Motor Learning Basics
What term describes a relatively permanent change in performance resulting from practice or experience?
Learning
Name the first stage of learning where performers make many errors and need lots of feedback.
Cognitive stage
What practice type repeats the same skill over and over with minimal variation?
Massed / repetitive / constant practice (constant is best label)
What feedback comes from the performer’s own senses (feel, balance, vision)?
Intrinsic feedback
What are the three categories in the Dynamic Systems model?
Individual, task, environment
What is the term for an athlete’s capability to perform a skill at a given time (their underlying potential)?
Ability
Name the stage where skills are automatic and the performer can focus on tactics/decision-making.
Autonomous stage
What practice type mixes different skills or variations in one session?
Variable practice (or random practice, depending on how mixed)
What does Knowledge of Results (KR) tell the athlete?
The outcome of the movmeent (e.g., score, time, whether it was in/out)
Changing the size of the ball or rules to shape learning is an example of which constraint?
Task constraint
What is the difference between performance and learning?
Performance is temporary and influenced by conditions (fatigue, motivation); learning is a relatively permanent change in capability.
Name the stage where movement becomes more consistent and errors decrease.
Associative stage
What practice type involves practising parts of a skill separately before combining them?
Part practice
A performer recognises their shot felt rushed without any external input. What type of feedback is this?
Intrinsic Feedback
What does Dynamic Systems Theory suggest about how skills are learned?
Skills emerge through interaction between the performer, task and environment.
Which classification describes skills performed in a stable, predictable environment?
Closed skills
A student can perform a lay‑up in isolation, but struggles under defensive pressure. Which stage are they most likely in?
Associative stage (skill emerging but not stable under pressure)
Why is distributed practice often more effective than massed practice for junior or beginner performers? Give two reasons.
It reduces fatigue, maintains concentration, improves quality of practice, and supports better learning and retention.
A teacher tells a student their shuttle landed in the back court. What type of feedback is this?
Knowledge of Results (KR)
What is meant by the term self‑organisation in motor learning?
The ability of the movement system to organise itself without explicit instruction.
Which classification describes skills performed in a changing, unpredictable environment?
Open skills
Give one coaching strategy appropriate for the cognitive stage and explain why.
Use demonstrations and simple cues because learners need a clear mental picture and reduced information overload
A basketball coach alternates between set shots, jump shots and free throws in the same session. What type of practice is this and What is the benefit of this type for long term learning.
Variable practice (or random practice, depending on order)
It improves adaptability and decision-making, increasing retention and transfer to game situations.
Why is KP more useful than KR for beginners?
It provides information about technique, helping learners understand how to correct movement errors.
Explain why Dynamic Systems Theory views learning as a non‑linear process.
Learning does not occur in fixed stages; progress varies due to changing constraints and interactions.