Types and methods of practise

Question 1

Explain what Whole, Part, Whole Part Whole, Progressive Part, types of practice are

Answer 1

Whole - Practice by doing the total or complete or entire movement
Part - Practise by splitting or breaking down skill into subroutines or sections
Whole part whole - Practice the complete skill, then split it into subroutines, and then practice complete skill again.
Progressive part - Practice in stages that are linked or chained.

Question 2

Pros and cons of whole practise?

Answer 2

Pros - Quickest
Helps overall understanding and development of mental picture
Helps interpret environment – Open skills
(associative/autonomous)
Good for simple skills due to low levels of complexity
Can be good for fitness development
Good for discrete skills
Cons - Can be too difficult to learn for beginners as a whole (cognitive)
Can be tiring if physically demanding skill – Gross skills
Can be dangerous if performer is a beginner (cognitive)
Difficult to refine or identify errors – High in organisation
Not suited to learning complex skills – Complex
Could result in a loss of confidence

Question 3

Pros and cons of part practise?

Answer 3

Pros - Limits information to process so less demanding for beginners (cognitive) – Good for complex skills.
Raises confidence or esteem/ motivates.
(cognitive)
Good for performers with limited attention.
Improves safety in dangerous skills. (cognitive)
Good for serial or skills low in organisation as sub-routines can be isolated.
Can avoid effects of fatigue.
Cons - Lack of awareness of end product (cognitive) & kinaesthetic sense.
Can limit mental image creation for beginners (cognitive).
Can lead to a lack of rhythm, fluency or timing.
Takes more time to learn each sub-routine.
Unsuitable for highly organised skills as sub-routines can’t be isolated.
Transfer from part to whole may be ineffective.

Question 4

Pros and cons of whole part whole practise?

Answer 4

Pros - Correct specific faults in the performance of open skills
Cons - Time consuming

Question 5

Pros and cons of progressive part practise?

Answer 5

Pros - Helps with complex or serial tasks
Allows for chaining of sub-routines
Easier transfer to whole practice
Cons - Time consuming
Performer may be overly concerned with mastering one particular sub-routine

Question 6

What is Varied, Fixed, and massed, Distributed types of practise?

Answer 6

Fixed - Practice remains the same in a constant situation
Same movement practised repeatedly in same (stable) environment
Varied - Practice changes regularly
Different situations or environment
Different activities performed in different ways
Massed - No or very few rest intervals
Continuous practice or long sessions
Distributed - Regular breaks
Skill practised in short bursts

Question 7

Pros and cons of fixed practise?

Answer 7

Pros - Good to develop motor programmes for over learning
Can help to perfect skill
Good in cognitive stage as it limits environmental stimuli
Good for closed skills (because it replicates competition)
Cons - Can be tedious/boring/de-motivating
Not suitable for open skills/does not prepare for game situation or open environment

Question 8

Pros and cons of varied practise?

Answer 8

Pros - Good for open skills when the environment changes
Good preparation for the ‘real game’ situation (if conditions realistic)
Best when skill has already been learned (in a fixed practice) / good for autonomous stage
Can stimulate interest or motivation / prevent boredom
Helps to develop schema
Cons - can confuse learners or cognitive phase performers
Too many stimuli can cause information overload
May not be able to groove a skill or develop effective motor programmes

Question 9

Pros and cons of massed practise?

Answer 9

Pros - Good for autonomous phase learners or beginners.
Used to groove or thoroughly learn a skill. Good to make skill habitual.
Good for simple or discrete or short duration skills.
Quick & easy to complete
Cons - Can be tiring or too fatiguing or tedious or boring
Can lead to de-motivation/drive reduction
Errors can be increased or compounded
Can lead to (overuse) injuries
Less opportunity for feedback or guidance

Question 10

Pros and cons of distributed practise?

Answer 10

Pros - Good for cognitive learners or learners who are less fit or less motivated learners.
Good for cognitive learners as they can receive regular feedback
Good for associative/autonomous learners to give better understanding of the skill
Good for continuous/gross as it allows for rest in between trials.
Cons - Can cause disruption in learning which impedes learning.
Can de-motivate if breaks are too regular or too long.