What are fundamental movement skills?

Fundamental movement skills are considered the foundation for more complex movements and activities. These skills include basic actions such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching, which serve as building blocks for more advanced skills used in various sports and physical activities. By developing these fundamental skills, individuals gain the coordination, balance, and agility necessary to perform more complex movements effectively. Mastery of these skills is essential in helping children and athletes progress to specialized sports techniques and participation in organized physical activities.

In contrast, advanced techniques in sports involve specific skills tailored to particular games or sports, which assumes proficiency in fundamental skills. Cooperative game strategies focus on teamwork and communication among participants, rather than on the individual skills themselves. Specialized skills for individual sports are built upon fundamental skills and are not the same as basic skills, which apply to a wider range of activities.