Skill Classification
Define a basic skill and give a sporting example.
A basic skill requires little decision-making. Example: running in a 100m race.
What does the "S" in SMART stand for?
Specific
What is meant by ‘input’ in information processing?
The information received from senses (e.g., sight, hearing) before a decision is made.
Give an example of visual guidance in sport.
A coach shows a video of a perfect tennis serve.
Describe the difference between gross and fine skills.
Gross skills use large muscle groups (e.g., kicking a football); fine skills use small muscles for precision (e.g., darts).
Identify one performance and one outcome goal.
Performance: improve shooting accuracy. Outcome: win a match.
What is the role of decision-making in the model?
Choosing the appropriate response based on input and memory.
Describe one advantage of verbal guidance.
Gives quick, clear instructions during practice or play.
Explain why a netball pass is an open skill.
It is performed in a changing environment where decisions must be made based on teammates and opponents.
Explain why SMART targets are useful in sport.
They provide structure and motivation, helping athletes focus and measure progress.
Describe how long-term and short-term memory are used in decision-making.
STM holds current information briefly; LTM stores past experiences to help decide how to respond.
Identify one situation where mechanical guidance is most effective.
Helping a beginner perform a swimming stroke using a floatation device.
Classify a penalty kick in football using two skill continua and justify both.
Closed skill – environment is stable; Self-paced – performer decides when to kick.
Apply a SMART target to a 100m sprinter.
"I want to reduce my 100m time from 12.5s to 12.0s in the next 6 weeks." (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound)
Explain the importance of feedback in the information processing model.
Feedback informs future performance by identifying what went well or needs improvement.
Compare intrinsic and extrinsic feedback using sporting examples.
Intrinsic: a gymnast feels their balance is off. Extrinsic: coach tells them they leaned too far forward.
A gymnast performs a floor routine. Classify the skill using three continua and justify your choices.
Complex – requires coordination and decision-making; Closed – predictable environment; Self-paced – performed at own timing.
Evaluate the effectiveness of outcome goals for a beginner.
Less effective, as they may lead to disappointment if not achieved. Beginners benefit more from performance goals to build confidence.
Analyse how selective attention supports decision-making in high-pressure situations.
Selective attention filters out distractions, helping the athlete focus on relevant cues and make quicker, more accurate decisions.
Justify when manual guidance may be more harmful than helpful.
If overused, it can lead to reliance on support, reducing the athlete’s ability to perform independently.