Sports Psychology

• What is a motor skill?


  A coordinated pattern of movements acquired through practice towards an intended outcome
• What are gross motor skills?


  They use large muscle groups
• What are fine motor skills?


  The coordination and control of small muscles
• What is a skillful movement?


  A movement in which a predetermined objective is accomplished with maximum efficiency with a minimum outlay of energy.
• What must a skilled movement be? - APE FC

  Aesthetic

  Pre-determined

  Efficient

  Fluent

  Coordinated
• What does an efficient movement seem like?

  Performer can complete the skill with no wasted energy
• What does a Pre-determined movement look like?

  Performer will practice and perform the skill with an aim in mind
• What does a Co-ordinated movement look like?

  Performer displays excellent coordination to control the timing of the skill.
• What does a Fluent movement look like?

  Performer is able to perform a skill that flows.
• What does an Aesthetic movement look like?

  Performer makes the skill look good.
• What is the Difficulty continuum?


  A concept that refers to the range of difficulties of skills
• What is the on the left end of the difficulty continuum?


  Simple skills
• What is on the right end of the difficulty continuum?


  Complex skills
• What is a simple skill?

  Straightforward, base skills with hardly any decisions or judgements to make. - NOT AFFECTED by environment

  Can be taught as a whole skill by repeating the skill.
• What is an example of a simple skill?

  Throwing and Catching
• What is a complex skill?


  Something that involves many decisions or judgements

  May have to be learnt in stages

  AFFECTED by environment
• What is an example of a complex skill?

  Shooting in football
• What is the environmental continuum?


  A range of skills from Open skills to Closed skills
• What are Open skills?


  Skills that are affected by the environment

  Performer has to make decisions about the situation
• What is an example of an open skill?

  Passing in Football
• What are Closed skills?

  Skills that aren't affected by the environment

  Less decision-making involved as there is a predictable environment

  Performer can take their time to execute the skill
• What is an example of a Closed Skill?

  Golf swing
• What are the benefits of goal setting?


  Encourages person to stick to training programme

  Motivates performer to try their best and work hard to achieve their goal

  Improves person's performance as goal will be challenging but realistic, this will cause them to get fitter and better at their sport.
• What should goals be? (SMART)

  Specific

  Measured

  Achievable

  Recorded

  Timed
• What does the Specific part of a goal mean?


  Goals must be to the point and exact about what you want to achieve
• What does the Measured part of a goal mean?


  Goals must be able to be measured so an athlete can see when they have achieved it
• What does the Achievable part of a goal mean?


  Goals should be challenging but they should still be able to be reached
• What does the Recorded part of a goal mean?


  Goals should be written down before you start working towards them.

  This allows the athlete to monitor their progress towards the goal.
• What does the Timed part of a goal mean?


  Goals should be set with a deadline, they must have completed it by a certain point.
• What are the 4 types of guidance?

  Visual guidance

  Manual guidance

  Mechanical guidance

  Verbal guidance
• What is visual guidance?


  Often used when teaching motor skills so that a performer can see the whole action.
• Examples of visual guidance:


  Demonstration

  Video clips

  Observing technique from images
• Advantages of visual guidance:

  Works well for beginners as they can copy the skill

  Can be used to teach skills that can be broken down and shown step-by-step.
• Disadvantages of visual guidance:

  Less useful for teaching complex skills as they're hard to copy

  Difficult to show skills that cannot be broken down into steps
• What is manual guidance?


  Used when skill is dangerous or complex.

  Teachers/coaches will use a hands-on approach to support participant and keep them safe.
• Example of manual guidance:


  Supporting somebody to do a somersault on the trampoline
• Advantages of manual guidance:


  You can get the 'feel' of the skill done properly before doing it yourself

  Works well to teach all skill levels
• Disadvantages of Manual Guidance:


  A performer could rely on manual guidance and not perform it independently

  Difficult to use in large groups
• What is Mechanical guidance?


  Use of equipment to support the learner while practising the skill
• Example of mechanical guidance:


  Using floats in swimming to practice kicking action