Chapter 1`: Part 2

Question 1

What are the three stages of learning?

Answer 1

Cognitive, associative, autonomous

Question 2

What are the key features of a cognitive stage learner?

Answer 2

• The beginner is mentally trying to comprehend the movement requirements of a motor skill
• Their attention is purely focused on movement production
• Their performance will be inconsistent, with stiff and unrelaxed movements
• They have not yet developed error detection and correction abilities
• Progress and development are rapid at the cognitive stage

Question 3

What are the key features of an associative stage learner?

Answer 3

• The performer is beginning to refine their technique and movement patterns
• They are more consistent, make fewer errors, and can detect the cause of some errors and identify strategies to correct them
• More attention can be directed to external stimuli, such as the spin applied to a tennis shot

Question 4

What are the key features of an autonomous stage learner?

Answer 4

• The performer no longer consciously thinks about the motor skill, as it is mostly automatic
• The focus of the performer is directed to tactics, rather than the motor skill itself
• The performer can detect and correct their own errors
• Performance variables are small (performance is consistent)

Question 5

What are the three factors which differentiate practice strategies?

Answer 5

Amount, distribution and variability

Question 6

What are the two different types of practice amount?

Answer 6

Part or whole practice

Question 7

What are the two different types of practice distribution?

Answer 7

Massed or distributed practice

Question 8

What are the two different types of practice variability

Answer 8

Blocked or random practice

Question 9

What is part practice and provide an example?

Answer 9

Motor skills are broken down into subcomponents, such as the tennis serve being broken down into grip, stance, back swing, ball toss, contact and follow through

Question 10

When is part practice most advantageous?

Answer 10

By practicing single segments of a skill individually, a cognitive stage learner can improve quickly

Question 11

What is whole practice and provide an example?

Answer 11

Competing the motor skill in its entirety, such as the tennis serve

Question 12

What does distribution of practice refer to?

Answer 12

The scheduling of weekly practice sessions, depending on the availability of participants and venues

Question 13

What does distributed practice involve?

Answer 13

• Short but frequent training sessions
• More time is given for rest between tasks within the training session
• Distributed scheduling creates a better learning environment
• Generally, for a more elite athlete, such as a national 100m sprinter

Question 14

What does massed practice involve?

Answer 14

• Less frequent training sessions which last for a longer period of time
• Reduced rest intervals between tasks when compared to distributed practice
• Generally, for a more casual athlete who is balancing school/work, and can only train 2-3 times per week

Question 15

What is practice variability?

Answer 15

The option to practice a skill for a set number of repetitions, or to constantly change the skills

Question 16

What does blocked practice involve, and provide an example?

Answer 16

Practicing the same skill continually without changing to a different task, such as a beginner doing constant repetitions of a forehand in tennis without practicing any other skills

Question 17

For whom is blocked practice most appropriate for and why?

Answer 17

It is appropriate for performers in the cognitive stage of learning who are trying to understand and reproduce the movement

Question 18

What does random practice involve?

Answer 18

The varied sequencing of different motor skills in the same training session, such as playing a tennis rally in training which incorporates all the different shots

Question 19

For whom is random practice most suitable for and why?

Answer 19

It is suitable for performers in the associative and autonomous stages who already have a good understanding of discrete motor skills, as it develops open skills which replicate the demands of a game, and can improve-decision making

Question 20

What three types of practice is a beginner most likely to take part in?

Answer 20

Part, massed, and blocked practice

Question 21

What are the benefits of practice that closely resembles a game?

Answer 21

It will result in a greater transfer of skills from training to games

Question 22

What are the disadvantages of practice that closely resembles a game?

Answer 22

It will not necessarily result in skill development transfer, and repetitive, full-on practice games can lead to decreased motivation/increased risk of injury

Question 23

What may beginners benefit from during practice in terms of environment?

Answer 23

Reducing some environmental factors that would usually be present in a game, such as removing opposition players during practice