Psychology: Types of Practice

Understanding Different Types of Practice

In the context of Physical Education, practice involves actively engaging in exercises or drills to improve performance.
There are various types of practice: massed practice, distributed practice, fixed practice, and variable practice.
Massed practice is a continuous training session without rest intervals and mostly used when the skill being practiced is simple or well known to the performer.
Distributed practice involves rest intervals between attempts, this allows time for feedback and mental rehearsal. It is ideal for complex and fatiguing tasks.
Fixed practice is repetitive and consistent, focusing on a specific aspect until it becomes automatic performance, suitable for closed skills performed in a stable environment.
Variable practice includes variations of the same skill. This method is apt for open skills performed in a changing or unpredictable environment.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Type of Practice

The nature of the skill to be learned affects the selection of the practice type. Complex skills often require distributed or variable practice, while simple skills can be practised using massed or fixed practice.
The performer’s characteristic such as their experience in the sport, their motivation, and their physical endurance will also influence the choice of practice method.
The desired outcome of the practice session has a significant influence on the practice type. For instance, enhancing automaticity of a skill necessitates fixed practice, whereas promoting adaptability calls for variable practice.

Applying the Principles of Practice

Just like training, the principles of practice - specificity, overload, progression, and reversibility - are applicable to any practice programme.
The practice must be specific to the sport or skill one is aiming to improve. The conditions of practice should match that of the actual performance as closely as possible.
Practice must also involve some overload. Increasing the complexity or intensity of the drills can produce improvements in performance.
Progression in practice involves gradually making the practice scenarios more challenging over time.
During periods of inactivity, reversibility indicates that the performer may lose the skills or fitness gains made through practice.

Psychological Effects of Different Practice Types

Different practice methods can lead to varying psychological responses, impacting motivation, confidence, focus, and overall mental performance in sport.
Massed and fixed practice often lead to quick improvements in skill acquisition or automation, which can boost confidence, but may also trigger boredom and decrease motivation over time.
Distributed and variable practice can enhance adaptability to changes, problem-solving capabilities, and maintenance of interest, but may also be challenging and frustrating early on due to the involved variety and complexity.
Balancing the types of practice to align with the performer’s needs and the sport requirement can foster both physical skills and mental resilience.