BIOMECHANICS AND SKILL ACQUISITION

Unit 3 - Area of Study 1

What is a skill?

Involves a sequence of movements (subroutines) with an objective, that are learned over time.

What is a fundamental motor skill?

Are foundation skills that provide the basis for successful participation in a wide range of physical activity.

What is a sport specific skill?

Are advanced fundamental skills that are developed to achieve sport specific objectives.

What are the 4 categories of fundamental motor skills?

1.     Object Control – Kicking, throwing, catching, hitting

2.     Body Control – Balancing, climbing, tumbling

3.     Locomotive Skill – Running, hopping, jumping, skipping, using a wheelchair

4.     Aquatic Skill – Floating, paddling, Standing on a surfboard, early swimming strokes

What are the 2 types of precision of movement?

1. Fine Motor Skills

2. Gross Motor Skills

What is a fine motor skill?

Involve small muscles or muscle groups where accuracy and precision are required. e.g. darts

What is a gross motor skill?

Involve large muscle groups or whole-body movements – less precise movements.

e.g. kicking a football

What are the 3 types of type of movement?

1. Discrete Motor skill

2. Serial Motor skill

3. Continuous Motor skill

What is a discrete motor skill?

Have a distinct beginning and end point. e.g. a netball pass

What is a serial motor skill?

Series/ group of discrete skills put together to create a more complicated, skilled action. e.g. triple jump

What is a continuous motor skill?

Have no distinct beginning or end point e.g. running

What are the 3 categories to identify if the environment is opened/ closed?

1. stability of environment

2. timing of the skill

3. inter-trial variability

What are the 3 stages of learning?

1.     Cognitive (Understanding/ Beginning stage)

2.     Associative (Practice Stage)

3.     Autonomous (Automatic Stage)

What is the cognitive stage of learning?

The initial phase of learning of a motor skill where the emphasis is on conscious understanding of the task requirements

Characteristics of the cognitive stage of learning

·      Beginner is trying to understand the requirements of the task

·      Frequent and large errors

·      Can’t detect own errors (Needs a coach)

·      Lots of cognitive thought needed to complete skill

·      Uncoordinated movements (not fluid)

·      Easily distracted

What are things in the cognitive stage the learners need to improve?

·      Only few simple instructions at a time to focus on

·      Demonstrations best

·      Break complex skills down into smaller parts

·      Focus on mastering fundamental movement skills

·      Provide positive and constructive feedback

·      Lots of practice (blocked practice/ closed skill)

What is the associative stage of learning?

The second phase in the learning of a new skill, in which movement patterns become more refined and consistent through practice.

Characteristics of the associative stage

·      The learner becomes familiar with the order of sub-routines and their timing

·      Technique is refined

·      Make smaller and less frequent errors

·      Can detect some of their own errors

·      More gradual improvements (people may stay in this stage forever)

What are things in the associative stage leaners need to improve?

·      Regular feedback to refine skills and reduce chance of poor habits developing

·      Opportunities to practice with increased variability (more random and more open)

What is the autonomous stage of learning?

The final stage of learning in which the performer’s skill execution is almost automatic and requires very little of their attention

Characteristics of the autonomous stage of learning

·      Requires little conscious thought

·      Attention given to tactics and opponents

·      Can use anticipation

·      Performance is coordinated, accurate and consistent

·      Make few errors, small errors that can be self-detected and corrected

What are things in the autonomous stage the learners need to improve?

·      Practice under game-like conditions to focus on tactics, shot selection

·      Practice opportunities with a high level of variability, open environment

·      Practice that challenges each athlete to use high-order thinking via a range of problem-based learning scenarios

What are the 2 types of practice?

1. Part Practice

2. Whole practice

What is part practice?

Learning smaller parts of a skill in isolation e.g. tennis serve

What is whole practice?

Learning all of the skill. e.g. gymnastics somersault

What are the 2 types of distribution of practice?

1. Massed Practice

2. Distribution Practice

What is massed practice?

A form of practice in which there is little or no rest between repeat performances of a skill. e.g. local team training two times a week for 3 hours.

What is distributed practice?

A form of practice in which smaller practice time intervals are interspersed with rest periods. e.g. AFL team training five times a week for 75 minutes

What are the 2 types of Variability Practice?

1. Blocked Practice

2. Random Practice

What is Blocked Practice?

A type of practice in which each skill component is practised repetitively as an independent block

What is Random Practice?

A form of practice that involves rehearsing a number of different skills in an unpredictable sequence.

What is Feedback?

Information concerning the performance and/or outcome of a movement skill, including information about errors and how to correct them.

What is intrinsic feedback?

Sensory information the learner receives directly from skill execution

What is Augmented Feedback?

Information about a skill performance that comes from an external source

What is knowledge of results?

Information about the outcome of skill performance, information regarding the relative success or failure in regard to the intended goal of the movement skill

What is knowledge of performance?

Feedback regarding how a skill is performed, assessing performance on the basis of process and skill technique

What is terminal and concurrent feedback?

Terminal Feedback = At the end of an event

Concurrent Feedback = During and event

BOTH IMPORTANT

What is direct instruction approach?

Traditional approach to coaching, the coach controls the selection of practice drills, their timing, difficulty level etc. and then provides feedback to performers to assist improvement.

What is constraints based on coaching approach?

A constraints-based approach uses situational learning, through manipulation of constraints, ensuring lots of variability in practice when learning  

What are the 3 ways a coach can manipulate constraints?

·       Individual

·       Environmental

·       Task

What is qualitative movement analysis?

The systematic observation and judgement of the quality of human movement for the purpose of providing appropriate intervention to improve performance

What are the 4 steps of qualitative movement analysis?

1.     Preparation                                                                                                            

2.     Observation                               

3.     Evaluation

4.     Error Correction 

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What is Motivation?

An Internal state that activates, directs and sustains behaviours towards achieving a set goal.

What are the 2 types of motivation?

·      Intrinsic (often longer lasting)

-       Motivation from within

·      Extrinsic

-       Motivation to succeed is governed by external sources

What is an outcome goal?

Depend on factors out of your control like placings/ end results.

What is performance goal?

Involve comparisons to past performance

What is process goal?

Focus on actions that need to be performed to be at your best

What is self-confidence?

The athlete must be confident they can perform well in the competitive environment

What is self - efficacy?

The belief that one can perform successful – increases in self-efficacy are mirrored by improvements in performance

Consequences of lack of confidence?

·      Performance anxiety

·      Stress

·      Over arousal

·      Negative thoughts

·      Focus and/or blame on external influences

·      Lack of effort

Consequences of over confidence?

·      Low level of arousal

·      Bored

·      Easily distracted (lack of focus)

·      Arrogance

·      Likely to ignore advice or assistance

·      Lack of attention to skill execution/ strategies

Tips of improving confidence

·      Prepare properly (physically/ psychologically)

·      Positive self-talk

·      Positive mental imagery

·      Stay process focused

·      Build resilience

·      Develop and stick to routines

·      Adequate sleep

·      Follow the pre-prepared game plan