Types and methods of practice

Question 1

Describe the part method of practising movement skills, giving a practical example.

Answer 1

part
Practise by splitting or breaking down skill into sub- routines or sections
eg practice the tennis serve by doing the toss up first / triple jump or other suitable

Question 2

Describe the whole method of practising movement skills, giving a practical example.

Answer 2

whole
Practise by doing the total or complete or entire movement / not breaking skill into subroutines or
parts
eg tennis serve / penalty kick in football or other suitable

Question 3

Describe the progressive part method of practising movement skills, giving a practical example.

Answer 3

progressive part
Practise in stages that are linked or chained
eg gymnastics or trampoline routine / triple jump / gymnast learning a roll then a jump, then roll and jump together / athlete practises the hop, then step, then hop and step etc / or other suitable

Question 4

Describe the whole-part-whole method of practising movement skills, giving a practical example.

Answer 4

whole-part-whole
Practise the complete skill, then split it into sub- routines and then practice complete skill again
eg Practice the tennis serve completely to start then concentrate on the toss up of the ball and then integrate this back into a practice of the complete skill / for teaching front crawl / or other suitable

Question 5

I am broken down into sub routines which are practised individually
What practice method am I?

Answer 5

Part

Question 6

I am practised as an entire movement

Which practice method am I?

Answer 6

Whole

Question 7

I am practised in sub routines that are linked together like a chain to complete the skill
Which practice method am I?

Answer 7

Progressive part

Question 8

I am practised down as an entire movement then broken down into sub routines then broken down then practised as a entire movement again
Which practice method am I?

Answer 8

Whole-part-whole

Question 9

Define massed practice

Answer 9

This is a continuous form of practice which is best for simple skills. This causes fatigue and therefore simulates the late stages of a game.

Question 10

Define distributed practice

Answer 10

Attempts at the skill are divided up with intervals in between to allow for rest and mental rehearsal. This is best used in difficult, dangerous or fatiguing skills and with young or lowly motivated individuals.

Question 11

Define fixed practice

Answer 11

These are sometimes also known as drills and involves repeatedly practising a whole skill in order to strengthen the motor programme. This type of practice is best with discrete, closed skills.

Question 12

Define varied practice

Answer 12

This is used best for open skills and involves repeating a skill in varying situations. For example shooting practice in football, where the coach may set up drills and alter the starting position and involvement of defenders. This helps to build up schema to use in game situations.

Question 13

From the list below, select one practice type that would be most suitable for practising a set shot in basketball. A set shot is performed standing still and without jumping.

Put a tick (✔) in the box next to the correct answer.
A.	Whole/part/whole		 
B.	Varied		 
C.	Massed		 
D.	Progressive/part		[1]

Answer 13

C, massed

Question 14

Identify one practice type and explain why it would be suitable for practising a set shot in basketball.

[2]

Answer 14

Two marks from:

1. (practice type) Whole (AO1)
2. (explanation) (it needs to be practised all together) as the set shot is not easy to break down (in to parts/subroutines)/ /is high organisation /is a ballistic skill / to develop kinaesthesis (AO2)
3. (practice type) Fixed (AO1)
4. (explanation) because a set shot is performed in a similar environment/ is generally a closed skill (AO2)
5. (practice type) Distributed (AO1)
6. (explanation) (as this would allow the performer to have) rest/recovery/ prevent too much overload/ allows mental rehearsal/ allows time for feedback (AO2)

Question 15

Identify one practice type that would not be suitable for teaching the triple jump and give one reason why it is not suitable.

[2]

Answer 15

2 marks from:

1. (practice type) whole (AO1)
2. (explanation) the triple jump involves several discrete skills/subroutines put together (so it would not be beneficial just to teach it as a whole)/ Not recommended for low organisation skills (AO2)
3. (practice type) varied (AO1)
4. (explanation) the triple jump is always performed in the same way/the environment is closed/ it’s a closed skill (AO2)
5. (practice type) Massed (AO1)
6. (explanation) triple jump is ballistic/ fatigue easily if there are no breaks/ could lead to injury (AO2)

Question 16

Giving a practical example, describe how a skill is developed using the progressive-part method of practice.

[2]

Answer 16

Two marks from:
skill is split up (into sub-routines / stages) and learned. Then (Sub routines / stages) are chained / linked together (AO1)
e.g. a triple jumper splitting the jump into the hop, step, jump, learning the parts and then putting them together (AO2)

Question 17

Discuss the use of whole practice compared to part practice when learning skills in sport.

Give one example of a skill in sport that would be best suited for whole practice and one example of a skill in sport that would be best suited for part practice.

[6]

Answer 17

Six marks from:

Sub max four marks - whole v part
Whole practice would enable learner to gain a better feel of the overall skill / understanding of the movement compared to breaking it down into parts / develop kinesthesis (AO3)
Whole practice would enable better understanding of the timing / appreciate the relationship between the parts of movement to help it be smooth and efficient compared to part practice. (AO3)
It is more likely for the skill to flow using whole practice compared to part method which may result in skill being jerky when put back together. (AO3)
Whole practice is good for high organisational skills whereas part practice is good for low organisational skills.
Learning may take place quicker in whole practice compared to part practice. (AO3)
However whole method does require a lot of information processing whereas part practice reduces this making it easier for performer to learn the parts (AO3)
Whole practice may result in learner becoming demotivated / giving up due to not being able to perform the skills whereas part practice would allow small incremental steps and potentially allow achievement / build confidence to maintain motivation. (AO3)
part practice may be better for dangerous skills compared to whole practice which may place the learner in too much danger. (AO3)
Whole practice should be used for discrete skills as they are difficult to break into parts whereas part practice is better for serial skills, which has distinct components. (AO3)
Whole practice may be better for most simple skills as the performer will be able to cope with the cognitive requirements whereas part practice may be better for most complex skills. (A03)
Whole practice is generally going to be better for an expert, whereas part practice is generally better for a beginner to enable them to build up the skill. (A03).
Sub max two marks - example:
(whole practice example) sprinting, cycling, golf swing. (AO2)
(part practice example) tennis serve, gymnastics, swimming, trampolining. (AO2)