List of Sports Skills

To play any one particular sport, you need to have many skills. In order to be a two or three sport athlete, you will need an even wider array of skills. Luckily, some skills are used in multiple sports, meaning you won’t have to develop all new abilities to learn a new sport. The list below will show you the most universal skills you need in order to excel at sports.

List of Sports Skills

Below is a list of the most important skills in sports:

• Running
• Jumping
• Throwing
• Catching
• Passing
• Shooting
• Dribbling
• Blocking
• Tackling

Running

Running is a skill that is incredibly important in several individual and team sports. Running is how players move from one position to another in the field of play. If a player is a fast and calculated runner, they will be able to get away from the opposing players and put them in a better position to score points. For example, in soccer, a good run can be the difference between a goal and a clearance.

Jumping

Like running, jumping is a very useful skill in individual and team sports. In basketball, jumping is one of the main ways that players get the elevation they need to shoot the ball into the net. There are also sports in track and field, such as the long jump or pole vault, that are almost entirely focused on jumping, and the competition is won by whoever is able to jump the farthest or highest.

Throwing

Throwing is an essential skill in many individual and team sports. Throwing is the action of using your arm and hand to launch a ball or other object. In baseball, for example, fielders must throw the ball to their teammates to record an out. An athlete that is proficient at throwing will be able to launch the ball or other object accurately and at a high velocity, providing value to their team by getting the ball to their teammates faster.

Catching

Catching is the action taken by an athlete to receive a throw or pass. It is an extremely important skill universally, as almost every sport requires some form of catching. For example, football players catch passes from quarterbacks to move the ball upfield. In other sports, such as hockey or soccer, goalies attempt to catch shots from opponents. An athlete that is good at catching will help their team to be in a position to score points or help stop the other team from scoring.

Passing

Passing is an extremely important part of any team sport. A pass is when one player either throws, kicks, or hits the ball to a teammate. For example, in football, the quarterback throws the ball to their teammate to complete a pass. Passing is an important skill in any sport because it creates scoring opportunities. Passing is one of the first skills learned by beginner athletes in any team sport.

Shooting

Shooting is a skill typically used to score points in sports, which makes it important to master! The type of shooting depends on the sport and can vary greatly. For example, in hockey, players shoot by propelling a puck with their sticks. Alternatively, in soccer, players shoot by kicking a ball. Other sports, like basketball, have a whole other definition of shooting. In basketball, players shoot by throwing the ball into a tall basket. The action of shooting may look different in different sports, but it is a crucial skill in any sport that requires players to shoot.

Dribbling

Dribbling, similar to shooting, can look different depending on what sport you are playing. In basketball, dribbling means bouncing the ball on the court as you move around. In soccer, dribbling refers to handling the soccer ball with your feet as you move around the field. Dribbling is all about retaining possession of the ball while moving quickly and keeping your head up. Dribbling is one of the first skills players learn in sports that use it. With that said, it is a vital part of the game.

Blocking

Blocking is a general term for a player defensively using their body to block an opposing player from moving down the field or getting possession of the ball. In football, blocking must meet specific criteria to be considered a legal block. In other sports, like basketball, blocking may count as any attempt by the defense to block the offense from progressing or scoring.

Tackling

Tackling is the act of a player hitting their opponent’s body with their own body during gameplay, typically until both players are on the ground. This is a common way for defensive players to aggressively stop offensive players from controlling the ball or making further progress down the field. Tackling is most common in high-contact sports, such as football or rugby.

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