Skills Flashcards
What is the definition of a skill?
The learned ability to bring about predetermined results with maximum certainty often with the minimum outlay of time or energy or both
What is the acronym that lists the characteristics of a skill ?
And what are they?
ACEFACE
Aesthetic
Consistent
Efficient
Fluent
Accurate
Controlled
Economical
What is a Closed Skill?
What is an Open Skill?
Give an example for both.
A skill performed in a predictable environment so fewer decisions needed.
A skill performed in an unpredictable environment so movements need to be adapted.
What is a simple skill?
What is a complex skill?
Give an example for both.
A simple skill is a skill that is simple to perform and requires few decisions when being performed.
A complex skill requires lots of decision making using lots of information when performed.
What is a self paced skill?
What is a externally paced skill?
Give an example for both.
A self paced skill is when the performer controls the start and the speed of the skill.
An externally paced skill is when the performer has no control over the start and the speed of the skill.
What is a gross skill?
What is a fine skill?
Give an example for both.
A gross skill is a skill that uses large muscle groups.
A fine skill is a skill that uses small muscle groups to perform small precise movements.
What is a discrete skill?
What is a serial skill?
What is a continuous skill?
Give an example for all three.
A discrete skill is a skill that has a clear beginning and end
A serial skill contains several discrete skills in order to make a more integrated movement.
A continuous skill is when it has no clear beginning or end
What is a low-organised skill?
What is a high-organised skill?
Give an example for both.
A low-organised skill is easily broken into parts
A high-organised skill is not easily broken into parts
What is a positive skill transfer?
And give an example.
When the learning of one skill helps or aids the learning of another.
e.g a netball pass has a similar action to a basketball pass
What is a negative skill transfer?
And give an example.
When the action of one skill hinders the learning of another.
e.g a tennis serve may have a negative effect on the badminton serve
What is a zero skill transfer?
And give an example.
When the learning of one skill has no effect on another since the two skills in question have no similarities and no aspect of confusion.
e.g the swimming stroke and climbing have no transfer effect
What is a bilateral skill transfer?
And give an example.
When the learning of one skill is transferred across the body.
E.g a right-footed footballer using their left foot to do the same skill.
What is whole practice and what type of skill is it best for?
Involves practicing the skill as a whole without breaking it into subroutines. It is best for fast, discrete and highly organised skills.
What is Whole-part-whole practice and what type of skill is it best for?
Involves assessing the skill by doing it as a whole, identifying a weakness to practice, then putting the skill back together. This is best for complex skills.
What is progressive part practice and what type of skill is it best for?
Involves practicing the first part of the skill and then adding parts gradually- sometimes called chaining. This is best for low organised skills that can easily be broken down.
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages of whole practice.
Advantages:
-gives a feel for the whole skill
-it helps to create specific images which can be stored in long to memory
-It is more realistic than part practice
-It helps to make the skill consistent
Disadvantages:
-it may place unnecessary demands on the performer (especially a beginner)
-It could cause fatigue
-there may be too much information for the performer to process
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages of whole-part-whole practice.
Advantages:
-can provide motivation when success is achieved
-it can correct errors and allow the selected part to be integrated back into the whole skill
-fluency and integration of the sub-routines can be maintained while errors are corrected
Disadvantages:
-it may produce negative transfer effects if not completed in one session .
-it is more time consuming than whole practice
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages of progressive part practice.
Advantages:
-the learner can potentially correct specific weaknesses
-the learner can rest so fatigue is reduced
-can improve motivation as each part brings success
Disadvantages:
-It can be time consuming
-it might neglect the feel of the whole skill
-could cause negative transfer between parts of the skill if not completed in one session
What is massed practice and what type of skill is it best for?
Is continuous, with no rest intervals between sessions. is best used when skill is discrete simple and the environment is closed.
What is distributed practice and what type of skill is it best for?
Involves rest intervals between sessions. Is best used when the skill is continuous and the performer may need a rest.
What is varied practice and what type of skill is it best for?
Involves changing the practice type and the practice drills. Is best used when the skill is open and the environment is unpredictable
What is mental practice and when is it best for?
Involves going over the skill in the mind without movement. Could be done in the warm up to provide preparation for the task ahead.
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages of massed practice.
Advantages:
-It promotes fitness so that the performer can cope with the extended demands of the task
-practicing without break makes the skill become almost automatic.
-is an efficient use of time
Disadvantages:
-It can cause fatigue
-danger of negative transfer unless the coach makes the conditions similar to the real game
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages of distributed practice.
Advantages:
-Takes the pressure off the performer
-allows recuperation
-allows for progress to be made at the pace of the performer
-could increase motivation if praise is given whilst the performer is resting
Disadvantages:
-it is time consuming
-relatively slow progress
-less useful for experts due to slow progress
-danger of negative transfer if session is not integrated post rest.
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages of varied practice.
Advantages:
-allow players to adapt their skills to changing environment
-prevents boredom
-helps to build the subroutines of the skill
Disadvantages:
-time consuming
-risk of negative transfer if drills aren’t integrated
-could place unnecessary demand on the players
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages of mental practice
Advantages:
-improves confidence
-lowers anxiety
-better reaction time
-improves decision making of the player
-can be done when player is injured
Disadvantages
-Must be correct
-Environment must be calm
What are the three stages of learning?
Cognitive stage
Associative stage
Autonomous stage
What is the cognitive stage and what type of feedback is best for performers at this stage?
Beginner
Where the performer has to think carefully about their actions and try to understand how to copy the demonstrations and instructions.
Movements are mainly slow and uncoordinated.
Motor programs are not yet developed.
Extrinsic feedback is most beneficial.
What is the Associative stage and what type of feedback is best for performers at this stage?
Longer duration as it takes time to go from a competent beginner to an accomplished performer.
To make progress the athlete has to practice a lot.
Movements become smoother and more coordinated throughout this stage.
Feedback may now be more internal.
What is the autonomous stage?
Expert
Reached after maintained effective practice that needs to be continued to stay at this level.
The skill is now fluent, efficient and automatically undertaken.
The performer can now focus on the finer parts of the skill.
The motor program is now fully developed.
What is a learning plateau?
A period during performance where there are no signs of improvement, the performer doesn’t seem to be getting better at the skill.
Explain three causes of a learning plateau.
Lack of motivation- lack of incentives or intrinsic feedback causing performer to loose energy or drive.
Boredom- repetitive nature causes boredom
Coaching- incorrect instructions or practice methods so the skill is not done correctly
Limit of ability- They may have reached the full extent of their ability
Targets set too low- if the task does not allow them to use a full rage of their ability.
Fatigue- Continuous action over an extended period of time would inevitably result in tiredness.
Give three solutions to the learning plateau.
The task could be extended so that a new challenge to test the performer is given.
The player could find a new coach
More praise and positive reinforcement could provide motivation
A rest could be taken to avoid fatigue
What is the social development theory (constructivism) and who created it?
-Vygotsky
-Learning should be planned and built in stages, based on current level of performance.
-You can learn skills through learning from others more experienced than you.
-Three zones of proximal development (next stage of learning based on the performers expectations, needs and current level of performance): What can I do alone?, What can I do with help?, What can I not do yet?
What is the operant conditioning theory (behaviourism) and who created it?
-Skinner
-Learning through consequence, trial and error.
-Works by strengthening the link between stimulus and response. The s-r bond.
-Using reinforcement
Define:
-Positive and negative reinforcement
-Punishment
Give an example for each
Positive- Pleasant stimulus to encourage correct response. For example getting more game time if playing well.
Negative- Withdrawing unpleasant stimulus to encourage a correct response. For example a coach stopping shouting at a footballer when they start playing well.
Punishment- Unpleasant stimulus to prevent a behaviour. For example, a red card in football.
What is the insight learning (cognitive theory) and who created it?
-Gestalt
-We learn new behaviours by adapting our actions to suit the environment that we are in.
-Using experience to solve a problem related to the whole skill.
- We formulate a response to suit the environment (e.g the weather conditions or the formation of the opposition) due to our past experiences and knowledge of the situation.
What is observational learning and who created it?
- Bandura
-All Behaviour can be learned by copying and watching other people.
-Demonstrations and role models can be used to show skills. - A performer is more likely to copy if the coach uses 4 stages:
-Attention- making the demonstration more attractive to the performer to make sure they pay attention.
-Retention- Making sure the performer can remember the information.
-Motor production- Making sure the performer is physically capable of copying the demonstration.
Motivation- The drive needed to copy the demonstration.
What is visual guidance?
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages.
-A demonstration of the required task. Creates a mental image for a beginner that can be used as a reference point for future practice.
Advantages:
-Can be used to highlight specific weaknesses
-Tries to show what the skill should look like as a result of practice.
-It creates a mental image
-Nearly always used with verbal guidance.
Disadvantages:
-Demonstration must be completely accurate, otherwise it may be copied incorrectly
-If too much information given, the performer may become confused.
What is verbal guidance?
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages.
An explanation of the task, nearly always used with visual guidance. Can also be used for more experienced performers when technical advice is given.
Advantages:
-Helps to build the correct mental image.
-Can also be used with more experienced players
Disadvantages:
-too much information could confuse the performer
-The performer may lose concentration if information is too long.
-The language can’t be too technical for a beginner.
-Correct type of feedback needs to be ensured.
What is Manual guidance?
What is Mechanical Guidance?
Give 2 advantages and two disadvantages.
Manual Guidance- Involves physical support given by a coach of other, such as holding a gymnast on a vault.
Mechanical Guidance-
A device used to help performance such as an armband in swimming.
Advantages-
-Eliminates danger
-builds confidence
-early feel for the whole skill
-Fear reduced
-Can be used for disabled athletes (mechanical guidance)
Disadvantages-
-Performer may be become over dependant
-Motivation lost if the performer thinks the skill is not being performed independently
-May interfere with the feel of the task
What is feedback?
Information received to amend performance and make improvement
Define positive feedback and explain why it positively impacts skill development.
-Information about what was good; it tells the performer what is going well and offers motivation to maintain effort.
-It positively impacts skill development as it motivates the performer and allows them to understand what they have done correctly, leading them to do that aspect of the skill the same each time.
Define negative feedback and explain why it positively impacts skill development.
-to give the performer information about what is going wrong so that errors can be corrected and bad habits eliminated.
-It positively affects skill development as it can give clarity on which aspects of the skill need to be improved.
Define extrinsic feedback and explain why it positively impacts skill development.
-derived from an outside source such as a coach so that the performer gains a view on what they need to improve on.
-It allows them to gain advice from someone more experienced than them and a different point of view to point tout weaknesses that they couldn’t see on their own.
-best for cognitive learners
Define intrinsic feedback, and at what stage of learning are performers able to use it at.
-as a player gains experience, feedback may come from within. The performer, most likely autonomous, may have developed a feel for the skill so know when they have performed it incorrectly
Define knowledge of results.
feedback which gives an initial outcome of the attempted skill. It tells the performer whether or not the skill they performed was successful.
Define knowledge of performance.
Knowledge of the initial result can be expanded with more detailed analysis of the action. This gives reason why the shot is in or not.
