1. Methods of Practice
AS Skill Acquisition

2. Types of Practice
Massed Practice – repeated practice of skills with little or no recovery periods between blocks of trials

3. Need to avoid… Ideal situations… Boredom Fatigue Overtraining
Skills are discrete
Performer is well motivated
Performer is experienced
High level of fitness
Replication of fatigue within a game situation is needed
Boredom
Fatigue
Overtraining

4. Distributed Practice
Repeated practice of skills with a recovery period before repetition of the skill or development of a new task.

5. What can the breaks be used for?
Mental practice Feedback Time to refocus and re-motivate the performer

6. Need to avoid excessive periods of recovery as this may lead to…
Ideal situations
Need to avoid excessive periods of recovery as this may lead to…
Skill is new/complex There is repetition of gross skills/physically demanding skills Skill is dangerous Performer is a novice Low levels of motivation Low fitness levels Short attention span Recovery period is needed to receive feedback
Demotivation Loss of concentration ill-discipline within groups

7. Better when the performer . . .
Has low levels of motivation Distributed Is experienced Massed Has low levels of fitness Is a beginner/novice Has high levels of fitness Has a short attention span Has high levels of Motivation

8. Better when the task. . .
Is discrete Massed Requires a recovery period for feedback and evaluation of performance Distributed Is used in a game where dealing with high levels of fatigue is useful Is complex Is physically demanding Is simple Is dangerous Distributed

9. Speed Stack

10. Variable Practice
Using a mixture of massed and distributed practice within one session
Good for motivation and a reduction in fatigue. Also good for transfer into a match situation.

11. Mental Practice
Involves cognitive rehearsal of a skill, with no physical practice Can be used before, during, after practice Often referred to as imagery or mental rehearsal Performer attempts to create a picture in their mind of themselves completing the skill

12. Internal – involves the performer seeing themselves from within, therefore developing a kinaesthetic feel
External – involves the performer seeing themselves as if they were a spectator

13. Ideal situations
Learning time needs to be reduced Arousal levels need to be controlled Experienced performers need to prepare for alternative options to situations prior to competition Performer needs to develop specific aspects of the skill Confidence needs to be developed Performer is injured and some form of practice needs to be maintained

14. Mental Practice can help with:
Make performer more alert – therefore improve reaction time/anticipation Reduce stress/arousal/anxiety Improve confidence Keeping injured performers motivated

15. Guidelines when using mental practice
Find a quiet location Focus on the task and create a clear picture Visualise successful outcomes (not bad ones) Practice regularly Use during recovery periods

16. Exam question: 12 marks
Jan You have been asked to develop a training programme to improve the fitness and skills of a group of AS level Physical Education students. Identify the main reasons for conducting fitness tests and discuss the possible limitations of fitness testing. In addition, describe the factors that you would consider when deciding whether to use ’massed practice’ or ’distributed practice’ to develop skills.