Skill acquisition 1

classification, types and methods, transfer

Environmental continuum

open and closed skills

Open skill

where the rate of movement is controlled by environmental factors

Closed skill

not affected by the environment, usually self-paced

Pacing continuum 

self paced and externally paced skills

Self-paced skill

control over the rate of movement is determined by the performer

Externally paced skill

performed in a constantly changing environment

Muscular involvement 

gross and fine skills

Gross skill

requires large movements/ muscle groups

Fine skill

skill that requires small intricate movements/uses small muscle groups

Continuity continuum

continuous, serial , discreet skills

Continuous skill

skills with no clear beginning or end

Serial skill

a skill made up of a number of elements/ subroutines

Discrete skill

a skill with a clear beginning or end

Difficulty continuum

simple and complex skills

Simple skills

a skill with limited decisions, usually little information processing

Complex skill

skill with a lot of information to process

Organisation continuum

high organisation and low organisation skills

High organisation skill

made up of subroutines that cannot be easily split or practised In isolation

Low organisation skill

a skill made up of subroutines which can be easily split and rehearsed in isolation

whole practice

skill is practised without any breakdown of subroutines, carried out in its entirety

part practice

skill is broken down into subroutines and particular part of the skill is practised

whole part whole practice

The skill is practiced without any breaks, a subroutine is selected and practised in isolation to improve and then the skill is practised without any breaks again

progressive part practice

The first link is practiced then the second link is practiced together before adding the third link

fixed practice

done in a stable and predictable environment

varied practice

practice done in a more unpredictable, changing environment, improves decision making

massed practice

continuous practice session

distributed practice

This is practice session that involves rest intervals which could be used for feedback or tasks that are unrelated to the session

negative transfer

one skill hinders another

how to avoid negative transfer

make sure athlete is aware of differences between skills, teach similar skills together, make practices game related, build subroutines progressively

positive transfer

one skill helps another

how to aid positive transfer

give clear demonstrations, make sure basics of first skill are correct so they transfer more easily

retroactive transfer

newly learnt skill has impact on previously learnt skill

proactive transfer

previously learnt skill has an impact on a newly learnt skill

bilateral transfer

being able to do skill with both sides of the body

zero transfer

no transferrable elements between skills