AS Skill Acquisition - Characteristics of Skill

Question 1

Define skill

Answer 1

The learned ability to bring about a predetermined result with the minimum outlay of time, energy or both

Question 2

Name the characteristics of a skill (ACEFACE)

Answer 2

Aesthetically pleasing, consistent, efficient, fluent, accurate, controlled, economical

Question 3

Describe open and closed skills

Answer 3

Open - skill performed in an unpredictable environment

Closed - skill performed in an unpredictable environment

Question 4

Describe gross and fine skills

Answer 4

Gross - skill performed using large muscle groups

Fine - skill performed using smaller muscle groups

Question 5

Describe self-paced and externally-paced skills

Answer 5

Self-paced - performer controls start and speed of skill

Externally-paced - performer has no control over start and speed of skill

Question 6

Describe discrete, continuous and serial skills

Answer 6

Discrete - skill has clear beginning and end, one short sharp action
Continuous - skill has no clear beginning and end, often the end of one sub-routine of the skill is the start of the next part
Serial - skill that contains several sub-routines that make a more integrated movement

Question 7

Describe high and low organised skills

Answer 7

High organised - skill that is not easily broken into parts

Low organised - skill that is easily broken into parts

Question 8

Describe simple and complex skills

Answer 8

Simple - skill that requires few decisions to perform

Complex - skill that requires decision making using lots of information when performing

Question 9

Define Positive and negative transfer

Answer 9

Positive - when the learning of one skill aids the learning of another
Negative - when the learning of one skill hinders the learning of another

Question 10

Define zero and bilateral transfer

Answer 10

Zero - when the learning of one skill has no effect on the learning of another
Bilateral - when the learning of one skill is passed across the body from limb to limb

Question 11

How could a coach ensure positive transfer?

Answer 11

• Training is realistic (use of cones replaced by real players)
• Make sure one skill is well learned before moving on to more advanced skill (performer experiences slow, planned progression)
• Use of rewards and reinforcement for correct adaptation of positive transfer (praise players for using skills with similar actions)

Question 12

Describe whole practice and when it would be used (3 marks)

Answer 12

Practising the skill in its entirety

• Skill is discrete
• Skill is highly organised
• Skill is simple
• The feel (kinaesthesis) of whole task is required as learner develops
• Performer in autonomous stage, movement is detailed and precise, able to cope with demands of whole task
• Links between sub-routines need to be maintained or skill needs to be performed in a specific order

Question 13

Advantages and disadvantages of whole practice (Name 2 each)

Answer 13

Advantages:
- Creates specific images stored as motor programmes in long term memory
- More realistic, helps produce positive transfer between skills in training and same skills in games
- Maintains links between sub-routines
- Develops feel of the skill (kinaesthesis)
Disadvantages:
- Unnecessary demands on performer, if not able to cope with all aspects of the skill at once
- Fatigue could occur without breaks
- May be too much information to process

Question 14

Describe whole-part-whole practice and when it would be used (3 marks)

Answer 14

Assessing the skill, identifying a weakness to practice and the putting the skill back together

• Beginner doing complex task, needs to focus on one part of the skill to get it right
• Skill is highly organised, coach focuses on one aspect of skill, links between sub-routines maintained
• Highlight specific weakness, isolate it and correct it

Question 15

Advantages and disadvantages of whole-part-whole practice (Name 2 each)

Answer 15

Advantages:
- Provides motivation, success achieved when weakness is corrected
- Provides immediate feedback, correct errors, allows integration and improves performance
- Fluency of sub-routines maintained while errors corrected
Disadvantages:
- Negative transfer if coach doesn’t integrate part back into whole skill
- Time consuming

Question 16

Describe progressive-part practice and when it would be used (3 marks)

Answer 16

Practising first part of the skill and then adding parts gradually (chaining)

• Serial skills, order is important and links between sub-routines need to be made
• Dangerous skills (trampoline routine)
• Low organised skill
• Complex skill, difficult part isolated, relieves pressure

Question 17

Advantages and disadvantages of progressive-part practice (Name 2 each)

Answer 17

Advantages:
- Focus on one aspect of task, correct weaknesses
- Fatigue reduced, rest periods allowed
- Each part brings success, increasing motivation
Disadvantages:
- Time consuming
- Might neglect whole task, ignore links between sub-routines
- Risk of negative transfer between each sequence of skill, ensure skill is learned before moving on

Question 18

Describe massed practice and when it would be used (3 marks)

Answer 18

No rest intervals during practice, continuous

• Skill is discrete
• Skill is simple
• Skill is closed
• Skill is highly organised
• Skill is self-paced

Question 19

Advantages and disadvantages of massed practice (Name 2 each)

Answer 19

Advantages:
- Promotes fitness
- No breaks, skill becomes automatic, fixed responses become habitual, player repeats skill consistently
- Motor programmes stored in memory
Disadvantages:
- Fatigue, if performer lacks fitness
- Danger of negative transfer if practice conditions aren't similar to real game
- No time for feedback

Question 20

Describe distributed practice and when it would be used (3 marks)

Answer 20

Rest intervals are given during practice session

• Skill is continuous, performer needs a break
• Skill is open, break used to explain changes to practice drill/ give feedback
• Skill is low organised/complex, relieve pressure

Question 21

Advantages and disadvantages of distributed practice (Name 2 each)

Answer 21

Advantages:
- Relieves pressure and fatigue
- Allows feedback/mental practice, performer goes through key points of skill in their mind
- Reduces danger, clear guidelines given during breaks
Disadvantages:
- Time consuming
- Not useful for expert players looking to over-learn their skills
- Danger of negative transfer if coach fails to integrate practice session

Question 22

Describe varied practice and when it would be used (3 marks)

Answer 22

Changing the practice type and practice drills

• Skill is open, likely to be changes in sporting environment, practice should replicate conditions
• Skill is externally paced, performer has to adapt to changes in environment
• Skill is continuous, variety to maintain motivation

Question 23

Advantages and disadvantages of varied practice (Name 2 each)

Answer 23

Advantages:
- Allows adaptation of skills in changing environments
- Increases motivation by increasing enjoyment
- Helps build sub-routines and schema - a method of adapting skills from long term memory store
Disadvantages:
- Time consuming
- Risk of negative transfer if changing drills aren’t integrated into aims of session
- May be too demanding if too many things to focus on, causing fatigue

Question 24

Describe mental practice and when it would be used (3 marks)

Answer 24

Going over skill in mind without movement
- Skill is serial and/or complex
- Best combined with physical practice
Used by novice and experts
- Novice: part of distributed practice (during breaks) basics of skill - short and key points emphasised
- Expert: techniques established - tactics/strategies highlighted - focus on opponent’s weaknesses

Question 25

Benefits of mental practice (Name 2)

Answer 25

• Improves confidence
• Lowers arousal & anxiety
• Builds motor programmes
• Improves reaction time - stimulates muscle receptors
• Can be used when injured - maintains memory of skill