4.3 Transfer of skills

• Positive Transfer - where one skill or situation helps the learning and performance of another skill
• example of positive transfer:

  the arm action of throwing a ball helps the action of the racquet arm when serving in tennis
• What does positive transfer affect:

  the transfer of S-R bonds of one skill to another helps to develop the correct motor programme.
• Negative transfer - where one skill or situation hinders the learning and performance of another skill
• example of negative transfer:

  the flexed arm in throwers hinders the straight arm required for cricket bowling
• What does negative transfer effect:

  performer can respond incorrectly to similar stimuli

  differences in kinaesthetic feedback can cause confusion
• Proactive transfer - where a previously learnt skill affects the current learning or performance of another skill
• Example of proactive transfer:

  the previously learnt throwing action can affect a new skill that look similar, such as a volleyball serve
• Retroactive transfer - where the current learning of a new skill effects the performance of a previously learned skill
• example of retroactive transfer:

  the current learning of a serve in tennis can affect the previously learned throwing action
• Effects of retroactive transfer:

  can be positive or negative

  can help or hinder the performance of a new skill
• Effects of proactive transfer:

  can be positive or negative

  can help or hinder the learning or performance of a new skill
• Bilateral transfer - transfer from limb to limb, from one part of the body to the other
• Example of bilateral transfer:

  a footballer kicking both with left and right foot
• Effects of bilateral transfer:

  can be positive or negative

  when positive, bilateral transfer helps an attacker to deceive a defender e.g using the non-dominant foot to shoot or pass
• ways of optimising positive transfer:

  build on similar skills to promote transfer - e.g handball throw similar to volleyball spike

  make learner aware of transferable routines - e.g foot position during a throw is the same as a tennis serve

  original skill must be well grooved or over learned

  give learner praise/positive reinforcement when transfer successfully
• Ways of limiting negative transfer:

  • be aware that skills that look similar may transfer negatively
  • the environment in which the skill is learned must match the real situation
  • simplify task during initial learning to establish basic movement and then transfer to real situation