2.1 skill characteristics and their impact on transfer and practice

Question 1

What are the seven characteristics of a skill ACEFACE

Answer 1

Aesthetically pleasing
Consistent
Efficient
Fluent
Accurate
Controlled
Economical

Question 2

Why are skill continua are used

Answer 2

Once classifying a skill it makes it easier to adapt practice to best suit the activity.

Question 3

What is the open and closed continua

Answer 3

• The extent in which the environment has influence over the skill
• And open the skill is one performed in an unpredictable Environment
• Closed skills are performed in a predictable environment

Question 4

What is the gross and fine continua

Answer 4

• The extent of muscles are used in the action
• A gross skill is one that uses large muscle groups
• A fine scale is one that uses smaller muscle groups

Question 5

What is the self-paced and externally paced continua

Answer 5

• The extent to which the performer has control of the scale and the rate of execution
• Self paced skills or when the performer controls the start and the speed of the skill
• Externally paced skills are when the performer has no control over the start and the speed of the skill

Question 6

Explain the criteria of continuity: discrete, continuous and serial skills 

Answer 6

Discrete skills have a clear beginning and end
A continuous scale has no clear beginning and end
A serial skill is a skill that contains several discrete skills to make a more integrated movement

Question 7

What is the high and low organisation continua

Answer 7

• The extent to which the scale can be broken down into parts or subroutines
• A low organise skill is one that can easily be broken into parts
• A highly organise skill is one that is not easily broken into parts

Question 8

What is the simple and complex continua

Answer 8

• The degree of difficulty in terms of the amount of information needed to be processed
• A simple skill is one that requires Few decisions when being performed
• A complex skill requires decision-making using lots of information when performed

Question 9

What are the four types of transfer of learning

Answer 9

• negative
• Positive
• Zero
• Bilateral

Question 10

What is transfer of learning

Answer 10

The effect of the learning and performance of one skill on the learning and performance of another

Question 11

What is positive transfer

Answer 11

When the learning of one skill helps the learning of another.
Tends to occur when the two skills are similar for example a netball pass and a basketball pass

Question 12

What is negative Transfer

Answer 12

When the learning of one skill hinders the learning of another.
Occurs when the familiarity may cause confusion Like a tennis serve and a badminton serve

Question 13

What is zero transfer

Answer 13

When the learning of one skill has no impact on the learning of another.
When there is no similarities and no room for confusion. 

Question 14

What is bilateral transfer

Answer 14

When the learning of one skill is passed across the body from limb to limb.
A Right-footed footballer being Encouraged to use their left foot


Question 15

What are the three methods of presenting practice

Answer 15

Whole Practice
Whole-part-whole practice
Progressive part practice

Question 16

What is whole practice

Answer 16

Practising the skill in its entirety without breaking it into subroutines

Question 17

When is it appropriate to use whole practice

Answer 17

• When the skill is fast and discrete
  - The skill is highly organised and can’t be easily broken down
• The skill is simple and doesn’t require much thought
• The feel (Kinaesthesis) of the whole skill is required to be developed

Question 18

Strengths of whole practice

Answer 18

+ Creates motor programs stored in the long-term memory containing mental images of the skill
+ More realistic than progressive-part practice as the skill is in its entirety
+ whole practice helps to make the skill consistent and means the skills are performed automatically 

Question 19

Disadvantages of whole practice

Answer 19

• Places unnecessary demands on the performer, may not be suitable for a beginner
• When there is a specific weakness to be worked on whole-part-whole practice might be more suitable

Question 20

What is whole-part-whole practice

Answer 20

Assessing the skill identifying a weakness to practice then putting the skill back together

Question 21

When should whole part whole practice be used

Answer 21

• complex
• fast
• When the Skill is low organised but a weakness needs to be worked on

Question 22

Advantages of whole-part-whole practice

Answer 22

+ better for beginners or novices
+ helps correct weaknesses

Question 23

Disadvantages of whole-part-whole practice

Answer 23

• time consuming
• some skills cannot be broken down

Question 24

What is the progressive part practice

Answer 24

Practising the first part of the skill and then adding parts gradually

Question 25

When to use progressive part practice

Answer 25

- skill is complex - skill is serial - skill is externally paced - skill is low organised - high risk of injury

Question 26

Strengths of progressive part practice

Answer 26

+ stages of success can keep performer motivated + reduces danger + reduces fatigue + reduces demand + can focus on weaknesses

Question 27

Disadvantages of progressive part practice

Answer 27

- time consuming - possibility for negative transfer if the parts aren’t learnt well enough before moving to the next sub-routine

Question 28

What are the four types of practice

Answer 28

Massed practice distributed practice varied practice mental practice

Question 29

What is massed practice

Answer 29

Practice with no rest intervals

Question 30

When is massed practice use

Answer 30

When the skill is Discreet Simple Closed Self paced 

Question 31

Strengths of massed practice

Answer 31

+ Forms motor programs + Increases fitness + Good for developing habitual automatic responses + Efficient

Question 32

Disadvantages to massed practice

Answer 32

- No time for feedback - fatigue - Too demanding

Question 33

What is distributed practice

Answer 33

Practice with a rest intervals between sessions

Question 34

When should distributed practice be used

Answer 34

When the skill is Continuous Complex Low organised Serial Externally paced Open - this is because these classifications make the skill more demanding on the performer

Question 35

Strengths of distributed practice

Answer 35

+ Allows recovery + Less mental pressure + Allows mental rehearsal + Reduces risk of injury

Question 36

Disadvantages of distributed practice

Answer 36

- Time-Consuming - Negative transfer

Question 37

What is varied practice

Answer 37

Changing the Practice type and practice drills

Question 38

When Should varied practice be used

Answer 38

When the skill is Open Complex Externally paced 

Question 39

Advantages of varied practice

Answer 39

+ Can mimic the changing environment of open skills + Less boring and more motivating + Flexible + Builds schemas 

Question 40

Disadvantages of varied practice

Answer 40

- Time consuming - Fatigue - Too demanding

Question 41

What is mental practice

Answer 41

Going over the movements in the mind

Question 42

When should mental practice be used

Answer 42

When the skill is Serial Complex

Question 43

Strengths of mental practice

Answer 43

+ Improves reaction time + Builds confidence + Builds motor programmes + Controls anxiety

Question 44

Disadvantages of mental practice

Answer 44

- Relies on the performer having the correct mental image - Environment must be calm for performer to carry out mental practice