Practice and feedback Flashcards
What are the four types of practice?
Massed, distributed, varied and mental practice
What are the three types of methods of practice?
Whole, whole-part-whole and progressive
What is whole practice?
Involves performing the skill in its entirety without breaking it into sub-routines
Why is whole practice an ideal way to teach a skill?
It promotes understanding
Establishes the links between sub-routines and creates fluency
When is whole practice used?
The skill is fast and ballistic.
The skill is highly organised and cannot be broken down.
The skill is simple.
The skill is discrete
The feel (kinaesthesis) of the whole task is required.
The performer is advanced (at the autonomous stage of learning).
The links between sub-routines need to be maintained.
Transfer is important – this method is more realistic than part-practice.
Consistency is required.
Motor programmes need to be developed.
It is desirable that the skill becomes habitual
What is an example of whole practice?
Golf swing (played by an experienced player because it is discrete, fast, hard to breakdown)
What are the advantages of whole practice?
It gives a feel for the whole skill
Links between the subroutines are maintained
Allows the movement to be more fluent
Reduces time needed to perfect the skill
It helps create specific images that can be stored as a motor programme (in long term memory) containing a mental image of the skill
More realistic – promoting positive transfer between skill learnt in practice and performed in a game
What are the disadvantages of whole practice?
Performer may not be able to cope with all aspects of the skill at once (especially if they are beginners)
Performers quickly fatigue
Information overload
What are factors to consider when choosing a method of practice?
Stage of learning Fitness Motivation Skill classification Time available Safety of skill
What is whole-part whole method of practice?
Assessing the skill, identifying a weakness to practise, then putting the skill back together
How does the whole-part-whole method of practice work?
Performer attempts the whole skill to get a feel for the movement
The skill is then broken down into parts
Each part of the task is practised individually
Or if it is an existing skill specific weaknesses are
Highlighted
Practised separately
Put back in whole skill
When is the whole-part-whole method of practice used?
Beginner
Complex task
Allows them to concentrate on one part of skill – to get it right
Highly organised (difficult to breakdown)
Coach concentrates of one aspect at a time
Coaches highlights weaknesses and then correct it
Can also be used with better performer who has a specific weakness
What is an example of whole-part-whole method of practice?
When practising the Tennis Serve the coach can take out the ball toss
What are the advantages of the whole-part-whole method of practice?
Provides motivation when success is achieved and a long standing weakness is overcome
Provides immediate feedback
Corrects errors
Improves performance
It maintains the feel for the whole skill
And the transition between the components
Improves the selected weakness and allows it to be integrated into the whole action
What are the disadvantages of the whole-part-whole method of practice?
May produce negative transfer if done incorrectly (i.e. doesn’t integrate back into the skill at the end)
As soon as the weakness is rectified it needs replacing as soon as possible
More time consuming than just doing whole skill
What is the progressive method of practice?
Practising the first part of the skill then adding parts gradually – sometimes called chaining
When is the progressive method of practice used?
Serial skills - Series of specific movements (often discrete) chained together in a sequence
The links between the subroutines need to be made
Danger may make it a necessity
Skill level is low - Makes to parts clear
Complex skill – isolates difficult part
What is an example of the progressive method of practice?
Triple jump: Teach run up Teach hop Then step Then jump Then put it all together Gymnastic or Dance routine
What are the advantages of the progressive method of practice?
Learner focuses on one aspect at a time
Allows correction of weaknesses
Allows rest so fatigue is reduced
Promotes success – increasing motivation
Success is achieved in stages
Improves confidence due to mastery of each stage
What are the disadvantages of the progressive method of practice?
Time consuming
Lose the feel of the skill
May ignore the links between the subroutines
Negative transfer may occur: Make sure the skill is well learnt before progressing
What is massed practice?
Continuous, no rest between activities
What types of skills does massed practice cover?
Discrete, Simple and Closed
What is an example of massed practice?
Basketball shooting – shoot, shoot, shoot
or
Cricket throw downs
What are the advantages of massed practice?
Promotes fitness – so performer can cope with task in game
Makes skill automatic
Fixed responses become habit
Skill can be repeated consistently
Motor programmes get ‘grooved’ easier to recall
Gets job done quickly
What are the disadvantages of massed practice?
Can produce fatigue
Must make practice similar to game situation (to avoid Negative transfer)
Must be simple due to high demands
Coach must make sure motivation is maintained
What is distributed practice?
Rest intervals between sets / sessions
What type of skill is used in distributed practice?
Open, Complex and Externally paced
What is an example of distributed practice?
Practice tackling – introduction session, week later introduce again with a gradual progression and so on.
Practice tackling, do handling, practice tackling
What are the advantages of distributed practice?
Reduces pressure on performer
Reduces the onset of fatigue
Good for beginners – more controlled environment
Specific feedback can be presented in rests
Allows for mental practice (running through the skill requirements)
Motivation increased due to positive praise (extrinsic)
From seeing improvements / success (intrinsic)
Improves safety – allowing clear instructions
What are the disadvantages of distributed practice?
Time consuming – slower progress
Expert players may not benefit
Danger of negative transfer if not integrated
What is varied practice?
Changing the type of practice and the practice drills
What type of skill does varied practice use?
Open – unpredictable environment: meaning performers can get used to changing game
Externally paced – allow adaption
Continuous – variety can be used to maintain motivation
What is an example of varied practice?
Basketball lesson: Introduce BEEF Students shoot from close to basket focusing on the technique Students move back Add in a static defender Play 2v1 (all beef to shoot without pressure) Play 2v1 (No beef) Play 3v2
What are the advantages of varied practice?
Allows adaptation to changing game situations
Open skills
Externally paced
Add Variety
Increases motivation
Allows adaptation of existing skills (Schema)
What are the disadvantages of varied practice?
More time consuming
Danger of negative transfer unless activities are clear with the aims of the session
Information overload – too many things to focus on
Need to secure the skills before they can be adapted or challenged
Danger of fatigue
