions are performed determines the level of success and aesthetic quality of the technique.

 

Good technique can be indicated by a successful outcome, such as hitting a free kick into the top corner, or by the look of how it is performed, like an unopposed but graceful turn into space.

 

Skill

The ability to create an advantageous situation or an opportunity to successfully execute a technique.

 

An example of a skill is a perfectly timed run into the penalty area to meet the ball, or a defender reading the flight of the ball to either attack it with a header or drop off and gain possession.

 

In each case, the skill ultimately leads to the technique. In the case of the run into the penalty area, the opportunity to finish is created and in the case of the defender the opportunity to head the ball clear or control it is created by the skill.

When we understand the definitions, it becomes quite worrying to see how inaccurately the word “skill” is used by coaches, players and fans across the world. 

When a player dribbles past two or three players, they are often described as “skilful”. But to my mind, dribbling is not a skill - it is a technique which involves accurately moving the ball with different parts of the feet and keeping it away from one or more defenders. 

There IS a skill to knowing when to use the dribble - such as at an opportune moment that allows the dribbling player to break into new space when a pass is not available. The skill comes from game intelligence and understanding, not in the action of the dribble itself.

There may be coaches and players reading this that disagree with my thoughts and definitions. However, from an academic perspective, I believe there has been a misuse of the word "skill" for too long.

As a coach and PE teacher, I always check myself for accuracy of technical language. It is easy to fall into the trap of using "skill" instead of "technique".

"What is the point of technical language if it is not used properly?..."

Many of the children I teach and coach may not ever think about, or even care about, the use of these words.

However, as coaches and educators, we have a duty to teach players properly and accurately. 

The overuse and misuse of “skill” is a significant problem - if it is used as an incorrect synonym for “technique”, then it renders the word “technique” meaningless.

This is a huge issue in football because, as coaches, our job is to maximise the players’ technique. If there is not an accurate use of the word “technique”, how can coaches improve it or players understand it and then better themselves?

There are categories to both words. Techniques can be “open”, “closed” or a combination of the two. A penalty kick is an example of a closed technique because the ball is still, no defenders can block the kick and the taker can take it in reasonable time.

An open technique is influenced by defenders and movement - an example would be crossing a moving ball with a defender in proximity.

Skills can be broken down into physical and mental. As explained earlier, timing a run into the penalty area is a physical skill whereas knowing when to make a pass or dribble is a mental skill based on intelligence and experience.

Coaches must understand the errors commonly made by coaches, pundits, and players to make sure players are coached and educated accurately. What is the point of technical language if it is not used properly?

Apart from that one university lecture more than 20 years ago, I have never heard a serious discussion about what I have explained in this article.

As the world of coaching becomes ever more pressurised and coaches are held even more accountable for what they deliver, surely the points raised here are worth thinking about.