TExES Physical Education EC-12 Practice Exam

Which of the following activities is considered an open skill?

1. Throwing a bowling ball

2. Putting a golf ball

3. Passing a football

4. Shooting a basketball free throw

The correct answer is: Passing a football

An open skill is characterized by being performed in a dynamic and unpredictable environment, often requiring the individual to adjust their movements in response to external factors, such as other players or conditions of the surrounding play area. Passing a football exemplifies an open skill because it occurs in a variable setting where the positioning and movements of teammates and opponents continuously change. The player must read the situation and make quick decisions regarding the timing and angle of the pass, adapting to the unfolding game context. In contrast, the other activities listed are classified as closed skills, as they are executed in more stable, predictable environments. For example, throwing a bowling ball, putting a golf ball, and executing a free throw in basketball are all performed under controlled conditions where the environment does not change during the skill execution. Thus, these activities do not require the same level of adaptability to external variables that passing a football demands.