Practice methods and types

Question 1

Practice

Answer 1

A repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it. Practice is needed to get better at a skill. Practice must be structured so that it is effective.

Question 2

Whole practice

Answer 2

When a skill is learned in its entirety - practiced in total - without breaking it down into subroutines or parts.

When is it used?
- Low in complexity
- Closed
- Discrete
- Self paced
- Simple

For example
- Golf swing
- Dart throw
- Cartwheel
- Somersaults
- Football penalty kick

Advantages
- Develops kinaesthetic awareness (a true feel for the skill)
- Transfer from practice to real situation is likely to be positive
- Player will execute the skill fluently

Disadvantages
- Too much information can be overwhelming
- Not for beginners
- Difficult to learn complex skills this way

Question 3

Whole-part-whole practice

Answer 3

Completing the whole task, then breaking down a small part, practice that part only, put it back and complete the whole task.

Practicing the skill in its entirety and then breaking it down into sub routines, before completing the skill as a whole again

When is it used?
- Serial: the skill has several discrete elements which are put together to make an integrated movement or sequence of movements
- Low organisation: has sub routines and parts than can be broken down and practiced on their own

For example in swimming the swimmer could be doing front crawl but their leg action is bad so they focus on legs by swimming with a float and then practice the whole front crawl again

Advantages
- Recognise strengths and weaknesses
- Corrects errors
- Reinforce correct movements
- Useful for complex skills which can be clearly separated into individual sub routines

Disadvantages
- Time consuming
- Can reduce kinaesthetic understanding of skills
- Not useful for high organisational skills

Question 4

Part practice

Answer 4

This part practice method generally involves breaking down the skill into natural parts or segments, practicing those parts separately until they are learned.

The parts of the skill are practiced in isolation which is useful for complicated serial skills and is good for maintaining motivation and focusing on specific elements of the skill

When is it used?
- Low organisation
- High complexity: dangerous skills
- Has slow or serial tasks, where the skill as a whole is of long duration

For example practicing the tennis serve you might practice the backswing before striking the ball

Advantages
- Increases motivation
- Simplifies the skill
- You can achieve initial success with basic movements before progressing

Disadvantages
- Transfer of skills from parts to whole may not be effective
- Reduces kinaesthetic awareness (feel) of the skill

Question 5

Progressive part practice

Answer 5

Practicing each part of the skill and gradually adding each subroutine . This is often referred to as chaining.

The learner begins by practicing two of the parts separately, combines the parts, once mastered, the third part is introduced.

When is it used?
- Complex tasks or skills
- Serial skill
- Externally paced

For example
- Dance routine
- Gymnastic routine
- In breaststroke swimming, the leg action is a separate movement to the arm action. There is however an important element of timing between the two movements, which demands quite complex attention strategies. If the leg and arm actions are practiced independently, then the attention demands are simpler in the learning stages of skill performance. The two aspects of the swimming stroke can then be brought together once learned so that attention by the learner can be given to the timing strategies of the two actions.

Advantages
- Keeps links between parts
- Stages of success gives motivation
- Reduces danger and fatigue

Disadvantages
- Time consuming
- If first part is incorrect it could lead to further errors

Question 6

Fixed practice

Answer 6

Repeatedly practicing the whole skill. The skill is not broken down into smaller parts.

During fixed practice the situation does not change, the routine is repeated and ‘grooved’ until it becomes automatic and the equipment stays the same.

For example
- Golf swing
- Free throw in basketball

Advantages
- Allows learner to perform a closed skill more consistently - grooving
- Introduces someone to a new skill for the first time

Disadvantages
- May reinforce incorrect technique
- Its repetitive and can lead to fatigue, tedium and boredom.

When is it used?
- Closed skills
- The performer practices in a situation as similar to the competitive performance possible

Question 7

Variable practice

Answer 7

Variable practice is when the same skill is repeated in different situations. This means they can be applied in different competitive situations.

When is it used?
- Open skills because the situation is often changing
- Complex skills because the level of difficulty of the skill can be gradually increased so the performer becomes able to complete the same skill in more challenging situations
- Experienced players

For example
- Practicing against an opponent in football ensures the skill of passing is performed in slightly different ways

Advantages
- More motivating
- Allows adaptations
- Learning the skills in different situations means that the learners have experience of situations that might arise during performance

Disadvantages
- Time consuming
- Fatigue

Question 8

Massed practice

Answer 8

Massed practice is when there are little to no breaks in a session. The same skill is repeated over and over again.

When is it used?
- Simple
- Closed
- Low organisational
- Not dangerous
- Experienced/ motivated/ skilled performer
- Older performer
- Very fit performer

For example
- Basketball free throw
- Squash player continuously hitting forehand drive until they master the skill

Advantages
- The correct movement is grooved (getting the feel of the skill) so it is repeated next time
- Increases fitness
- Encourages a habitual response

Disadvantages
- No time for feedback
- Tedious
- It can also be tiring, leading to errors and potentially accidents

Question 9

Distributed practice

Answer 9

Distributed practice is when there are breaks in the session providing rest periods or changes in activity. There are fewer repetitions and several skills can be practised rather than one.

When is it used?
- Complex
- Open
- High organisation
- Dangerous
- A beginner player
- Young player
- Not very fit player

For example five attempts at kicking the rugby ball at posts, the rest and receive feedback from the coach while another player has their turn.

Advantages
- Allows recovery
- Less mental pressure - allows mental rehearsal
- Reduces danger
- Good for beginners
- Prevents boredom/ keeps motivation high

Disadvantages
- Time consuming