Verbal Guidance

• • Verbal guidance is spoken guidance, and involves a performer being told how to perform a skill by a coach or teacher
• When given to beginners verbal advice is likely to be more effective when used alongside visual guidance; this is because:

  • Beginners may not yet have a good grasp of sport-specific language
  • Beginners may not be able to visualise a skill performed effectively
• • Elite performers are likely to make more use of verbal guidance, and may not need it to be accompanied by visual aids
  • Elite performers will have learned complex terminology relating to particular skills
  • Elite performers will know what skills should look like