LEARNING STRATEGIES

Learning Strategies are factors which affect our training and our performances. For example:

1. Type of Practice

2. Quality of Practice

3. Goal setting

4. Knowledge of tactics & strategies

5. Levels of related fitness

Practice allows skills to be repeated and cemented in the brain, nerves and muscles.

Practice must involve correct technique at all times so that incorrect movement patterns are not developed.

Coaches use a range of practice types to meet the learner’s skill level, concentration and fitness.

They may include:

Type of Practice

Type of Practice Massed

Practice• Practising

one skill continuously without interruption

Whole Practice• Entire skill is

practiced as one movement from start to finishDistributed

Practice• A skill is

practised for a short time with a rest or new skill practices in between

Part Practice• The skill is

broken into separate parts and practised individually

Type of Practice

Task1. What types of practice would help you develop your gymnastics performance?2. What drills would be suitable? Provide examples of how you would apply these to your chosen technique.

Common types of drills that a coach would use include:

1.Shadow Drills2.Gradual Build-Up practice3.Whole-Part-Whole practice4.Repetition Drills

Quality of Practice:Think! Are you practices or trainings always at the

right level?ConfidenceMotivation

Attitude

Weather

EquipmentCompetition

Physical State

Confidence

Facilities

What factors affect your practice?

Quality of Practice:•Motivation

•How did you feel, did you want to do the skill?

•Attitude•Was this positive or negative?

•Confidence•Was this high or low? Was it low because you had to compete in front of the class? Was it high because you have done it before?

•Physical State•Injuries, Tired, Sick

•Competition:•Who were you training with?

•Conditions:•What was the hall like e.g. cold? overcrowded? Were you outside?

•Equipment:•Broken equipment•Safe equipment

•Facilities:• Overcrowded•Wooden floor/Outside?

TaskSelect three “Quality of Practice” factors and explain in detail how they may affect your training and how you would use/overcome them to maximise performance.

Quality of Practice:

Goal SettingThe SMART goal setting principles are used to make goals more

effective.

• S specific: it must be clear what you want to achieve

• M measurable: your goal must have a measurable outcome

• A achievable : short term goals leading to your long term goal

• R realistic: your goal must be within your capabilities

• T time frame: time to achieve your goal

TaskMake a smart goal for your selected technique.

Knowledge of tactics & strategiesTactics and strategies are also often referred to as a game plan.

Knowing which tactics you will be using during your performance will affect which skills and techniques you try to develop during trainings.

Task: Will your performance require a game plan?Identify what skills are required at the level you are playing, with the tactics you are using?

Levels of Related FitnessBeing ‘fit’ means being able to cope with the demands of the activity. Different activities make different demands on the body.

• Type of fitness

• Level of fitness

The components of physical fitness can be categorised as Health-related components• Body Composition• Cardiorespiratory

Endurance• Muscular Endurance• Strength• Flexibility

Skill-related components• Speed• Power• Agility• Reaction Time• Co-ordination• Balance

Levels of Related Fitness

Task1. What component(s) of fitness will affect your ability to perform your chosen technique? 2. What method(s) of training will help improve this/these components?

Class Task