1. Classwork Date  Lesson 6 – Lesson objective  Practice Types and presentation of skills  By the end of this lesson you should be able to:  Describe methods of practice.  Evaluate critically different types of practice methods and their application to the performance of movement skills.  Explain the appropriate use of practice methods to maximise effectiveness.  Explain the role of mental practice and rehearsal compared with physical practice.

2. Massed practice  Learners practice continuously without breaks or rest intervals.  Basketball players doing ten shots at each of six points around the ‘D’.

3. Massed practice advantages  Good for the grooving-in of habitual skills.  Good for experienced performers who are highly motivated with good fitness levels.  Most suited to simple discrete skills of short duration.  Can save on time as skills don’t have to be reintroduced after breaks between sessions.  Suitable when coach wants to simulate performance conditions where there is a fatigue element.

4. Massed practice disadvantages  Can cause fatigue and de-motivation, which can lead to poor performance and learning.  Can lead to boredom.  Beginners can be affected by lack of concentration and attention.  Not suitable for dangerous tasks.

5. Distributive practice  Practice sessions have rest intervals included.  E.g. Learner swims a width and then rests while they receive some feedback from the teacher.

6. Distributive practice — advantages  Good for most skill learning — particularly beginners and learners with low levels of motivation and fitness.  Good for learning continuous skills.  Rest intervals allow the learner time to recover physically and mentally.  Rest intervals allow opportunity to receive extrinsic feedback.  Research has shown this to be the most effective form of practice.  Helps maintain motivation.  Good for complex and potentially dangerous skills.

7. Distributive practice — disadvantages  More time-consuming than massed practice.  Skills may have to be re-introduced after each break.  May lead to frustration in discrete skills when rest intervals delay practice — de-motivation, e.g. pupils taking it in turn with only one ball!

8. Varied practice  The environment in which the skills are practised is constantly changing.  This practice is the most suitable method for OPEN skills.  e.g. 2v1 practice for passing.

9. Varied practice advantages  The performer learns to adapt the technique to the changing environment.  Adaptations are stored and increase schema.  Develops decision-making & perceptual skills.  Improves selective attention.  Improves detection of warning signals, making info processing (reaction time) faster and more efficient.

10. Varied practice disadvantages  Need to have already learned a grooved- in motor programme in a fixed environment.  Not suitable for closed skills.

11. Fixed practice  The environment in which the skill is practised remains constant.  The same movement is practised each time — the practice is repetitive.  Sometimes referred to as skill drills.  e.g. Shot putt.

12. Fixed practice advantages  The skill becomes grooved-in or over- learned.  Information processing demands are low.  Specific movement patterns can be over-learned and become habitual.  Allows learner’s attention to be directed elsewhere.

13. Fixed practice disadvantages  Not suitable for open skills.  Can be boring and de-motivating.

14. Mental rehearsal/practice  Performer goes through the movement in their mind without any movement occurring.  Sometimes referred to as imagery.  When mental practice takes place, muscular neurones fire as if the muscle is active.

15. Mental rehearsal uses/advantages  Useful in the cognitive/early stages of learning where learner builds up a mental picture.  Advanced performers use it to rehearse complex skills and go over strategies and tactics.  Used to reinforce successful movements.  Experienced performers use it for emotional control & establishing optimum levels of arousal.  Can be used to focus attention.  Can reduce anxiety and increase confidence.

16. Mental rehearsal uses/advantages  Used in conjunction with physical practice it can improve the speed of learning.  Effective with skills that have a high cognitive element e.g. team strategies.

17. Mental rehearsal — disadvantages  Used by itself it is not as effective as physical practice.  Not effective with simple skills, e.g. those that rely on strength.

18. Task  Discuss what type of practice is best suited to learning a potentially dangerous skill.  What type of performer would benefit from having massed practice?  What are the most appropriate forms of practice for open skills?  What are the most appropriate forms of practice for closed skills?