Paper 2- Skill Acquisition

Question 1

What are the 6 continuums?

Answer 1

Muscular Movement (gross/fine)
Environmental Influence (open/closed) 
Continuity (discrete/serial/continuous)
Pacing (externally paced/internally paced)
Difficulty (simple/complex)
Organisation (low/high)

Question 2

What is gross and fine?

Answer 2

Gross- large muscle movement using large muscle groups

Fine- intricate muscle movement using small muscle groups

Question 3

What is open and closed?

Answer 3

Open- skills affected by environmental factors

Closed- skills that aren’t affected by environmental factors

Question 4

What is discrete, serial and continuous?

Answer 4

Discrete- clear beginning and end
Serial- discrete skills strung together to make a new and complex movement
Continuous- no obvious beginning and end

Question 5

What is externally paced and internally paced?

Answer 5

Externally paced- environment controls the rate of performing the skill
Internally paced- performer controls the rate at which skill is performed

Question 6

What is simple and complex?

Answer 6

Simple- straightforward with very few judgements and requires little concentration and cognitive ability
Complex- involve many decisions and judgement and are complicated

Question 7

What is low and high?

Answer 7

Low- very easy and uncomplicated. Sub-routines are easy to separate
High- many sub-routines are close together and cannot be broken down and practised

Question 8

Define what a sub-routine is

Answer 8

The elements or separate movements that make up a particular skill

Question 9

What is part practice?

Answer 9

Working on an isolated sub-routine with the aim of perfecting it.

Question 10

When is part practice used?

Answer 10

With skills that are low in organisation

Complex and dangerous tasks

Question 11

Why is part practice used?

Answer 11

Allows the performer to make sense of a skill
Performer gains confidence as they learn each element
Reduces the possibility of overload

Question 12

What is whole practice?

Answer 12

Skills being taught without breaking down into sub-routines or parts

Question 13

When is whole practice used?

Answer 13

Skills are high in organisation

Skill needs to be taught as a whole

Question 14

Why is whole practice used?

Answer 14

Allows the performer to experience the feel of the skill (kinaesthesis)

Question 15

What is whole part whole practice?

Answer 15

Practising the skill, then practising a sub-routine in isolation, then practising the whole skill again

Question 16

When is whole part whole practice used?

Answer 16

Serial skills

Skills with low organisation

Question 17

Why is whole part whole practice used?

Answer 17

Recognise strengths and weaknesses then corrects specific skills errors
Allows some feel of the skill

Question 18

What is progressive part practice?

Answer 18

Skills are broken down into sub-routines.

Performer learns one link then a second link and practices these then further links are added (chaining)

Question 19

When is progressive part practice used?

Answer 19

Complex skills (as it reduces info load)
Low organisation skills
Serial skills

Question 20

Why is progressive part practice used?

Answer 20

Helpful to allow performer to learn links between sub-routines and transfer these into the whole skill

Question 21

What is massed practice?

Answer 21

Practice session involves very short or no rests

Question 22

When is massed practice used?

Answer 22

Discrete skills of short duration
Highly motivated performers
Performers with good fitness levels

Question 23

Why is massed practice used?

Answer 23

To groove skills

Stimulate elements of fatigue

Question 24

What is distributed practice?

Answer 24

Practice session with rests

Question 25

When is distributed practice used?

Answer 25

Continuous skills Beginners Low level fitness level Low level motivation

Question 26

Why is distributed practice used?

Answer 26

Rest intervals allow performer to receive feedback Helps maintain motivation Good for dangerous and complex skills

Question 27

What is fixed practice?

Answer 27

A specific movement pattern is practiced repeatedly in a stable environment (drill)

Question 28

When is fixed practice used?

Answer 28

Closed skills | When it’s required that specific movement patterns to become overlearned

Question 29

Why is fixed practice used?

Answer 29

Allow skills to become habitual and automatic | in events when conditions never change

Question 30

What is varied practice?

Answer 30

When a skill is practiced in many environments

Question 31

When is varied practice used?

Answer 31

Open skills | Practice conditions must be as realistic as possible

Question 32

Why is varied practice used?

Answer 32

Allows development of experiences in LTM | Develops performer’s perceptual and decision making skills

Question 33

Define proactive transfer

Answer 33

When a skills previously learned affects a skill yet to be learned

Question 34

Define retroactive transfer

Answer 34

When learning a new skill affects a skill learned previously

Question 35

Define positive transfer

Answer 35

When the learning and performing of one skill help the learning and performing of another skill

Question 36

Define negative transfer

Answer 36

When the learning and performing of one skill hinders the learning and performing of another skill

Question 37

Define bilateral transfer

Answer 37

The transfer learning from one to limb to another

Question 38

How can coaches aid positive transfer?

Answer 38

Making sure the individual understands the similarities between the 2 skills Making sure the basics of the first skill are well learned

Question 39

How can coaches avoid negative transfer?

Answer 39

Making sure the performer is aware of differences | Making practice sessions similar to match situations

Question 40

What are the 2 ways that bilateral transfer occurs?

Answer 40

Cognitive aspects- understand what is required | Transfer of the motor programme- the pattern fo one limb is sub-consciously learned by the other limb

Question 41

How can you optimise positive transfer and limit negative transfer?

Answer 41

Allow positive transfer by offering variable practices which imitate game situations Make performers aware of transferable elements Give clear and concise demonstrations Diverse childhood experiences enhance probability of transfer, the performer must learn a wide range of fundamental motor skills

Question 42

What are the 4 learning theories?

Answer 42

Operant conditioning Thorndike’s laws Cognitive theory of learning Observational learning/ social learning theory

Question 43

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 43

``` Associationist view Trial and error learning Correct response is rewarded Reinforces correct response Behaviour is shaped (changed) + reinforcement - reinforcement Punishment ```

Question 44

What are thorndike’s laws?

Answer 44

Strengthening S-R bonds Law of exercise- repeating actions strengthens reinforcement Law of effect- followed by pleasant response then S-R bond is strengthened. Followed by unpleasant response then S-R bond is weakened Law of readiness- athlete must be mentally and physically capable

Question 45

What is cognitive theory of learning?

Answer 45

Intervening variables and insight learning Learning is best achieved by premising the whole skill Learner must understand and think about the problem as a whole Thought processes are dependent upon perception Learner will use intelligence, current knowledge and schema to plan or predict a solution

Question 46

What is social learning theory?

Answer 46

Copying behaviour of others Behaviour will be copied if the role model is a significant other and of high status Role models are copied if they are the same gender as learner Form of visual guidance A demonstration is presented for learner to copy Attention- retention- motor reproduction- motivation

Question 47

What are the 3 stages of learning?

Answer 47

Cognitive Associative Autonomous

Question 48

What is a cognitive learner?

Answer 48

Beginner Trying to create mental image of skill Demonstrations are vital Shouldn’t be give too much info Give guidance on important cues (selective attention) Practice skill with trial and error Reinforce success with positive feedback Performances will be inconsistent, lack co-ordination and flow and will be full of errors Specific feedback is needed to correct errors

Question 49

What is an associative learner?

Answer 49

``` Practice stage Learner attends to relevant cues Errors are fewer and smaller Big improvements of performance Motor programmes are developed Skill becomes smoother Learner develops the ability to use internal/ kinaesthetic feedback to detect errors Detailed verbal feedback is given ```

Question 50

What is an autonomous learner?

Answer 50

Learner can execute the skill with little conscious thought Concentrate on other factors Motor programmes are established and stored in LTM and put into action in response to stimuli Less need for external feedback If practice isn’t maintained then learner may drop back to associative stage

Question 51

What is verbal guidance?

Answer 51

Describes or explains how to perform an activity

Question 52

What are the advantages of verbal guidance?

Answer 52

Can reinforce good movements and identify errors to be corrected Can hold the attention of the performer and be used to motivate

Question 53

What are the disadvantages of verbal guidance?

Answer 53

Lead to information overload | If guidance is inaccurate then could lead to skill being hindered

Question 54

What is visual guidance?

Answer 54

Images or demonstrations used to help a learner

Question 55

What are advantages of visual guidance?

Answer 55

Easy to create a mental picture Skill can be seen at different stages Encourages observational learning

Question 56

What are the disadvantages of visual guidance?

Answer 56

If demo is incorrect bad habits could form Coach may not be able to give accurate demonstration Visual representation may be unclear or too quick

Question 57

What is manual guidance?

Answer 57

Performer put physically into correct position

Question 58

What is mechanical guidance?

Answer 58

Physical support by equipment is given

Question 59

What are the advantages of manual and mechanical guidance?

Answer 59

Helps with confidence Gives a sense of safety Can be used to isolate a skill

Question 60

What are the disadvantages of manual and mechanical guidance?

Answer 60

Can be over-restrictive Performer can feel lack of control Lead to false kinaesthesis