Welcome to Sports Psychology: Types of Guidance
Hello! Today we are looking at how coaches and teachers help athletes learn new skills. This is called guidance. Think of guidance as the "support system" that helps a performer move from being a total beginner to a pro.
In your OCR GCSE PE course, you need to know four specific types of guidance. Don't worry if this seems like a lot to remember—we’ll break it down into simple steps with easy examples. By the end of these notes, you’ll be an expert on how to choose the right coaching style for any sport!
Quick Review: What is Guidance?
Guidance is the method used by a coach to transmit information to a performer. It helps the athlete understand what they need to do and how to do it.
1. Visual Guidance
Visual guidance is simply when a performer sees something. This helps them create a "mental picture" of the skill.
Common examples:
• A coach demonstrating how to take a shot in netball.
• Watching a video clip of a professional sprinter’s start.
• Looking at posters or diagrams of a tactical play in rugby.
Advantages:
• Great for beginners because they can copy what they see.
• It highlights specific cues (e.g., "Watch where his feet are pointing").
• It helps create a clear mental image of the movement.
Disadvantages:
• If the demonstration is bad or incorrect, the athlete will learn the wrong technique!
• Sometimes movements are too fast to see clearly without slow-motion video.
• Too much information at once can be confusing.
Takeaway: If you can see it, it’s visual! It’s the best way to start learning any new skill.
2. Verbal Guidance
Verbal guidance is when a coach tells the performer what to do. It is often used alongside visual guidance.
Common examples:
• A coach shouting "Keep your head down!" to a golfer.
• A teammate telling a defender to "Watch the player on your left."
• A detailed tactical talk before a football match.
Advantages:
• It can be given immediately during performance.
• Good for elite (expert) athletes who need fine details.
• It’s a quick way to give feedback or motivation.
Disadvantages:
• It can lead to information overload if the coach talks too much!
• Beginners might find it hard to turn words into movements.
• In a noisy stadium, it’s hard to hear the coach.
Did you know? Elite athletes often prefer verbal guidance because they already know how the skill feels; they just need small "tweaks" to get better.
Takeaway: Verbal guidance is about hearing instructions. Use it for quick tips or deep details for experts.
3. Manual Guidance
Manual guidance involves physical contact. The coach actually moves the performer’s body into the right position.
Common examples:
• A golf pro holding the player's arms and moving them through the swing.
• A gymnastics coach supporting a child while they perform a handstand.
Advantages:
• It increases safety (the coach is literally holding you!).
• It helps the performer get the "feel" of the movement. This "feel" is called kinesthesis.
• It builds confidence for dangerous or scary skills.
Disadvantages:
• The performer might become over-reliant on the coach (they can’t do it alone).
• It can feel awkward or uncomfortable for some performers to be touched.
• It doesn't allow the performer to make and correct their own mistakes.
Takeaway: Manual guidance is "hands-on." It's great for safety and "feeling" the move.
4. Mechanical Guidance
Mechanical guidance is when equipment or "bits of kit" are used to support the performer.
Common examples:
• Using a float in swimming to practice leg kicks.
• Using a harness (trampette) in trampolining to practice a somersault.
• Using stabilisers on a bicycle.
Advantages:
• Very high safety level for dangerous sports.
• Allows the performer to practice parts of a skill separately (e.g., just the legs in swimming).
• Helps the performer gain confidence because they know the equipment won't let them fall.
Disadvantages:
• The "feel" of the skill is different with equipment (a somersault in a harness feels different than one without).
• Performers can become dependent on the kit.
• You can’t always use the equipment during a real game or competition.
Takeaway: Mechanical guidance uses "machines" or "objects." Think of it as "safety gear" for learning.
Memory Aid: The 4 Vs and Ms
To remember the types of guidance, try this simple mnemonic: Very Versatile Movement Methods.
• Visual (Eyes)
• Verbal (Ears)
• Manual (Hands)
• Mechanical (Kit)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing Manual and Mechanical:
Remember: Manual is a human (coach) touching you. Mechanical is an object (float, harness) supporting you.
2. Thinking Verbal is best for everyone:
Actually, verbal guidance is often worst for beginners because they don't have the "sporting vocabulary" yet. Visual is much better for them!
Summary Table
Matching Guidance to Skill Level
Beginners (Cognitive Stage):
• Best: Visual (to see what to do) and Manual/Mechanical (for safety and confidence).
• Worst: Complex Verbal instructions.
Experts (Autonomous Stage):
• Best: Detailed Verbal guidance and Visual (video analysis of their own performance).
• Worst: Manual (they already know the feel of the skill).
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Just think of a coach you know—which of these do they use most? Most coaches use a mix of all four to make sure every player understands the goal.