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Skilled performers are not born with motor skills already in place - they have to learn them and learn to be skilful with them.

Movement skills are also called motor skills. The definition of a motor skill is a learned movement response.

What makes a movement skilful?

• efficient - no wasted effort in the movement. For example, a top level butterfly swimmer will not make any unnecessary splashing and kicking when racing.
• predetermined - the performer knows what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve. For example, a good badminton player can play a serve with disguise into the corner so it beats the opponent.
• coordinated - all the parts (or subroutines) of the skill are linked together seamlessly. For example, a triple jumper's hop, step and jump movements must be in the right place at the right time.
• fluent - flowing and smooth. For example, a high class trampolinist will perform a routine so that each move flows smoothly into the next.
• aesthetic - it looks good. For example, an international slalom snowboarder races stylishly and looks good to the spectators.
• good technique - correct technique when executing the skill. For example, a good hockey player will hit the ball with good technique to a team-mate during a match.

A skilled performance should show many of the above characteristics. An unskilled performance would show wasted effort, slow and jerky movements, incorrect technique and would look awkward. The performer wouldn't be sure what they were doing.