transfer of skills

Question 1

what are the types of transfer

Answer 1

• positive
• negative
• proactive
• retroactive
• bilateral

Question 2

What is positive transfer?

Answer 2

• where one skill or situation helps the learning and performance of another skill (or situation)
• e.g. the arm action of throwing a ball helps the action of the racquet arm when serving in tennis

Question 3

What are the effects of positive transfer?

Answer 3

• transfers the S-R bond of one skill to another
• helps to develop the correct motor programme

Question 4

What are the ways of optimising the effect of positive transfer?

Answer 4

• Practice and learning situations should include positive transfer - Varied practice for open skills e.g. 2 attackers v 1 defender for passing in football replicates the game situation
• Build on similar skills to promote transfer - e.g. handball throw similar to volleyball spike
• Make learner aware of transferable elements or subroutines - e.g. foot position during a throw is the same as a tennis serve
• Ensure a clear demonstration of where transfer can take place - e.g. demonstrate that the flexed elbow in a badminton smash is the same as in a volleyball spike
• Original skill must be well grooved or overlearned - e.g. the correct throwing action must be well learned before it is transferred to a tennis serve
• Give learner praise / positive reinforcement when transfer successful - e.g. reinforce that the successful volleyball spike has been transferred from a successful throwing action
• Indicate that processing of information in two different activities may be similar - e.g. the processing of stimuli in the smash shot both in tennis and badminton are similar
• The closer the practice is to the real situation the greater the chance of positive transfer - e.g. varied practice for open skills like hand ball shooting, and fixed practice for closed skills like volleyball serving
• Diverse experiences enhance the probability of positive transfer - e.g. a throwing movement will transfer positively to all skills that require a throwing action

Question 5

What is negative transfer?

Answer 5

• where one skill or situation hinders the learning and performance of another skill (or situation)
• e.g. the flexed arm in throwing hinders the straight arm required for cricket bowling

Question 6

What are the effects of negative transfer?

Answer 6

• performer can respond incorrectly to similar stimuli
• differences in kinaesthetic feedback can cause confusion

Question 7

What are ways of limiting the effect of negative transfer?

Answer 7

• The coach should apply strategies to optimise positive transfer - e.g. build on skill that are similar / skills that transfer positively to limit negative transfer
• Be aware that skills that look similar may transfer negatively - e.g. a backhand shot in tennis requires a stiff wrist whilst in squash it is played with a flexible wrist
• Conflicting skills must not follow in sequence during a teaching programme - e.g. badminton and tennis strokes transfer negatively
• Learners’ attention must be drawn away from movements that cause negative transfer - e.g. focus is given to a specific racquet game
• The environment in which the skill is learned must match the real situation - e.g. 2 attackers v 1 defender for passing in football recreates the game situation
• If part or progressive part practice is used the first subroutine should be overlearned before progressing - e.g. overlearn the correct body position before giving focus to the backswingduring a squash shot
• Simplify the task during initial learning to establish the basic movement and then transfer it to the real situation - e.g. feed the ball underarm to the learner when practicing a forehand drive

Question 8

What is proactive transfer?

Answer 8

• where a previously learned skill affects the current learning or performance of another skill
• e.g. the previously learned throwing action can affect a new skill that looks similar, such as a serve in volleyball

Question 9

What are the effects of proactive transfer?

Answer 9

can be positive or negative/ proactive transfer can help or hinder the learning or performance of a new skill

Question 10

What is retroactive transfer?

Answer 10

• where the current learning of a new skill effects the performance of a previously learned skill
• e.g. the current learning of a serve in tennis can affect the previously learned throwing action

Question 11

What are the effects of retroactive transfer?

Answer 11

can be positive or negative/ retroactive transfer can help or hinder the performance of a new skill

Question 12

What is bilateral transfer?

Answer 12

• transfer from limb to limb (from one side of the body to the other)
• e.g. a footballer kicking both with the left and right foot

Question 13

What are the effects of bilateral transfer?

Answer 13

• can be positive or negative
• when positive , bilateral transfer helps an attacker to deceive a defender e.g. using the non-dominant foot to shoot or pass