Types of practice

Section: Understanding Types of Practice

• Recognise that practice is the act of rehearsing an activity or skill in order to learn, master, or refine them in sports and physical activities.
• Understand that the effectiveness of practice can depend on the complexity of the task, the skill level of the performer, and the environment.
• Differentiate between massed practice, where a skill is practiced without breaks, and distributed practice, where practice sessions are broken up with rest intervals.

Section: Massed vs Distributed Practice

• Understand that massed practice is often used when the skill is simple or when the performer is experienced and strong.
• Comprehend that while distributed practice might appear slower, it is often more effective for complex skills or less experienced performers due to the rests allowing for mental and physical recovery.
• Acknowledge that choosing the correct type of practice can greatly enhance the learning of new skills, the improvement of existing skills, and overall performance.

Section: Whole vs Part Practice

• Understand the concept of whole practice, where the skill is practiced in its entirety.
• Recognise part practice as a practice method where a complex skill is broken down into its component parts and each part is practiced separately before being integrated.
• High complexity and low organisation skills benefit from part practice, while low complexity and high organisation skills may be best learned through whole practice.

Section: Benefits of Different Type of Practices

• Note that whole practice can aid in understanding the flow and rhythm of a skill, while part practice can allow a performer to concentrate on refining specific elements of a skill.
• Understand that choosing the suitable type of practice can lead to accelerated learning, better retention of skills, and increased confidence.

Section: Application of Practice Types in Coaching

• Recognise that coaches often employ a combination of practice types, customising their approach based on the athletes, the sport, and the specific skills to be learned or improved.
• Understand that coaches can aid players to persist through challenging practice sessions and break beyond performance plateaus by appropriately adjusting the difficulty and frequency of practice.
• Acknowledge that well-structured and customised practice sessions foster development and enhance sport performance.