Types and methods of practice

Welcome to Skill Acquisition: Types and Methods of Practice!

Ever wondered why a basketball player shoots 100 free throws in a row, while a footballer practices passing in a chaotic 5-a-side game? It’s because the type of practice must match the type of skill being learned. In this chapter, we’ll explore how athletes and coaches choose the best methods to make sure skills actually "stick."

Don't worry if some of these terms sound similar at first—we'll break them down with easy examples and simple memory tricks!

1. Methods Based on How You Break Down the Skill

The first way to look at practice is whether you perform the whole skill at once or break it into smaller pieces.

Whole Practice

This is when you practice the entire skill from start to finish without breaking it down. Example: A golf swing or a 100m sprint.

• Best for: Skills that are fast (discrete), simple, or where the parts are so tightly linked that breaking them up would ruin the "feel" (high organisation).
• Pro: Helps the athlete develop a "kinaesthetic sense" (the feel of the movement).
• Con: Can be overwhelming for beginners if the skill is very complex.

Part Practice

The skill is broken down into sub-routines (smaller parts), and you practice one part in isolation. Example: Practicing just the toss of a tennis serve.

• Best for: Complex skills where parts can be easily separated (low organisation) and for beginners who might struggle with the whole movement.
• Pro: Increases confidence and reduces the risk of injury or fatigue.
• Con: The athlete might struggle to put the parts back together smoothly.

Whole-Part-Whole Practice

The athlete tries the whole skill, identifies a specific weakness (part), practices that part, and then puts it back into the whole skill again.

• Best for: Learners who have a basic idea of the skill but need to fix a specific error.
• Step-by-Step: 1. Swim a full length of front crawl. 2. Realise your kicking is weak, so use a kickboard to practice just the legs. 3. Return to swimming the full stroke.

Progressive Part Practice

Also known as "chaining." You practice part A, then part B, then combine them (A+B). Then you practice part C and add it to the chain (A+B+C). Example: A gymnastics routine or a triple jump.

• Memory Aid: Think of adding links to a chain.
• Best for: Serial skills (skills with a specific order) and complex skills that are tiring.
• Quick Review: It links the benefits of Part and Whole practice together!

Key Takeaway: If a skill is fast and "one-piece," go Whole. If it’s complex and "staged," go Part or Progressive Part.

2. Methods Based on How You Structure the Session

Once you've decided how to perform the skill, you need to decide how to structure the time and the environment.

Massed Practice

Continuous practice with very short or no rest intervals. You do the same thing over and over for a long time.

• Best for: Simple skills, fit athletes, and when time is short.
• Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't use massed practice for dangerous skills (like a high-bar routine in gymnastics) because fatigue can lead to accidents!

Distributed Practice

Practice sessions that include relatively long rest intervals between trials. The rest could involve feedback or watching a demo.

• Best for: Beginners, complex skills, or skills that are physically exhausting.
• Did you know? The rest periods help "memory consolidation," meaning your brain has time to process what you just did.

Fixed Practice

Practicing a skill repeatedly in a stable, unchanging environment. Example: A netballer shooting 50 shots from the exact same spot.

• Best for: Closed skills. It helps the movement become automatic (habitual).

Varied Practice

Practicing a skill in many different environments and situations. Example: A footballer practicing passing while being closed down by different defenders at different speeds.

• Best for: Open skills. It helps the athlete build a "schema" (a mental rulebook) for how to adapt the skill to any situation.
• Analogy: Fixed practice is like learning to drive on a quiet, straight road. Varied practice is like driving through a busy city centre at rush hour!

Key Takeaway: Fixed practice is for closed skills (consistency); Varied practice is for open skills (adaptability).

Quick Summary Table

Use this for a fast check before your exam!

Whole: For high-organisation/fast skills.
Part: For complex/low-organisation skills.
Massed: No breaks (simple/fit learners).
Distributed: Lots of breaks (complex/beginners).
Fixed: Same environment (closed skills).
Varied: Changing environment (open skills).

Quick Review Challenge:

A beginner is learning a complex, dangerous trampolining move. Which two methods of practice would you recommend?
(Answer: Part or Progressive Part to simplify it, and Distributed to ensure they don't get too tired and fall!)