skill acquisition

• Proactive Transfer


  The influence of one skill on a skill yet to be learned
• Retroactive Transfer


  The influence of one skill on the learning or performance of a skill that has previously been learned
• Positive Transfer


  • When the learning and performance of one skill helps the learning and performance of another skill
  • Positive transfer will only occur if the learner is taught in a similar context to what they will be performing in
• Negative Transfer


  • When the learning and performance of one skill hinders the learning and performance of another skill
  • Very rare and usually associated with performer misunderstandings
  • Negative transfer occurs when a familiar stimulus requires a different response
• Negative Transfer


  • A tennis player mis-judging her shots after moving from an outdoor to an indoor court
• Bilateral Transfer


  • The transfer of learning from one limb to another, through the use of motor programmes
  • Motor programmes: Generalised series of movement stored in the long term memory. Almost an automatic response to a situation
• Bilateral transfer can take place in two ways


  • The Cognitive aspects of the skill. Our understanding of what is required
  • The Motor Programme is subconsciously transferred from one limb to another
• Optimising Positive Effects of Transfer


  1. Ensure they are using the right type / method of practice

  2. The training activities should emulate the real game situation
• Minimising Negative Effects of Transfer


  1. Avoid too many movement patterns, which may confuse the athlete

  2. Coach must identify and stop any errors or signs of negative transfer
• Motor or Movement Skill


  An action or task that has a goal and that requires voluntary body and / or limb movement to achieve the goal
• Ways to classify skills


  • Difficulty
  • Pacing
  • Environmental influence
  • Muscular involvement
  • Continuity
  • Organisation
• Simple - Complex skills continuum


  • Simple skills: Straightforward skill without many decisions to make
  • Complex skill: Harder skill, where lots of decisions must be made
• Simple skill


  • Start in swimming
• Complex skill


  • A catch in slip at cricket
• Open skills


  Affected by the environment. Externally paced
• Open skill


  • A pass in football
• Closed skills


  Not affected by the environment. Self-paced. Clear beginning and end
• Closed skill


  • Basketball free throw
• Self-Paced Skills


  The performer controls the rate at which the skill is executed
• Self-paced skill


  • Javelin Throw
• Externally-paced skills


  The environment (e.g. opponent) controls the rate of performing a skill
• Externally-paced skill


  • Receiving a serve in Badminton
• Gross skills


  Involves large muscle movements. Power over precision
• Gross skill


  • Shot put
• Fine Skills

  Involves more intricate movements. Often needs good co-ordination
• Fine skill


  • Snooker shot
• Discrete skills


  Clear beginning and end
• Discrete skill


  • Shot from a penalty in football
• Serial skills


  Several discrete elements put together to make up a sequence of movements
• Serial skill


  • Triple jump
• Continuous skills


  No obvious beginning and end
• Continuous skill


  • Cycling, running, long distance swimming
• High organisation


  The skill has subroutines that are difficult to separate
• High organisation skill


  • Basketball dribble
• Low organisation


  Skill is split into subroutines that are easily identifiable
• Low organisation skill


  • Tennis serve
• Part Method


  Often used when the skill is low organisation and can be split into sub-routines
• Part Method


  • Tennis serve
• Whole Method


  Taught without breaking the skill down
• Whole Method


  • Golf swing