Type of practice

Question 1

Name the 8 types of practice

Answer 1

Part
Whole
Whole-part-whole
Progressive-part
Massed
Distributed
Fixed
Varied

Question 2

What is part practice?

Answer 2

Working on an isolated subroutine with the aim of perfecting it (e.g. practising the backswing only in the tennis serve)

Question 3

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of part practice

Answer 3

+ve: good at cognitive stage, helps understanding, gives early success, limits overload, raises confidence, safer for learning dangerous skills, good for closed skills
-ve: not suitable for high organisation skills, limits awareness of whole skill, limits kinaesthetic development, takes time

Question 4

What is whole practice?

Answer 4

Skills being taught without breaking down into subroutines or part. Skills learned in its complete form (e.g. sprinting)

Question 5

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of whole practice

Answer 5

+ve: saves time, good for high ability leaners, creates mental picture, encourages fluency, holistic view of skill, good for high organisation, continuous and simple skills
-ve: unsuitable for complex skills, difficult for low abilities, too fast, demotivating

Question 6

What is whole-part-whole practice?

Answer 6

Practising the whole skill then practising a sub routine in isolation, then practising the whole skill again (e.g. swimming stroke)

Question 7

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of whole-part-whole practice

Answer 7

+ve: flexible method, allows focus on weaker subroutines, good for low organisation, serial, complex, open and closed skills
-ve: unsuitable for high organisation skills, lots of information to process, potential overload

Question 8

What is progressive part practice?

Answer 8

Skills are broken down into sub-routines, Performer learns one link, then a second link and practises these then further links are added on until the skill is a whole (e.g. triple jump)

Question 9

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of progressive part practice

Answer 9

+ve: quicker than part, kinesthesis developed more effectively than part, gives a chance for recap, good for low organisation, serial and complex skills
-ve: unsuitable for high organisation skills, limits awareness of whole skill, demotivating

Question 10

What is masses practice?

Answer 10

Practice session involves very short or no rest intervals. It is repetitive and continuous. (e.g. gold swings)

Question 11

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of massed practice

Answer 11

+ve: good for short duration skills, good for autonomous phase, helps to form S-R bonds, develops kinesthesis, good for discrete and simple skills
-ve: can be exhausting, mental fatigue, errors could increase, can lead to chronic or overuse injuries

Question 12

What is distributed practice?

Answer 12

Practise sessions involving short bursts with regular rest intervals (e.g. sprinting)

Question 13

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of distributed practice?

Answer 13

+ve: good at cognitive stage, helps understanding, good for dangerous and high energy skills, time for rest, helps to form S-R bonds, good for continuous and complex skills
-ve: rest intervals may disjoint practice, can be hard to regain intensity, long breaks can be demotivating

Question 14

What is fixed practice?

Answer 14

A specific movement is practised repeatdly in a stable environment (e.g. javelin throw)

Question 15

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of fixed practice

Answer 15

+ve: good at cognitive stage, develops motor programmes, can perfect the skill, helps form S-R bonds, helps to overlearn skills, good for closed skills
-ve: not suitable for open skills, can be boring, does not prepare for game situations, can lead to overuse injuries, can cause drive reduction

Question 16

What is varied practice?

Answer 16

When a skill is practised in many environments or situations (e.g. netball)

Question 17

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of varied practice?

Answer 17

+ve: good for autonomous stage, stimulates interest, helps transfer of skills, helps to form S-R bonds, good for open skills
-ve: too many stimuli, may cause overload, can be confusing, not effective in helping to overlearn skills