Skill Acquisition Flashcards
What are the characteristics of a skill?
ACE FLAG + C
Aesthetically pleasing - must look good.
Consistent - high success rate.
Efficient - least amount of energy and time.
Fluent (smooth) -
Learned - developed through practice.
Accurate - precise.
Goal-directed - clear aim in mind.
Co-ordinated - in control of movement.
What is a skill?
A learned ability to bring about predetermined results with minimum use of energy or/and time.
Open vs Closed skill.
Sporting examples
Open - is performed in an unpredictable environment = more decisions.
Passing in football.
Closed - is performed in predictable/stable environment = fewer decisions.
Shot putt.
Gross vs Fine skill.
Sporting examples.
Gross - uses large muscle groups.
Rugby tackle.
Fine - smaller muscle groups = more control and precision.
Snooker, darts.
Self-paced vs Externally paced skill.
Sporting examples.
Self-paced - performer controls the start and speed of the skill.
Penalty. Volleyball serve.
Externally paced - performer has no control over the start and the speed.
Sprint start, swimming start.
Discrete vs Serial vs Continuous skill.
Sporting examples.
Discrete - has a clear beginning and end.
Tennis serve, penalty kick.
Serial - contains several discrete skills to make a more integrated movement.
Triple jump, dance routine, trampoline.
Continuous - no clear beginning or end.
Cycling, running.
Low Organised vs Highly Organised skill.
Sporting examples.
Low - easily broken down into parts/sub-routines.
Swimming stroke (leg, arm)
Highly - not easily broken down into parts.
Football volley - quick.
Simple vs Complex skill.
Sporting examples.
Simple - requires few decisions.
Forward roll, running.
Complex - many decisions and lots of info. from environment.
Dribbling in hockey, twisting somersault.
What is the transfer of learning?
Name the 4 types.
When skills learnt in one activity affect skills in another activity.
Positive, negative, bilateral and zero.
What is positive transfer?
Sporting example.
Learning a skill facilitates the learning of an additional skills.
Netball shot helps basketball shot.
What is negative transfer?
Sporting example.
Learning a skill hinders/inhibits the learning of an additional skill.
Tennis serve and badminton serve.
Forehand clear in badminton and forehand drive in tennis.
What is zero transfer?
Sporting example.
Learning a skill has no impact on learning of an additional skill.
Swimming and rock climbing.
Rugby tackle and swimming turn.
What is bilateral transfer?
Sporting example.
Learning a skill on one side of the body is passed across to the other side.
Snooker shots - left and right hand.
Football - left and right foot.
How can a coach ensure positive transfer?
- Ensure original skill is over learned.
- Coach highlights potential transfer to performer.
- Realistic to competition practice sessions.
- Eliminate bad habits.
- Ensure they’re motivated.
What is whole practice?
Sporting example.
Practising the skill in its entirety without subroutines.
Tennis serve. Golf swing.
When is whole practice used?
- Fast, ballistic, discrete skill.
- Highly organised skill.
- Not dangerous.
Advantages of whole practice?
Disadvantages of whole practice?
- Fluency is maintained.
- Not time-consuming.
- Not ideal for cognitive learners - cannot cope entire skill at once.
- Information overload and fatigue.
What is whole-part-whole practice?
Sporting example.
Assess skill, identify weakness to practice, then put it back together.
Volleyball smash. Front crawl in swimming.
When is whole-part-whole practice used?
- Complex/fast skill
- Performer is cognitive to fix parts.
- Autonomous performer concentrating on weakness.
Advantages of whole-part-whole practice?
Disadvantages of whole-part-whole practice?
- Can receive immediate feedback.
- Corrects errors.
- Time-consuming.
- Might neglect feel of whole skill.
What is progressive-part practice?
Known as chaining, practising the first part of the skill, then adding parts gradually.
Dance routine, floor routine in gymnastics.
When is progressive-part practice used?
- Low organised skill.
- Serial.
- Complex
- Dangerous.
Advantages of progressive-part practice?
Disadvantages of progressive-part practice.
- Aids understanding of each part.
- Can rest = less fatigue and injury.
- Time consuming.
- Cannot be used with highly organised skills.
What are the 4 types of practice?
Massed, distributed, mental and varied.
What is massed practice?
When is it used?
Continuous practice without rest.
- Discrete, simple, closed skill –> no changes to skill.
- Autonomous, fit, motivated.
Advantages of massed practice?
Disadvantages of massed practice?
- Promotes fitness.
- Skill can be over learned –> habitual.
- Causes fatigue / may not be capable.
- No time for feedback.
What is distributed practice?
When is it used?
Practice with rest periods included.
- Continuous skill.
- Breaks needed to rest or relive pressure and intensity. Or to explain changes to skill.
Advantages of distributed practice?
Disadvantages of distributed practice?
- Takes pressure off performer.
- Good for cognitive - controlled progress.
- Feedback can be given.
- Time consuming - not used for fast progress.
- Not useful for autonomous wanting to over learn.
What is mental practice?
When is it used?
Going over the skill in the mind without moving.
- Complex, serial skill.
- Cognitive - clear, mental image of basics.
- Autonomous - focusing on tactics.
Advantages of mental practice?
Disadvantages of mental practice?
- Produces a clear mental image.
- Performers see themselves being successful –> increases confidence and reduces anxiety.
- Mental image must be accurate.
- Difficult if environment is not quite.
What is varied practice?
When is it used?
Practising skills and drills in a constantly changing environment.
- Open, externally paced and complex skill.
-Performer is cognitive and lacking motivation.
Advantages of varied practice?
Disadvantages of varied practice?
- Gains experience in a range of situations.
- Prevents tedium.
- Time consuming.
- Possibility of information overload and fatigue if given too many stimuli.
What are the 3 stages of learning in order?
- Cognitive
- Associative
- Autonomous
Describe the cognitive stage.
- Begins to create clear mental image of skill.
- Needs demonstrations to copy.
- Mistakes are made.
- Motor programmes are not fully formed yet.
Describe the associative stage.
- Models actions of skilled athletes.
- Must continue to practice.
- Makes fewer mistakes.
- Motor programmes are developing and to be stored in LTM.
Describe the autonomous stage.
- Movements are fluid, efficient and habitual.
- Skills are automatic and without conscious thought.
- Hardly any mistakes.
- Motor programmes are fully formed and stored in LTM.
- Can focus on fine detail and tactics.
What are the purposes of feedback?
- Reinforce correct actions.
- Correct errors.
- Eliminate bad habits.
- Build confidence.
What is positive feedback?
Feedback about what was correct so action is repeated.
What is negative feedback?
Feedback about incorrect actions so that it’s not repeated and errors are corrected.
What is extrinsic feedback?
Feedback from an outside source like a coach. Positive or negative.
What is intrinsic feedback?
Feedback from within using kinaesthesis. Positive or negative.
What is knowledge of results?
Feedback about whether the skill was successful or not. Concerns the outcome.
What is knowledge of performance?
Feedback about why the skill was successful. Concerns technique and quality of skill.
What type of feedback is good for a cognitive performer and why?
Positive - motivation and confidence.
Extrinsic - lack of knowledge.
What type of feedback is good for an associative performer and why?
Positive - motivation.
Intrinsic - start to develop kinaesthesis.
Extrinsic - know what to improve.
Knowledge of results - understand how well they’re doing.
What type of feedback is good for an autonomous performer and why?
Extrinsic - qualified coaches.
Intrinsic - immediate from themselves.
Knowledge of performance - right technique.
Negative - handle criticism to improve.
What is a learning plateau?
A period during performance when there are no signs of improvement.
Describe the 4 stages of a learning plateau.
- Learning is slow and performance is poor - cognitive stage.
- Rapid acceleration in learning - begins to master task and success rate.
- No improvement. Reached a plateau.
- Towards the end, perhaps by fatigue, performance has deteriorated.
What is drive reduction?
A drop in the rate of improvement and the performance may begin to get worse.
New challenge needed to maintain motivation.
What are some causes of a learning plateau?
Many Bees Look Towards Flowers (acronym)
- Lack of motivation - no incentives or reward.
- Boredum - repetitive movement.
- Limit of ability - full potential reached.
- Targets set too low - cannot improve if not challenged.
- Fatigue - continuous action over a long time.
What are some solutions to a learning plateau?
- More praise - from coach for motivation.
- More variety - tedium is avoided.
- Concept of plateau can be explained so they don’t take personal blame/responsibility.
- Extend task - new challenges or targets.
- Rest - to avoid fatigue.