Sports Pschology (PAPER 2) Flashcards
What is a skill?
A skill in physical activity is a specific, defined task that can be learned and practised.
They contribute to the performance of an overall activity.
Each sport or physical activity can be broken down into a group of skills that can be practised.
How and why do we classify skills?
Skills can be grouped together based upon characteristics that they share.
Classification of skills allows us to easily analyse and describe skills.
If you know the classification of a skill, you can create an appropriate practices to improve it.
What is a continuum?
A continuum is a line that goes between two extremes.
The classification continuums:
Environmental influence (Closed / Open)
Difficulty (Basic / Complex)
Organisation Level (High / Low)
Why are skills put onto a continuum?
Very few skills are, for example, completely closed or completely open. Continuums allow for flexibility based on the characteristics of a skill, instead of trying to place all skills at an extreme.
Environmental Influence Continuum:
The environmental influence continuum considers the factors that surround the athlete as they perform the skill.
Closed skill:
Not affected by the environment.
They are predictable.
Timing of the skill is down to the athlete (self-paced).
Very few variables outside of the athlete’s control.
Open skill:
Heavily affected by an unpredictable and changeable environment.
Performance of the skill is influenced by conditions of play, teammates and opponents.
Lots of variables outside of the athlete’s control. They must react and adapt.
example of closed skill:
Javelin is a very closed skill.
Why?
The exact timing of the throw is down to the athlete (it is self-paced).
The athlete throws the same weight javelin in a very similar environment every single time.
Very few variables are outside the athlete’s control.
example of open skill:
A rugby tackle is a very open skill.
Why?
The timing and style of the tackle is heavily influenced by many factors.
E.g. the ball carrier, the tackler’s teammates, the position on the pitch.
A player must adapt and react to their opponent to make the tackle successfully.
Difficulty Continuum:
The difficulty continuum considers how complicated skills are and how much attention and concentration is required to complete them.
basic/simple skill:
Have few sub-routines.
Require relatively low level of attention to complete.
complex skill:
Made up of lots of sub-routines.
Require great concentration because they are very difficult.
example of basic/simple skill:
200m running is a very
basic skill.
Have few sub-routines.
Require relatively low level of attention to complete.
example of complex skill:
Triple jump is a highly complex skill.
Made up of lots of sub-routines.
Require great concentration because they are very difficult.
low organisation:
Can be easily split into sub-routines.
Each sub-routine can be practised separately.
high organisation:
Very difficult to split into sub-routines.
Are seen as whole actions which must be practised in their entirety.
example of low organisation skill:
Swimming the front crawl is a low organisation skill.
Why?
Because it has clear sub-routines that can be split up and practised separately:
Arm pull
Breathing stroke
Leg kick
Tumble turn
example of high organisation skill:
A golf swing is a high organisation skill.
Why?
This is because it is almost impossible to break it down into sub-routines when practising it.
You have to practise the golf swing in its entirety (whole skill at the same time).
guidance:
Guidance looks at methods of helping the learner through movement patterns.
what are the different types of guidance:
Mechanical
Verbal
Visual
Manual
what is visual guidance?
Visual Guidance = showing the performer what to do or how they are performing
This method works mainly through DEMONSTRATION or VIDEO ANALYSIS.
The demonstration should:
Be realistic, appropriate and not too complex.
Emphasise relevant aspects of a skill and be repeated.
The coach should reinforce correct copying of skills.
It is useful for beginners (cognitive stage of learning)
what is an example of visual guidance?
A beginner watching a coaches demonstration of a netball bounce pass.
A swim coach demonstrating the arm action of breaststroke
A athletic coach demonstrating the high jump
Video guidance - professional demonstration
what are the advantages of visual guidance?
Advantages:
Learners can see the correct model
Can be used to highlight a weakness in more developed athletes
what are the disadvantages of visual guidance?
Disadvantages:
May be difficult to do in a large group
Too much information might overload beginner
The performer might not be capable of matching the demonstration - demotivating
If demonstration is inaccurate then errors may be replicated
what is verbal guidance?
Verbal guidance = Information given to a performer to help them develop that they can hear.
It involves a coach telling a performer something.
It is often used to accompany visual guidance
The amount of verbal guidance must be controlled and the quality of this guidance is important for effective coaching or teaching.
To make guidance effective, you should give it in relevant ‘chunks’ and the demonstrations should be accurate
what is an example of verbal guidance?
Coach explaining tactics to a group of players in the final training session before a game.
Coach explaining the key points of a lay up
what are the advantages of verbal guidance?
Advantages:
Can be used to explain tactics
It can be given immediately
Can be linked with visual guidance
Can be used as a trigger to promote the correct action during practice - while the learner is doing it
what are the disadvantages of verbal guidance?
Disadvantages:
Too much information might overload beginners
Language may be too technical for a beginner - they may not understand certain terminology
The performer might lose concentration - can be boring
what is manual guidance?
Manual guidance = Information given to a performer to help them develop that involves them being physically moved into the correct position.
This method uses physical support or placing limbs in correct positions.
Most useful for beginners
This develops a performers kinaesthetic awareness (feeling of the skill)
It also may be used for safety reasons
what is an example of manual guidance?
a coach supporting a gymnast during an asymmetric bar movement or performing somersaults
A swim coach moving a swimmers legs in the correct breaststroke legs technique
A tennis coaches holding the arms of tennis players to help them learn the movement of a forehand stroke.
what are the advantages of manual guidance?
Eliminates danger
Builds confidence
Gives an early feel and develops early kinaesthesis
Reduces fear and anxiety
Helps break a complex movement into parts
what are the disadvantages of manual guidance?
Requires one-to-one support - not realisitic
The performer may become dependent on the support
It is used too much it can interfere with kinaesthesis
The proximity of the coach might be upsetting
An incorrect feel of the skill could result in bad habits
what is mechanical guidance?
Mechanical guidance = Using equipment to assist in the learning process.
This method uses a mechanical aid
This type of guidance gives confidence and ensures safety.
Useful for beginners, but also experts in training sessions
Gives some idea of kinaesthetic sense of movement.
The performer can become over-reliant on the mechanical device used so it must be removed as they learn
