Skill acquisition Flashcards

1
Q

What is a skill?

A

The learned ability to bring about predetermined results with the minimum outlay of time, energy or both.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the characteristics of a skill?

A

Learned
Consistent - have a high percentage rate of success over a number of games.
Accurate
Controlled - diver executing a high dive must control their mid-air movements to ensure minimal splash on entry to the water.
Goal directed - has an aim of clearing hurdles in athletics and finishing as fast as possible.
Aesthetically pleasing - looks good.
Fluent
Economical
Smooth
Efficient - these four show that a climber would hope to complete the first phase of a route without wasting too much energy, so there is enough energy for the next pitch.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an open skill?

A

An open skill is performed in an unpredictable environment.
E.g. a pass in football - the position of opponents and the ball would make it change each time it is performed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a closed skill?

A

A closed skill is performed in a predictable environment.
E.g. a shotput throw - the regulations and conditions are unlikely to change so the action is repeated the same way.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a gross skill?

A

A gross skill uses large muscle groups.
E.g. in rugby, the shoulder muscles are used to initiate a tackle. The leg muscles are used to drive the opponent to the ground. The quadriceps will have a large fibre number.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a fine skill?

A

A fine skill uses smaller muscle groups, and can be used for fine motor control.
E.g. In table tennis, the hands need control to return the shot.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a self-paced skill?

A

In a self-paced skill, the performer controls the start and speed of the skill.
E.g. When taking a penalty in football, the player will decide before it how hard to kick the ball and when to commence the run up.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an externally-paced skill?

A

In an externally-paced skill, the performer has no control over the start and speed of the skill.
E.g. When marking in netball, the opponent decides when to move and how fast to perform the movement.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a discrete skill?

A

A discrete skill has a clear beginning and end, and is one short, sharp action.
E.g. A tennis serve - after either the player stops and repeats it or moves into position to perform a return shot.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a continuous skill?

A

A continuous skill has no clear beginning or end.
E.g. In cycling, the actions of pedalling can be repeated continuously until the task is completed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a serial skill?

A

A serial skill consists of several discrete skill linked to make a more integrated movement.
E.g. In triple jump, the discrete skills hop, skip and jump are combined to make up the movement.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a low organised skill?

A

A low organised skill can be easily broken down into its sub-parts.
E.g. In a swimming stroke, the arm action, leg action and body positioning can be easily identified and practiced separately if needed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a high organised skill?

A

A high organised skill is not easily broken into parts.
E.g. In a volley in football, the action is very quick and the subroutines merge quickly as the skill is performed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a simple skill?

A

A simple skill requires few decisions to be processed when being performed.
E.g. A forward roll in gymnastics.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a complex skill?

A

A complex skill requires decision making using lots of information when performed.
E.g. Dribbling in hockey - the position of players, and concentrating on the ball and stick.
The performer must think about the cognitive parts, as well as the psychomotor parts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is transfer of learning?

A

The effect of learning and performance of one skill on the learning and performance of another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How can a skill continua change in basketball?

A

In an isolated practice situation, a basketball dribble, when the players are lined up and and practicing in turn without opposition, can be classed as a closed skill since the environment is predictable.
However, in a practice situation of three vs two or during a game, the same skill now becomes open since the environment is changing and unpredictable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How can a skill continua change in swimming?

A

At the start of a swimming race the swimming start may be classed as discrete since it has a clearly defined beginning and end.
However, as the actual race gets underway, the swimming stroke can be classed as continuous since it is unclear when one arm action ends and another arm action begins.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is positive transfer?

A

When the learning of one skill helps the learning of another.
It tends to happen when two skills have a similar shape and form.
E.g. The similar arm actions of the overarm volleyball serve and the tennis serve.
The similar actions of a basketball pass and a netball pass.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is negative transfer?

A

When the learning of one skill hinders the learning of another.
It happens when there may be some familiarity in the environment in which two skills are performed but this may cause confusion when the actions are not the same.
E.g. Badminton and tennis are games played on a court divided by a net, but the action of the tennis serve uses the arm; the wrist action of the badminton serve is different.
Basketball shot and netball shot.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is zero transfer?

A

When the learning of one skill has no impact on the learning of another.
E.g. The swimming arm action and the foot placement in rock climbing have nothing in common and therefore there is no transfer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is bilateral transfer?

A

When the learning of one skill is passed across the body from limb to limb.
E.g. A right-footed footballer would be encouraged to use the left foot when required, so that the impact of a shot from the left foot becomes equal to the impact of a shot with the right foot.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is massed practice?

A

It is continuous practice without rest periods.

24
Q

What is distributed practice?

A

Practice with rest periods included.

25
Q

What is whole practice?

A

Involves performing the skill in its entirety without breaking it into subroutines.
It promotes understanding, establishes the links between sub-routines and creates fluency.

26
Q

When is whole practice used?

A

When the skill is:
Fast, ballistic and discrete, highly organised, simple and not requiring much thought so fewer demands are placed on the performer.
When the performer is:
Advanced in the autonomous stage of learning, when movement is detailed and precise, able to cope with the demands.
The kinesthesis is required.
The links between sub routines must be maintained, or skill is performed in a specific order.

27
Q

What is an example of whole practice?

A

A golf swing performed by an experienced player because it’s discrete, fast and hard to break down.

28
Q

What are the advantages of whole practice?

A

Gives kinesthesis for the whole skill.
Links between sub-routines are maintained, and is fluent.
Not time consuming.
Creates mental images stored in the long term memory, so it can be recalled.
It is more realistic than part, as it’s positively transferred into the game.
The skill is consistent.

29
Q

What are the disadvantages of whole practice?

A

Fatigue
Information overload.
Performer must be able to cope with the demands - not for beginners.

30
Q

What is whole-part whole practice?

A

The performer attempts the whole skill, then each part is practiced individually or specific weaknesses are highlighted, practiced separately, then put back into the whole skill.

31
Q

When is whole part whole practice used?

A

When a beginner is doing a complex task and may need to concentrate on a part before progressing.
Skill is hard to break down, so concentrates on one part at a time.
Links between sub-routines are maintained.

32
Q

What are the advantages of whole part whole?

A

Motivating when a long term bad skill is corrected.
Provides immediate feedback.
Fluency and integration is maintained while errors are corrected.
Maintains a feel for the skill.

33
Q

What are the disadvantages of whole part whole practice?

A

Can produce negative transfer if not integrated back into the whole during the same training session.
Time consuming.

34
Q

What is progressive part practice?

A

Chaining, the first part of the skill is taught then the rest is added in sequence.
E.g. a gymnastics routine.

35
Q

When is progressive part practice used?

A

Skill is low organised so broken down and each part is clear.
When the skill is serial so each skill can be added, and links need to maintained.
A complex skill could benefit as one part can be isolated, taking pressure off the performer.
Skill is dangerous.

36
Q

What are the advantages of progressive part practice?

A

Fatigue is reduced.
Specific weaknesses can be targeted.
Motivation is restored.
Confidence is improved.

37
Q

What are the disadvantages of progressive part practice?

A

Time consuming.
Links between subroutines and kinesthesis of whole skill may be lost.
Coach should ensure first part of task is well learned before progressing.
Needs of the performer should be considered.

38
Q

When is massed practice used?

A

When the skill is discrete, closed, self-paced, simple, highly organised.
When the performer is self-motivated, autonomous, physically fit.
This means there are unlikely to be many changes needed to the skill and numerous repetitions can be undertaken.

39
Q

What are the advantages of massed practice?

A

Grooves/ overlearns skills so they become habitual.
Motor programmes are formed.
Improves fitness so can cope with extended demands of the task.
Can be used in a team or individually.

40
Q

What are the disadvantages of massed practice?

A

Causes fatigue, and so can lead to negative transfer if not linked to real conditions of game.
Performer may not be physically capable of undertaking the practice.
No time for feedback.
Loss of motivation.
Demands are high so practice should be kept simple.

41
Q

What is an example of using massed practice?

A

Badminton player attempting to perfect their short serve.
A trampolinist continuously practicing seat drops to make it habitual.

42
Q

When is distributed practice used?

A

When the skill is: continuous, complex, serial, low organisation, dangerous/tiring, externally-paced, open - the break is used to explain changes.
Performer is cognitive, unfit, lacking motivation.

43
Q

What are the advantages of distributed practice?

A

More effective than massed practice.
Allows time for physical recovery.
Allows time for mental practice.
Coach can give feedback.
Motivational.

44
Q

What are the disadvantages of distributed practice?

A

Time consuming.
Can cause negative transfer.

45
Q

What is an example of using distributed practice?

A

Steeplechaser physically runs the race on the track followed by a rest period.
They will mentally rehearse the performance, seeing the stride pattern, clearing the hurdles and water barrier in their mind.

46
Q

What is variable practice?

A

Practicing skills and drills in a constantly changing environment.

47
Q

When is varied practice used?

A

When the skill is: open, externally-paced, complex.
Performer is cognitive, lacking motivation.

48
Q

What are the advantages of varied practice?

A

Develops schema.
Increases motivation.
Performer gains experience in a range of situations.
Positive transfer from training to game - (can be game realistic).

49
Q

What are the disadvantages of varied practice?

A

Time consuming.
Can cause fatigue.
Possibility of information overload.
Can cause negative transfer.
Can be over used.

50
Q

What is an example of using varied practice?

A

When practicing 3 vs 2 attacking play in rugby.
Performers will develop their passing technique and positional play, which can be directly transferred in a game situation.

51
Q

What is mental practice?

A

Going over a skill in the mind without moving:
Internal - seeing performance from within through own eyes and being aware of emotions/ anxiety etc.
External - seeing performance from outside as a spectator.

52
Q

When is mental practice used?

A

The skill is complex, serial.
When the performer is: cognitive - to build a clear mental image of the basics of the skill, autonomous - to focus on key strategies/ tactics.

53
Q

What are the advantages of mental practice?

A

Produces a clear mental image.
Performers can see themselves being successful.
Can rehearse strategies/ tactics.
Increase confidence.
Reduces anxiety.
Muscles are stimulated.
Reaction time improves.

54
Q

What are the disadvantages of mental practice?

A

Difficult for cognitive performers to complete effectively.
Mental image must be accurate.
Difficult if environment is not quiet.

55
Q

What is an example of using mental practice?

A

Triple jumper about to take final jump in a competition may visualise the stages of the jump in their mind before actually beginning.