Introduction: Why Guidance and Feedback Matter

Ever wondered how a professional athlete knows exactly how to tweak their technique to shave milliseconds off a sprint? Or how a complete beginner learns to kick a football for the first time? It all comes down to guidance and feedback.

In this chapter, we will explore the different ways coaches support athletes and how information about performance helps us learn and improve. Think of guidance as the map that shows you where to go, and feedback as the Sat-Nav telling you if you’re still on the right track!

Quick Review: Guidance is the information given before or during a performance to help the learner. Feedback is the information received during or after the performance about how well they did.

Section 1: Methods of Guidance

There are four main ways a coach can guide a performer. A simple way to remember these is the "Double V, Double M" rule: Visual, Verbal, Manual, and Mechanical.

1. Visual Guidance

This is simply showing the performer what to do. It could be a live demonstration by a coach, a video clip of a professional, or even a poster showing the stages of a skill.

Example: A PE teacher demonstrating a layup in basketball so students can see the footwork.

Best for: Beginners (Cognitive stage), because they need to form a mental picture of what the skill looks like.

2. Verbal Guidance

This is telling the performer what to do. It involves spoken instructions and explanations.

Example: A coach shouting "Keep your eye on the ball!" during a tennis match.

Best for: Experts (Autonomous stage). Beginners might find too much talking confusing, whereas experts can use specific verbal cues to fine-tune their performance.

3. Manual Guidance

This is "hands-on" guidance where the coach physically moves the performer’s body through the correct motion.

Example: A gymnastics coach holding a student's waist to help them feel the movement of a somersault.

Don't worry if this seems tricky: The main goal here is to give the learner the "feeling" (kinesthesis) of the movement.

4. Mechanical Guidance

This involves using equipment or physical supports to help the learner perform the skill safely.

Example: Using a float in swimming or a harness in trampolining.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse Manual and Mechanical! Manual is a person touching you; Mechanical is an object or piece of equipment helping you.

Key Takeaway: Beginners need Visual guidance to see the skill. Experts benefit more from Verbal guidance to tweak details. Manual and Mechanical are great for building confidence and safety in complex skills.

Section 2: Types of Feedback

Feedback is the "information loop." It’s how we find out if what we did was successful. We can split feedback into several pairs.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Feedback

Intrinsic Feedback comes from within. It is the physical feeling of the movement. This is also called kinesthetic feedback.

Example: A golfer "feeling" that their swing was smooth the moment they hit the ball.


Extrinsic Feedback comes from outside sources. This could be a coach, a teammate, or even the sound of the ball hitting the net.

Example: A coach telling a sprinter that their start was too slow.

Positive vs. Negative Feedback

Positive Feedback focuses on what went well. It is encouraging and reinforces good habits.

Example: "Great follow-through on that shot!"


Negative Feedback focuses on errors and what went wrong. While it sounds "bad," it is essential for correcting mistakes.

Example: "Your elbow was too low, which caused the ball to go wide."

Knowledge of Results (KR) vs. Knowledge of Performance (KP)

Knowledge of Results (KR) is about the outcome. Did the ball go in? What was the final score? It is usually factual and objective.

Example: Looking at the scoreboard to see you ran 100m in 12 seconds.


Knowledge of Performance (KP) is about the quality of the movement itself, regardless of the result.

Example: A diver knowing their legs were perfectly straight, even if they didn't win the competition.

Did you know? Elite athletes rely heavily on Intrinsic feedback. They have developed such a "feel" for their sport that they often know they’ve made a mistake before the coach even opens their mouth!

Section 3: Impact on Skill Development

How we use guidance and feedback changes as we get better at a sport. Let’s look at how to match the help to the learner’s level:

For the Beginner (Cognitive Stage):
  • Needs lots of Visual Guidance (to see the skill).
  • Needs Extrinsic Feedback (because they don't have the "feel" yet).
  • Needs Positive Feedback (to stay motivated).
  • Relies on Knowledge of Results (to see if they are succeeding).
For the Expert (Autonomous Stage):
  • Needs Verbal Guidance (specific, technical details).
  • Relies on Intrinsic Feedback (they can feel their own mistakes).
  • Can handle Negative Feedback (to correct tiny errors).
  • Focuses on Knowledge of Performance (how to make the movement perfect).

Key Takeaway: Feedback and guidance must be appropriate for the learner's ability. Giving a beginner complex verbal technical details is like trying to teach a toddler algebra—it just won't click!

Summary Checklist

Before you move on, make sure you can answer these:

1. Can I name the four types of guidance? (Visual, Verbal, Manual, Mechanical)
2. Can I explain the difference between Intrinsic and Extrinsic feedback?
3. Do I know why a beginner needs Positive feedback more than an expert does?
4. Can I distinguish between Knowledge of Results (score) and Knowledge of Performance (technique)?

Keep practicing! Learning these terms is like learning a new sport—the more you "rehearse" them in your head, the more "autonomous" your exam performance will become!