Sports psychology

• Open Skill

  These are skills that are affected by the surrounding environment. Example, Passes in hockey, dribbling in football. Conditions change every time you do this type of skill.
• Closed Skill

  These skills aren't affected by surrounding environment.

  Example, Penalties in football, Free throw in basketball.

  Opponents do not affect the execution of this skill.
• Basic Skill

  These are simple skills, require little thought for example running.
• Complex Skill

  These are difficult skills that require thought and concentration for example rock climbing, passing a baton in a relay race.
• Low Organisational Skills

  These skills are easy to do and have clear phases you can practice. For example tennis serve.
• High Organisational Skills

  These skills are hard to do and can't be broken down into separate phases making them harder to do. For example a golf swing.
• Massed Practice

  Where there are little or no breaks in a session. The same skill is repeated over and over again. This helps you get used to skill and improve easily but this training can be boring. This practice is used when performer is motivated and older, used for open, closed low organistional skills.
• Distributed Practice

  Where there are breaks and changes in practice. Multiple skills can be tested decreases boredom and since there breaks performer doesn't get too tired. But performers might not be able to learn skill in time.

  Used for beginners and complex, open and high organisational skills.
• Fixed Practice

  When whole movement of skill is practised constantly so skill is well learned. This is used when sport is made up of closed skills. During this practice situation does not change and routine is repeated.
• Variable Practice

  Same skill is repeated in different situations for experience, This is used fr sports made up of open skills. The difficulty can be increased to increase experince.
• Visual Guidance

  Where performer is shown a skill to perform. Like a video, demo or picture. Advantages: Can be done in large groups and people are able to copy movements. Disadvantage: If demo is poor, Incorrect movement can be learned, complex skills are hard to copy/learn.
• Verbal Guidence

  Performer is told information on how to complete skill. Info must be clear, loud and concise. Instructions can be given quickly, no equipment, can be used during performance. But some movements are hard to explain, require good communication skills.
• Manual Guidence

  Someone physically helps performer to do skill. Advantages: Can get a feel for movement, Build confidence. But can only be done 1:1 and performers can become dependent on support.
• Mechanical Guidance

  Equipment is used to perform skills. Advantages: Can get a feel for movement, reduce danger, build confidence. But Performer can become dependent, incorrect feel can lead to poor technique, its not the same as doing skill unaided.
• Intrinsic feedback

  Feedback you give to yourself useful to spot your own errors to improve them boosting performance.
• Extrinsic feedback

  Feedback from external sources like a coach. This is useful so people can observe your skills to tell you how to improve. Used for less experience performers.
• Concurrent feedback

  Feedback given during performance can be intrinsic or extrinsic. Usefull for correcting errors to improve in the next phase of play.
• Terminal feedback

  Feedback is given after a performance. should be given right after skill has ended so performers know where they went wrong.
• Mental Rehearsal

  Going over a skill in your head just before you're about to do it. It is used to, reduce anxiety, help to focus the mind, build confidence. It can also be used during a sport like a penalty in football.