What are the various types of coordinative abilities?

Types of Coordinative Abilities There are different types of coordinative abilities which are significant in different sports. The various types of coordinative abilities are:

(a) Orientation Ability : The coordinative ability of an individual to determine body position and its parts to react upon a moving body. It depends on sensory organs like the eyes and kinesthetic senses. Its application can be seen in games such as basketball, football, volleyball, table tennis etc., in which the ball and the opponents are moving bodies.

(b) Coupling Abilities : The coordinative ability of individual to use different body parts to react in sports or games to produce perfect sporting movement is known as coupling abilities. It can be seen in boxing, wrestling etc. For example, in boxing the movements of hands, head, trunk, feet are essential to achieve a certain goal.

(c) Reaction Ability : The coordinative ability of individual to react quickly to a signal. The signal can be in the form of light, sound etc. Reaction ability is further described into simple reaction ability and complex reaction ability.

(i) Simple reaction ability : The ability to react according to a previously known signal in a particular way is known as simple reaction ability. For example, reaction of a runner for the starting pistol in a race.

(ii) Complex reaction ability : The ability of a person to react quickly to an unknown signal. For example, ball coming to the goalkeeper in football.

(d) Balance Ability : The ability of individual to maintain or regain balance quickly in the body during and/or after the movement is known as balance ability. For example, regaining balance after a handstand on parallel bars, water skiing, performing on the balance beam etc.

(e) Rhythm Ability : Rhythm ability is the ability to observe or perceive a movement and to do the movement with the required rhythm. In rhythm gymnastics or f igure skating, the sportsperson has to observe an external rhythm, given in the form of music and to express his movements. Rhythm ability is also required in synchronized swimming. This type of ability is very significant in gymnastics, synchronized swimming, diving and figure skating.

(f) Adaptation Ability : Adaptation ability is the ability to adjust or change effectively on the basis of changes or anticipated changes in the situation. The change in the situation can be expected or can be sudden or unexpected. It is the ability to solve a motor task, effectively even though the situation may have changed without any hint.

(g) Differentiation Ability : Differentiation ability is the ability to achieve a high degree accuracy and economy of different body movements and to synchronize these movements into a united whole. The precision and accuracy of this ability depends on movement experience and the degree of mastery over motor action that is gained by practice of the activity/action