Skill Acquisition Flashcards
What mnemonic can be used to remember the characteristics of a skill?
ACEFACE
What does ACEFACE stand for?
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Consistent
• Efficient
• Fluent
• Accurate
• Controlled
• Economical
What is a skill?
The learned ability to bring about predetermined results with the minimum outlay of time, energy or both.
What is an open skill?
A skill performed in an unpredictable environment.
What is a closed skill?
A skill performed in a predictable environment.
What is a gross skill?
A skill that uses larger muscle groups.
What is a fine skill?
A skill that uses smaller muscle groups.
What is a self-paced skill?
When the performer controls the start and the speed of the skill.
What is an externally-paced skill?
When the performer has no control over the start and the speed of the skill.
What is a discrete skill?
A skill that has a clear beginning and end.
What is a serial skill?
A skill that contains several discrete skills in order to make a more integrated movement.
What is a low-organisation skill?
A skill that is easily broken into parts.
What is a high-organisation skill?
A skill that is not easily broken into parts.
What is a simple skill?
A skill that requires few decisions when being performed.
What is a complex skill?
A skill that requires decision-making using lots of information when performed.
What does transfer mean?
The effect of the learning and performance of one skill on the learning and performance of another.
What is positive transfer?
When the learning of one skill helps the learning of another.
What is negative transfer?
When the learning of one skill hinders the learning of another.
What is zero transfer?
When the learning of one skill has no impact on the learning of another.
What is bilateral transfer?
When the learning of one skill is passed across the body from limb to limb.
What are the four types of skill transfer?
• Positive
• Negative
• Zero
• Bilateral
What are the different types of presenting practice?
• Whole
• Whole-part-whole
• Progressive part
What is whole practice?
Practising the skill in its entirety.
When should whole practice be used?
• Skill is fast (ballistic)
• Skill is highly organised
• Skill is simple
• The feel (kinaesthesis) of the whole task is required
• The performer is advanced in the autonomous stage of learning
• The links between sub-routines need to be maintained or the skill needs to be performed in a specific order (e.g. trampoline routine)
What are the advantages of whole practice?
• Helps create specific images that can be stored as a plan called a motor programme
• More realistic than part practice so helps to produce the effect of positive transfer between skills learned in training and those same skills performed on the pitch
• Helps make the skill consistent
What are the disadvantages of whole practice?
• May place unnecessary demands on the performer who may not be able to cope with all the aspects of the skill at once (especially if they’re a beginner)
• Fatigue
• May not address specific weaknesses in performance
What is whole-part-whole practice?
Assessing the skill, identifying a weakness to practise, then putting the skill back together.
What are the advantages of whole-part-whole practice?
• Can provide motivation when success is achieved
• Provides immediate feedback (therefore corrects errors and allows the selected part to be integrated successfully into the whole action)
• Fluency and integration of the sub-routines can be maintained while errors are corrected
What are the disadvantages of whole-part-whole practice?
• May produce negative transfer (unless the coach integrates the part back into the whole during the same training session)
• Time-consuming
What is progressive part practice?
Practising the first part of the skill then adding parts gradually (sometimes called chaining).
What are the advantages of progressive part practice?
• Allows the learner to focus on one aspect of the task and can potentially correct specific weaknesses
• Reduced fatigue
• Maintains motivation
What are the disadvantages of progressive part practice?
• Time-consuming
• Might neglect the feel of the whole task
• Might ignore the links between sub-routines
• There’s a danger of negative transfer between each sequence of the skill (the coach should ensure that the first part of the task is learned well before attempting to make further progress)
What are the different types of practice?
• Massed
• Distributed
• Varied
• Mental
What is massed practice?
Practice with no rest intervals.