Learning Coach

Learning, Performance, Skill & Ability

Definitions and why a coach need to use and understand these

Learning

Tony Bingham and Marcia Conner (2010) states, “We define learning as the transformative process of taking in information that—when internalized and mixed with what we have experienced—changes what we know and builds on what we do. It’s based on input, process, and reflection. It is what changes us.” (1) A coach will need to understand that different players will develop and learn at different speeds. It is important for a coach to give players the right amount of time to learn new skills due to them being young and having a smaller capacity to hold information. If the coach moves on to quick to a new skill then the player will forget what they have just learnt or start to perform the skill or technique wrong resulting in injury or the wrong end goal.

Performance

"Sport performance is the manner in which sport participation is measured. Sport performance is a complex mixture of biomechanical function, emotional factors, and training techniques." (Encyclopedia.com, 2019) A coach will need to understand that their are multiple factors which can affect a players performance. These can vary from whats happening in their life, what they did before the game, how they are feeling mentally and so on. If the coach doesn't understand these factors then the players might become disheartened.

Skill

Ability

Barbara Knapp (1963) states, "A skill is the learned ability to bring about pre-determined results with maximum certainty; often with the minimum outlay of time or energy or both." (3)There are three different types of skills. These are cognitive, perceptual and motor skills. COGNITIVE - This skill is used to get the player thinking, reading and learning. This skill will require the player to use their thought process. PERCEPTUAL - This skill is used by player to interpret the information being given to them. MOTOR - This skill requires the players to use the correct movement patterns. A coach will need to understand what these three skills are and when a player is using each type. If a coach teaches a skill wrong then the player would require more work as that skill is in their motor programme.

Mackenzie, B (2001) states , "Ability is the make-up of an athlete that we inherit from our parents. Abilities underpin and contribute to skills. Abilities can be essentially perceptual, essentially motor or a combination of both." (4)A coach will need to understand that at a young age alot of players have different abilities. it is important for the coach to do sessions which won't just improve the best players but also improve the newer players.

References

(1) Connie Malamed (2019) 10 Definitions of Learning (Accessed: 3rd November 2020) http://theelearningcoach.com/learning/10-definitions-learning/ (2) Encyclopedia.com (2019) Sport Performance (Accessed: 3rd November 2020) https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/sports-fitness-recreation-and-leisure-magazines/sport-performance

(3) S-Cool (2020) Defining and Classifying Skill in Sport (Accessed: 3rd November 2020) https://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/pe/skill-in-sport/revise-it/defining-and-classifying-skill-in-sport (4) Mackenzie, B (2001) Skill, Technique and Ability (Accessed: 3rd November 2020) https://www.brianmac.co.uk/skills.htm

Types of Practice

There are four types of practice which a coach will need to understand when creating sessions. These are, massed, distributed, fixed & variable.

Massed

"Massed Practice refers to conditions in which individuals practice a task continuously without rest." (1) Massed practice will allow me to develop the players knowledge on a certain technique or skill. As the players will be doing a massed drill to work on the skill they will be doing a task repeatedly. This will allow them to develop their motor programming and get them used to performing the skill. The coach wouldn't move on unless the players are confident performing the skill to a good standard.

Distributed

"Distributed practice, also known as spaced practice, is a strategy of learning that makes use of smaller increments of study and practice over a longer period of time rather than "massed practice" utilizing longer study and practice periods over a short period of time." (2) This method will be good for my work placement because when teaching more difficult skills I can distribute the practice so that they dont get stressed or upset when things become more difficult.

Fixed

Variable

"During a variable practice, a skill is practised in different settings with unpredictable and changeable conditions. There is no point practising open skills in a fixed environment. In a game or competition, the environment is likely to change all the time and this needs to be replicated in training." (3) Variable practice would be good for me to use at my work placement because I can begin to teach the players how to perform in different situations. If the players never perform skills in different situations they could become lazy and believe it is too easy.

"During a fixed practice a skill is practised repeatedly in the same way. This practice structure usually involves drills and, because the environment stays the same and the performer is able to focus solely on the skill itself." (3) Fixed practice will be good for me to use at my work placement because I work with beginners. This type of practice is useful because it will allow me to get the players to keep doing a certain skill to allow it to be stored in their long term memory system. I would need to make sure that all the players are completing the technique well otherwise they could store a wrong movement pattern.

Reference list

(1) Moedu-sail (2012) Spaced Vs. Massed practice (Accessed: 4th November 2020) http://www.moedu-sail.org/portfolio-items/spaced-vs-massed-practice/(2) Alleydog.com (2020) Distributed Practice (Accessed: 4th November 2020) https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/cite-my-term.php?term=Distributed+Practice

(3) Bishopfoxs (2020) Sport Psychology (Accessed: 4th November 2020) http://www.bishopfoxs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Chapter-5-Sport-psychology.pdf

Types of Practice

There are four types of practice which a coach will need to understand when creating sessions. These are, massed, distributed, fixed & variable.

Massed

"Massed Practice refers to conditions in which individuals practice a task continuously without rest." (1) Massed practice will allow me to develop the players knowledge on a certain technique or skill. As the players will be doing a massed drill to work on the skill they will be doing a task repeatedly. This will allow them to develop their motor programming and get them used to performing the skill. The coach wouldn't move on unless the players are confident performing the skill to a good standard.

Distributed

"Distributed practice, also known as spaced practice, is a strategy of learning that makes use of smaller increments of study and practice over a longer period of time rather than "massed practice" utilizing longer study and practice periods over a short period of time." (2) This method will be good for my work placement because when teaching more difficult skills I can distribute the practice so that they dont get stressed or upset when things become more difficult.

Fixed

Variable

"During a variable practice, a skill is practised in different settings with unpredictable and changeable conditions. There is no point practising open skills in a fixed environment. In a game or competition, the environment is likely to change all the time and this needs to be replicated in training." (3) Variable practice would be good for me to use at my work placement because I can begin to teach the players how to perform in different situations. If the players never perform skills in different situations they could become lazy and believe it is too easy.

"During a fixed practice a skill is practised repeatedly in the same way. This practice structure usually involves drills and, because the environment stays the same and the performer is able to focus solely on the skill itself." (3) Fixed practice will be good for me to use at my work placement because I work with beginners. This type of practice is useful because it will allow me to get the players to keep doing a certain skill to allow it to be stored in their long term memory system. I would need to make sure that all the players are completing the technique well otherwise they could store a wrong movement pattern.

Reference list

(1) Moedu-sail (2012) Spaced Vs. Massed practice (Accessed: 4th November 2020) http://www.moedu-sail.org/portfolio-items/spaced-vs-massed-practice/(2) Alleydog.com (2020) Distributed Practice (Accessed: 4th November 2020) https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/cite-my-term.php?term=Distributed+Practice

(3) Bishopfoxs (2020) Sport Psychology (Accessed: 4th November 2020) http://www.bishopfoxs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Chapter-5-Sport-psychology.pdf