What characterizes a discrete skill?

A discrete skill is characterized as being brief and having a clear beginning and end. This means that the skill can be executed in a single, defined movement or action, making it distinct from other types of skills. For example, in sports, skills such as a free throw in basketball or a penalty kick in soccer both start and end in a defined way, allowing the performer to focus on the execution of that one action without needing to consider successive movements or components.

The clarity of beginning and end is essential to discrete skills because it allows for easier measurement of success or failure—each skill can be evaluated immediately after it's performed. In contrast, the other listed characteristics refer to other types of skills: a group of skills strung together describes a serial skill; a skill with no obvious beginning and end refers to continuous skills, such as swimming or running, where actions blend smoothly into one another; and the notion of requiring continuous focus throughout is often associated with skills that demand sustained attention over a longer duration or multiple actions. This distinction between discrete, serial, and continuous skills aids in effectively categorizing motor skills based on their nature and execution.