Types of Practice and Methods of Presenting Practice

Question 1

What are the 4 types of practice?

Answer 1

Massed practice
Distributed practice
Varied practice
Mental practice

Question 2

What is meant by Massed Practice?

Answer 2

A type of practice where it is continuous exercise, with no rest intervals between sessions

Question 3

What is meant by Distributed Practice?

Answer 3

A type of practice where it is intense exercise, with multiple rest intervals between sessions

Question 4

What is meant by Varied Practice?

Answer 4

A type of practice where drills and practice types are changed to provide a variety of skills, which mimics a game environment

Question 5

What is meant by Mental Practice?

Answer 5

A type of practice where an athlete pictures themselves performing a skill either with an internal or external view in their mind

Question 6

When might Massed Practice be used?

Answer 6

Used when a skill is a discrete, simple or closed skill.

Question 7

When might Distributed Practiced be used?

Answer 7

Used when a skill is a continuous, open, externally paced or complex skill.

Question 8

When might Varied Practice be used?

Answer 8

Used when a skill is an open skill.

Question 9

When might Mental Practice be used?

Answer 9

Used before a performance for any skill in preparation for the real execution.

Question 10

What are the advantages of Massed Practice?

Answer 10

Many repetitions of the skill can be performed due to limited alterations being made. This allows the performer to complete the skill very instinctively, which helps them gain a kinesthetic feel.

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of Massed Practice?

Answer 11

It can cause fatigue due to the continuous exercise with no breaks.
Risk of negative transfer as there is no time for the coach to help the performer make any corrections.
Performer may become bored due to the same activity constantly.

Question 12

What are the advantages of Distributed Practice?

Answer 12

The rest intervals allow the performer to relieve pressure and intensity.
The rest intervals also provide time for the coach to explain and build upon a drill.
It allows more difficult skills to be practised.

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of Distributed Practice?

Answer 13

Time consuming.
Risk of negative transfer if the coach doesn’t explain thoroughly in the breaks.
Not useful for training sessions which require fast progress.

Question 14

What are the advantages of Varied Practice?

Answer 14

It helps the athlete get used to constantly changing between skills, which mimics game conditions.
The variety of practice allows the players to stay motivated and focused.
It also helps the performer build upon subroutines to work towards completing a whole skill.

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of Varied Practice?

Answer 15

Time consuming.
Risk of negative transfer if the coach doesn’t explain thoroughly in between changes of practice.
May cause the players stress due to there being many things to think about, which can lead to fatigue.

Question 16

What are the advantages of Mental Practice?

Answer 16

It improves confidence and helps the player feel more prepared when actually completing the skill.
It can be done anywhere and anytime, with any skill.

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of Mental Practice?

Answer 17

The environment must be quiet.
Performer must be relaxed.
They must be picturing the correct technique of the skill.

Question 18

What are the 3 methods of presenting practice?

Answer 18

Whole practice
Whole-Part-Whole practice
Progressive Parts practice

Question 19

What is meant by Whole Practice?

Answer 19

This practice involves completing a skill in its entirety, without breaking it down into subroutines.

Question 20

What is meant by Whole-Part-Whole Practice?

Answer 20

This practice involves completing a skill in its entirety, then completing its subroutines that need improving individually, and then completing the skill in its entirety again.

Question 21

What is meant by Progressive Parts Practice?

Answer 21

This practice involves gradually working through parts of a skill chronologically.

Question 22

When might Whole Practice be used?

Answer 22

Used when a skill is a discrete, simple or high organisation skill, as the skill can be performed as a whole in a fast motion.

Question 23

When might Whole-Part-Whole Practice be used?

Answer 23

Used when a skill is a complex or low organisation skill that the performer has a weakness in and is struggling to complete in its entirety.

Question 24

When might Progressive Parts Practice be used?

Answer 24

Used when a skill is a serial, low organisation or complex skill that needs to follow a specific sequence of subroutines.

Question 25

What are the advantages of Whole Practice?

Answer 25

It allows the player to obtain a kinaesthetic feel so the skill is instinctive, fluent and consistent.

Question 26

What are the disadvantages of Whole Practice?

Answer 26

A performer may not be able to cope with performing a skill in its entirety which can cause confusion, fatigue or a loss of motivation.

Question 27

What are the advantages of Whole-Part-Whole Practice?

Answer 27

It motivates the performer when the weakness is corrected.
It allows the skill to become fluent and smooth.

Question 28

What are the disadvantages of Whole-Part-Whole Practice?

Answer 28

It must be completed in one session, otherwise it can cause negative transfers.
More time consuming than Whole Practice.

Question 29

What are the advantages of Progressive Parts Practice?

Answer 29

The athlete can focus on one part of the skill at a time, which helps with motivation as it seems more manageable.
It helps develop a thorough understanding of the skill.

Question 30

What are the disadvantages of Progressive Parts Practice?

Answer 30

Very time consuming.
Perform may find it difficult to perform the whole skill in a fluid motion afterwards.
Each part must be correctly performed before progressing.