Methods of Practice

Methods of Practice

1. Whole Practice: Performing the skill in its entirety without breaking it down.

   • The coach may decide to use this skill when: - The skill is fast, ballistic and discrete e.g: a tennis serve -The skill is simple and doesn't require much thought; fewer demands are put on the performer -The feel (kinaesthesis) of the whole task is required as the learner develops -The performer is advanced in the autonomous stage of learning when the movement is detailed -Where the links between the sub-routines need to be maintained or performed in a specific order

2. Progressive part Practice: Practising the first part of the skill then adding parts gradually. Sometime called chaining.

   • Advantages: - The learner focuses on one aspect of the task - The learner can rest so fatigue is reduced - Increased motivation when your doing good - Builds initial understanding when your doing good - Builds initial understanding, the performer knows what he is doing so gets motivated - Allows coach and performer to focus on specific areas as they add them in
     • Disadvantages: -Time consuming -Danger of negative transfer between each sequence of the skill -Leads to fatigue so the performer requires rest periods

3. Whole-Part-Whole When the complete task is performed and then one aspect is isolated and practised so that it can be returned into the whole task with better technique

   • Advantages: -Can be motivated when a long-standing weakness is overcome -Immediate feedback on how your doing, can correct what you do wrong -Sub-routines are linked together
     • Disadvantages: Lose the fluency/ motivation Much more time consuming Progressive part Practice- Chaining; gradually adding everything together