Variables Affecting Skill Acquisition in Sports

University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
PSY 150 | Introduction to Psychology
Academic year:

2023
Views:

107

Pages:

2
Author:

Jithin J I

Variables Affecting Skill Acquisition in Sports Focus of Acquisition  Attention in Skill Internal vs. External Attention    Instructions can direct attention either internally (on the body) or externally (on environmental effects). Movement Instructions: Rules vs. Analogies  The "constrained action hypothesis" suggests that an internal focus of attention induces cognitive control processes, while an external focus promotes automatic control.    An external focus often leads to more efficient movement execution, benefiting endurance performance in sports. Explicit Movement Rules  Verbal instructions in the form of explicit movement rules provide detailed information about single elements of an action.  Processing these requires cognitive and attention. Analogies as Instructions  Studies by Gabriele Wulf demonstrate that an external focus of attention is generally superior for both short-term motor performance and longterm motor learning. Improved performance with an external focus is associated with more efficient neuromuscular activity and coordination. rules effort Metaphorical  Analogies, such as "bend like a bow" in a tennis serve, provide a holistic idea of the movement without requiring attention to all details.  Analogical instructions promote implicit learning and a more automatic mode of control.  Learners trained with analogies show superior performance in challenging situations and pressure scenarios. Impact on Skill Acquisition  These benefits apply to novices, experts, and individuals with various conditions or diseases. Feedback Timing and Frequency  Role of Extrinsic Feedback   In early learning stages, learners struggle to interpret intrinsic feedback (internal information).  Extrinsic feedback, from coaches or technical media, can reduce information deficits and aid task-solving.  However, excessive extrinsic feedback may lead to dependency, neglecting intrinsic feedback. Effective Feedback Delay  Feedback delay of about 5–30 seconds is optimal.  Immediate feedback hinders intrinsic feedback processing.  Longer delays (e.g., over 30 seconds) result in fading intrinsic feedback from short-term memory.  Effective feedback timing enables the development of error detection mechanisms.