Information processing

Section: Understanding Information Processing

• Understand that information processing refers to how we perceive, analyse, and respond to environmental stimuli.
• Recognise it as a four-step model that includes input, decision making, output, and feedback.
• Learn that in sports, the model corresponds to stimulus detection from the environment (input), cognitive processes to decide what action to take (decision making), the physical action taken (output), and the response to that action (feedback).

Section: Input Stage

• Learn to identify the input stage as the phase where external sensory data is received through the senses.
• Know that in sports, this includes visual, auditory, or tactile signals which are relevant to performance.
• Understand that efficient information input and early recognition of stimuli can enhance sports performance.

Section: Decision Making and Response Selection

• Deepen your understanding of the decision-making stage, which involves recognising and processing the received stimuli.
• Understand that past experience and knowledge play a significant role in making quick and correct decisions.
• Recognise that training can help to enhance rapid and accurate decision-making capabilities in sports.

Section: Output Stage

• Gain a deeper insight into the output stage, which involves responding physically to the chosen course of action.
• Learn that the desired response is translated into muscular activity to perform the required action.
• Understand the connection between the quality of decision making and the effectiveness of the output - better decisions often result in better sports performance.

Section: Feedback Stage

• Understand the role of the feedback stage, which involves reviewing the outcome of the action and adjusting future performance accordingly.
• Grasp that feedback can be intrinsic (internal feedback from your own body) or extrinsic (provided externally, maybe verbally by a coach).
• Realise that good feedback can help correct errors, reinforce good technique, and ultimately improve performance.

Section: Specificity of Information Processing in Sports

• Learn to appreciate that these four stages of information processing happen rapidly and almost simultaneously in sports.
• Recognise that higher-level sports require better developed information processing capabilities as inputs are more complex and time for making decisions and performing actions is often limited.
• Understand that practice, experience and training can help refine these information processing skills, improving the split-second decision-making and action required in sports.