1. Ways of Developing Skill

2. Practice Methods Gradual Build-up: - Allows the performer to learn complex skills in small steps. - Practice can be made progressively demanding. - Allows performer to gain confidence. A practice can be made more demanding through adding more defenders etc.

3. Practice Methods Cont. Whole-part-whole: - Usually used when a performer already has some experience in the activity. - From own performance, performer can identify weak areas within performance, and improve them in isolation. - Once performance has been improved, the whole skill can be performed again.

4. Practice Methods Cont. Passive/ Active practices: - Practicing with a partner whom can vary the degree of opposition to help a performer improve a set skill. - Passive = a partner deliberately work cooperatively with a performer to help build confidence and improve skill. - Active = as performer improves in confidence and ability, partner can become more competitive and challenge performer.

5. Principles of Effective Practice and Refinement. Effective practice requires clear and achievable objectives. Performer must first identify current level of ability along with strengths and weaknesses to enable realistic targets. Practicing a skill before a performer is ready will result in limited or no improvement. Low motivation.

6. Principles of Effective Practice and Refinement cont. Train for appropriate level of time. - Too short = limited improvement. - Too long = fatigue and prone to injury. Training time is dependant on activity and level of ability. Practice must be varied to reduce boredom, otherwise progress will again be limited.

7. Work-to-rest ratio. Ratio of work relative to amount of rest. This makes the skill training program specific to performers needs. Work-to-rest ratio takes into account: - Your previous experience in activity. - Your level of practical ability. - The difficulty of skill involved. - The physical demands involved in the practice.

8. Methods of Practice. There are 6 different methods of practice when learning and refining a skill. These are: 1) Solo practice. 2) Partner practice. 3) Repetition. 4) Shadow practice. 5) Opposed practice. 6) Unopposed practice. Can you give examples of each of these types of practice, related to the activities in your course?