Sports Skill Analysis

Guided by the conceptualization of content knowledge, this book covers sports analysis (identification of techniques and tactics), skill analysis (identification of critical elements, observation, evaluation of students’ performance through error detection, and interventions), and biomechanical principles and their applications to skill performance and analysis, which teachers or coaches need to possess for effective teaching and coaching.

The importance for preservice and in-service physical education teachers or coaches to acquire in-depth content knowledge is supported by national standards and research. Studies have shown that an improvement in preservice and in-service physical education teachers’ specialized content knowledge leads to an increase in their pedagogical content knowledge, which results in better learning and performance among students. Practical examples for conducting sports and skill analysis, designing teaching progressions for interventions, and applying biomechanical principles are provided.

This book equips teachers or coaches with knowledge and skills to conduct sports and skill analysis, which are essential for effective teaching and coaching, and will be key reading for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in physical education teacher education and sports coaching and in-service physical education teachers and current coaches.

Weidong Li is a Professor at the Department of Human Sciences at the Ohio State University, USA. Dr. Li is a research fellow of AAHPERD (currently renamed as the Society of Health and Physical Educator) and Physical Activity and Public Health Research Course sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2020, Dr. Li was awarded SHAPE North America Society Fellow. From 2014 to 2018, Dr. Li served as an editor of the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.

Boyi Dai is a Professor in the Division of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Wyoming, USA. Dr. Dai’s research is focused on jump-landing biomechanics and anterior cruciate ligament injuries, exoskeleton and low-back loading, and tripping and falls. Dr. Dai is a fellow of and serves as a Vice President (Research and Projects) for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports. He also serves as an Associate Editor for Sports Biomechanics.

Qin Zhu is a Professor in the Division of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Wyoming, USA. Using a perception-action approach, Dr. Zhu’s research addresses learning and control mechanisms underlying the functional movements often seen in daily life or sport settings. He served as an advisory board member for the Journal of Sports Sciences and the external grant reviewer for NIH and NSF. When he is not wearing an academic hat, he is a certified high-performance coach by USA Badminton and a certified umpire by Badminton Pan American Confederation.