As much as I hate to, I really would have to disagree with Clix Pix here. The Coolpix 8700 was a top of the line prosumer model back in 2004, and even today it can hold its own.
For action shots, assuming that's what you're after, you need fast shutter speed in order to capture...well, the action. On the 8700, there should be an S setting, which stands for shutter priority. This basically will let you set the desired shutter speed, and the camera will do the rest for you. While this really isn't the optimal way to take pictures (or learn about photography), it should do the job for you. Make sure that you're shooting at at least 1/400, and most things should come out OK.