sports psychology

• skills are classified on a sliding scale called a continuum
• a continuum is a visual guide to indicate where a skill fits into specific category
• the environmental continuum is on an open-closed scale
• an open skill is one that is affected by the sporting environment so the performer has to make decisions in response to their surroundings
• the open/closed continuum represents the degree with which a skill is affected by the environment
• a closed skill involves less decision making because it has a predictable environment so the performer can take their time to execute the skill
• open skills require the adaptability for the performer
• open skills can be be affected by opponents movements, pace of the ball and height and distance from ball
• passing the ball in netball is an open skill
• closed skills are performed in the same situation and have no variation
• long jump is a closed skill
• the difficulty continuum is based off a basic/simple and complex scale
• the basic/complex continuum represents the amount of information you have to process when performing a skill
• basic skills have a limited amount of information to process
• basic skills have a small cognitive element
• 100m sprint is a basic skill
• a complex skill involves a high level of decision making
• a complex skill has a large cognitive element to it with more subroutines
• swimming strokes are complex skills
• the organised continuum is on a low organisation and high organisation scale
• the low and high organisation continuum looks at the organisation of a skill
• a low organised skill can be broken down into subroutines
• highly organised skills are hard to break down into parts as it is fast in execution
• swimming strokes are low organisation skills
• golf swings are highly organised skills
• the planning of coaching sessions is important for effective learning and should take into account the nature of the task and the characteristics of the students being coached
• fixed practice is the repetition of the same activity to promote over-learning
• fixed practice ensures more advanced performers maintain consistency in their performance
• fixed practice is good for closed skills that do not require adaptation and simple skills
• Varied Practice


  Provides the performer with the ability to adapt to a wide range of possible circumstances
• Varied Practice

  Appropriate for open skills, where the environment lends to change
• Massed Practice


  Practice with no rest intervals given between each component of the training session
• Massed Practice

  • Suitable for experienced and fit athletes who are highly motivated
  • Used for skills which are already well learned
• Distributed Practice


  Practice with rest intervals given to allow recuperation, feedback, coaching and advice on technique
• Distributed Practice


  • Suitable for beginners, who require feedback during the break
  • Used for performers who are unfit
  • Used for performers who need encouragement from the coach to improve motivation
• Distributed Practice


  • Football drill, rest, feedback
• varied practice is performing skills in different situations
• masses practice is used by a coach to promote a high level of fitness
• when learning a skill different forms of guidance are required and it is given by coaches
• types of guidance

  • visual
  • verbal
  • manual
  • mechanical