Types and methods of practice

Q: How does whole practice benefit the learner’s "feel" for a movement?

Whole practice allows the athlete to develop kinesthesis , which is the internal sense of the movement's rhythm and flow. This is crucial for fast, discrete skills like a golf swing.

Q: Under what conditions should a coach choose massed practice?

Massed practice should be used for simple skills , for fit athletes , or when training time is limited and the risk of injury from fatigue is low.

Q: Why is varied practice essential for athletes performing open skills?

It builds schemata , which are the brain's ability to adapt a movement (like pass power or direction) based on changing environmental cues and defenders.

Q: How should you justify practice selection in an OCR H155 exam?

You must link the practice method to either the classification of the skill (e.g., complex vs. simple) or the characteristics of the learner (e.g., beginner vs. expert).

Physical Education - H155 · Cambridge OCR AS Level · 5 min read · Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Welcome to Your Guide on Types and Methods of Practice!

In this chapter of the Skill Acquisition section, we are looking at how athletes actually learn and refine their skills. Think about it: Have you ever wondered why a basketballer practices free throws differently than a footballer prepares for a match? Or why a gymnast breaks down a routine into tiny steps while a sprinter just runs?

Choosing the right practice method is like choosing the right tool for a job. If you use a hammer when you need a screwdriver, it won't work well! By the end of these notes, you’ll understand exactly how to pick the best "tool" for any sporting skill. Don't worry if some of these terms seem a bit technical at first—we'll break them down together using simple examples.

1. Methods of Practice: Breaking Down the Skill

The first four methods focus on how much of the skill we perform at once. This usually depends on how complex the skill is and how many "mini-parts" (which we call sub-routines) it has.

Part Practice

This is when a skill is broken down into its individual parts, and you practice those parts separately. It is perfect for complex skills with lots of different movements.

• Real-World Example: A tennis player practicing just their ball toss for 10 minutes without actually hitting the ball.

• Why use it? It helps beginners gain confidence and reduces the chance of feeling "overwhelmed."

Whole Practice

The opposite of part practice! You perform the entire skill from start to finish without breaking it up. This is best for simple skills or discrete skills (skills with a clear start and end) that happen too fast to break down.

• Real-World Example: A golf swing or a 100m sprint start. If you stop halfway through a golf swing, you lose the "flow" and the rhythm.

• Why use it? It helps the athlete get a "feel" for the movement (this is called kinesthesis).

Whole-Part-Whole Practice

This is a "sandwich" approach. You try the whole skill first, identify a specific part you are struggling with, practice just that part, and then put it all back together again.

• Real-World Example: A front-crawl swimmer swims a full length (Whole), realizes their leg kick is weak, so they use a kickboard for 5 minutes (Part), and then swims another full length (Whole).

Progressive Part Practice

Sometimes called the "Chaining Method." You learn Part A, then Part B, then practice them together (A+B). Then you learn Part C and add it (A+B+C). You keep building the chain until the skill is complete.

• Real-World Example: Learning a dance routine. You learn the first 10 seconds, then the next 10, then perform the first 20 together. You keep adding pieces until the whole dance is finished.

• Mnemonic/Trick: Think of Progressive Part like building a LEGO set—one piece at a time, connecting as you go.

Quick Review:
• Part: Good for complex skills.
• Whole: Good for fast, simple skills.
• WPW: Good for fixing specific mistakes.
• Progressive Part: Good for serial skills (skills with a specific sequence).

2. Types of Practice: Managing Time and Environment

Now that we know how to break down the skill, we need to decide how to schedule the training session and where it should happen.

Massed Practice

This involves continuous practice with very short rest intervals or no rest at all. The athlete repeats the skill over and over for a long time.

• Best for: Simple skills, fit athletes, and when you have limited time.

• Common Mistake: Don't use massed practice for dangerous skills (like a high-bar routine in gymnastics) because when the athlete gets tired, they might get hurt!

Distributed Practice

This includes frequent rest breaks. These breaks can be used for feedback from a coach or mental rehearsal (picturing the skill in your head).

• Best for: Beginners, complex skills, or skills that are physically exhausting.

• Analogy: Massed practice is like "cramming" for a test the night before; Distributed practice is like studying for 20 minutes every day for a week.

Fixed Practice

The athlete practices the same skill repeatedly in a stable, unchanging environment. This is used for closed skills.

• Real-World Example: A basketballer shooting 50 free throws from the exact same spot on the court with no defenders.

• Why use it? It creates a motor programme (a "habit" in the brain) so the movement becomes automatic.

Varied Practice

The skill is practiced in many different environments and situations. This is essential for open skills where the surroundings change constantly.

• Real-World Example: A 4-on-4 football drill where players have to dribble, pass, and shoot under pressure from defenders.

• Did you know? Varied practice is great because it builds "schemata"—your brain's ability to adjust a movement based on the situation (like how hard to pass a ball depending on how far away your teammate is).

Summary Table: Which practice should I choose?

If you are struggling to remember which is which, look at the Skill Classification (the previous chapter):

• Complex Skill? Use Part or Progressive Part.
• Simple/Fast Skill? Use Whole.
• Closed Skill (Stable)? Use Fixed.
• Open Skill (Changing)? Use Varied.
• Beginner/Tired? Use Distributed.
• Expert/Fit? Use Massed.

Final Takeaway for Your Exam

In the OCR H155 exam, you are often asked to justify why a coach would choose a specific method. Always link your answer to the type of skill (is it complex?) or the type of learner (are they a beginner?).

Example: "A coach would use distributed practice for a beginner learning a tumble turn in swimming because it allows for frequent rest and feedback, preventing fatigue and frustration."

Keep practicing these connections, and you'll be an expert in skill acquisition in no time!

References

OCR AS Level Physical Education Specification H155 — OCR
Methods and types of practice — PE Resources Bank
Types of Practice Revision Note — Study Rocket
Forms of Practice — Mr Wnuk PE

Quick check

Can you answer these now?

Open each question to check the key ideas from this chapter.

What is part practice and when is it most effective?

Part practice involves breaking a skill down into its individual components (sub-routines) and practicing them separately. It is most effective for complex skills with many movements.

How does whole practice benefit the learner’s "feel" for a movement?

Whole practice allows the athlete to develop kinesthesis, which is the internal sense of the movement's rhythm and flow. This is crucial for fast, discrete skills like a golf swing.

What is the main goal of the whole-part-whole practice method?

The goal is to attempt the whole skill first to identify weaknesses, isolate and fix a specific sub-routine (part), and then reintegrate it back into the full performance.

Why is progressive part practice specifically recommended for serial skills?

Serial skills have a specific sequence; the "chaining" method (e.g., A + B, then add C) ensures the link between successive parts is maintained while reducing complexity.

Under what conditions should a coach choose massed practice?

Massed practice should be used for simple skills, for fit athletes, or when training time is limited and the risk of injury from fatigue is low.

What are the key advantages of using distributed practice for beginners?

It provides rest intervals to prevent fatigue and allows time for feedback from the coach and mental rehearsal between active trials.

How does fixed practice help in the performance of closed skills?

By repeating the skill in a stable environment, it creates a motor programme (a "habit") that allows the movement to become automatic and consistent.

Why is varied practice essential for athletes performing open skills?

It builds schemata, which are the brain's ability to adapt a movement (like pass power or direction) based on changing environmental cues and defenders.

How should you justify practice selection in an OCR H155 exam?

You must link the practice method to either the classification of the skill (e.g., complex vs. simple) or the characteristics of the learner (e.g., beginner vs. expert).

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