SEM 104: Fundamentals of Sports and Exercise Psychology - Motor Skill Acquisition

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamentals of motor skill acquisition, the information processing model, types of feedback, and the stages of skill development as presented in the SEM 104 lecture.

Motor skill acquisition

The process through which individuals develop the ability to perform movements effectively, involving the improvement of coordination, timing, and control through repeated practice and guidance.

Information Processing Model

A model in sport performance that includes the stages of stimulus, sensory input, perceptual processing, decision making, motor programming, and feedback.

Stimulus

Any signal that triggers a response, such as the sound of a starting gun or the sight of a moving ball.

Sensory Input

The process of how information enters the body through the senses, such as vision and hearing.

Perceptual Processing

The stage where the brain interprets information using memory, such as a tennis player predicting ball direction based on past experience.

Decision Making

The stage of information processing that involves selecting the best response, such as deciding whether to pass, dribble, or shoot.

Motor Programming

The preparation of movement patterns in the brain which are built through practice and can become automatic over time.

Feedback

Information received after performing a movement that helps an athlete understand what was done correctly or incorrectly to improve performance.

Intrinsic Feedback

Feedback that comes from the athlete's own senses, such as feel, sight, or balance.

Extrinsic Feedback

Feedback that comes from external sources such as coaches, video analysis, or teammates.

Knowledge of Performance

A type of feedback focusing on how a movement was performed, such as a coach commenting on the height of an arm during a throw.

Knowledge of Results

A type of feedback focusing on the outcome of a movement, such as whether a ball entered the goal or missed the target.

Cognitive Phase

The beginning stage of motor skill acquisition where an athlete tries to understand the task and performance is inconsistent with common errors.

Associative Phase

The development stage of motor skill acquisition where performance becomes more consistent, errors are reduced, and the athlete refines their technique.

Autonomous Phase

The advanced stage of motor skill acquisition where movement becomes automatic and can be performed with little effort.