types of practice

Question 1

What are the types of practice?

Answer 1

• massed
• distributed
• varied
• fixed

Question 2

What is massed practice?

Answer 2

• practice is repetitive and continuous
• no rest intervals
• e.g. repetitive and continuous driving in golf, set shots in basketball

Question 3

What are the advantages of massed practice?

Answer 3

• ideal for discrete skills e.g. golf drive, basketball set shot
• good for simple or short duration skills e.g. netball shooting
• good for those in the autonomous phase, experienced, older and more motivated performers
• helps to groove or overlearn the skill
• helps to form S-R bonds, develop kinesthesis and schema

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of massed practice?

Answer 4

• can be too exhausting and boring
• could cause drive reduction or mental fatigue
• errors could increase due to the repetitive and continuous nature of practice
• can lead to chronic or overuse injuries

Question 5

What is distributed practice?

Answer 5

• practice is in short bursts
• regular rest intervals
• e.g. sprinting or swimming

Question 6

What are the advantages of distributed practice?

Answer 6

• ideal for high energy continuous skills e.g. sprinting or swimming
• good for complex and dangerous skills e.g. trampolining
• good for those in the cognitive stage or less fit performes
• helps understanding at the associative and autonomous stages
• allows time for rest, mental rehearsal, reinforcement and feedback
• helps to form S-R bonds, develop kinesthesis and schema

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of distributed practice?

Answer 7

• rest intervals may disjoint the practice, causing learning to be hindered
• can be hard to regain intensity of practice or concentration after a break
• long or frequent breaks can be demotivating

Question 8

What is varied practice?

Answer 8

• changes regularly
• takes place in different environments or situations
• different activities are performed in different ways
• e.g. hockey players passing in different practice situations or when attacking in rugby

Question 9

What are the advantages of varied practice?

Answer 9

• ideal for open skills in games of hockey and rugby
• good at the autonomous state
• good when the skill has already been learned via fixed practice
• stimulates interest and motivation
• helps transfer of skills
• helps to form S-R bonds and to develop kinesthesis and schema

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of varied practice?

Answer 10

• basic skills must first be learned in fixed practice
• too many stimuli may cause overload
• can be confusing especially for those in cognitive phase of learning
• not effective in helping to groove or overlearn skills
• an effective motor programme may not be developed

Question 11

What is fixed practice?

Answer 11

• stays the same
• the environment or situation doesn’t change
• practice repeated in the same environment
• e.g. a javelin throw or dismount from a high bar

Question 12

What are the advantages of fixed practice?

Answer 12

• ideal for closed skills e.g. javelin throw
• good for those in the cognitive phase
• develops motor programmes and competition is replicated
• can perfect the skill
• helps to groove or overlearn the skill
• helps to form S-R bonds, develop kinesthesis and schema

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of fixed practice?

Answer 13

• not suitable for open skills
• may become boring
• does not prepare for game situation
• can cause drive reduction
• can lead to chronic or overuse injuries