Sports Psychology Flashcards
What is a basic skill?
A basic skill is a simple skill that isn’t very complex and can be picked up by a begginner fairly easily.
Give an example of a basic skill.
Running could be classified as a basic skill as it does not require a lot of thought to perform and almost anybody can do it without learning and practicing lots.
Of course you can improve this skill and just because something is a basic skill does not mean it does not have a high skill ceiling.
What is a complex skill?
A complex skill is a skill that requires lots of practice and thought to perform. It is often performed in a controlled enviroment and a complex skill is not something that anyone can just pick up and be good at straight away.
Give an example of a complex skill.
A frontflip in gymnastics could be considered a complex skill as it takes thought and multiple steps to execute properley and not anyone is just able to do a frontflip and land it as easily as someone can start running.
Complex skills can be mastered just as basic skills can be but they take more effort and time practicing to be executed correctly and proficiently than a basic ckill performed at a lower level.
What is a high organisation skill?
A high orgainsation skill takes many complex steps to execute and is often performed in a high octane, intense competative enviroment where there is a possibility of it going wrong and a consequence that is carried with that.
Give an example of a high organisation skill.
A back’s move in rugby which requires multiple people and several steps that all rely on each other working for the skill to be performed proficiently.
It has taken place in a game situation and a competative enviroment where there is much potential for something to go wrong and the players are hoping everyone will do the move right.
What is a low orgainsation skill?
It is a skill that has a few simple, clear steps that will take place in a more calm and controlled enviroment where there is less potential for something to go wrong and the overall situation is less intense than on a pitch with other players.
Give an example of a low organisation skill.
Executing the long jump takes a few simple clear steps that are easy to understand. The jump will take place in a controlled enviroment without rival opponents who have the potential to make things go wrong and how the long jump works is easy to understand.
What is distributed practice?
It is where a skill is practiced over a string of training sessions where the skill will be slowly improved or the athlete may have breaks inbetween practicing their skill.
This type of training used is more likley if the skill is more complicated and takes more time and practice to get better at.
Give an example of a skill that might use distributed practice.
Open play in football might use distributed training as it takes a long time to get better at and improving your skill at dealing with open play cannot be mastered in one training session without any breaks.
What is fixed practice?
It is where a skill is practiced over and over again without any breaks until the athlete has perfected that technique while perfoming that certain skill.
Give an example of a skill that might be trained using fixed practice.
Passing a rugby ball with decent skill might be practiced continually as it dosen’t require lots of time or equipment and a whole coach or team isn’t spending their time with one person who is learning to pass a rugby ball.
What is variable practice?
Variable practice is where a skill is practiced in a variety of situations so the people get used to different situations of gameplay and so they learn to adapt and become better athletes.
Give an example of a skill that might be trained using variable practice sessions.
Open play in rugby might be practiced in a variety of different situations so that when the players play a real game they are able to adapt to the ever-changing game and play their best in a variety of different situations.
What is massed practice?
It is when a skill is learnt by practicing it over and over again until the skill is learnt and able to be performed at a decent level to show that the athelte has learnt how to perform that skill.
Give an example of a skill that might be learnt while usng massed practice.
Passing a football or throwing a basketball to a teammate as this is a basic skill that is essential is someone wishes to play with that team.
What is an open skill?
It is a skill that is practiced in open play during a game where the player has to adapt to a chaning enviroment where the situation is fairly unpredictable.
This would be in a game like hockey or rugby.
What is a closed skill?
A skill that is practiced in a closed, predictable enviroment where there are no other external factors such as opponents that may hinder an athletes ability to perform this skill with the proficiency they are capable of.
Define Visual guidance
When the coach may demonstrate how to perform an action or skill that can be visually observed by the players or athletes.
What are the advantages of visual guidance?
- It is more useful for new or less experienced players who may need skills or move sets showing to them or people that struggle to interpret words and are more visual learners.
- Vision is our most dominant sense so this can be very helpful for showing people what to do as it is more easily observed than listening.
What are the disadvantages of visual guidance?
- If a demonstration is done poorly then the wrong way is being shown to the players.
- The coach might assume that the players understand when actually they don’t and they don’t speak up so they have incorrectly learnt a technique.
Define Verbal guidance
When a coach will verbally instruct or give feedback on what someone has done or something they could do next time.
What are the advantages of verbal guidance?
- It is quick and easy to do and doesn’t require training or play to stop for the feedback to be given.
- Easy to highlight key teaching points.
What are the disadvantages of verbal guidance?
- Can lead to an overload of information if multiple people are speaking at once.
- Sports arenas can be very noisy as the acoustics may be bad.
- People may give the wrong advice as they feel obliged to give verbal guidance but they are actually doing more harm than good.
