Overview
This lecture covers key principles of motor learning, focusing on the differences between block and random practice, and how these approaches impact real learning and performance in sports.
Motor Learning Concepts
- Motor learning studies how people develop skills through practice.
- Practice performance measures short-term improvement during drills or practice sessions.
- Real learning is the improvement that appears later, during games or after time has passed.
- Retention and transfer are used to describe real learning: retention is recall after time; transfer is applying the skill in new situations.
Components of Skill
- Skill involves three components: reading (perception), planning (decision-making), and doing (execution/technique).
- Technique is important but is only one part of performing a skill in a game.
- All sports require athletes to read the situation, plan a response, and execute the technique quickly.
Block vs. Random Practice
- Block practice is doing the same skill repeatedly from the same position or in isolation.
- Random practice mixes up tasks, locations, and scenarios so no two reps are exactly alike.
- Studies show block practice leads to better performance during practice but poor retention and transfer.
- Random practice leads to slower improvement in practice but much better retention and transfer to real-game situations.
Practical Implications for Practice
- Random practice forces athletes to read and plan, simulating real-game conditions.
- Block practice removes the need to read and plan, focusing only on technique.
- To maximize game performance, practice should involve varied, unpredictable scenarios.
- Track progress by assessing retention and transfer, not just practice performance.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Motor learning — study of how movement skills are acquired and retained.
- Practice performance — short-term gains during practice.
- Real learning — skills retained and applied in future or competitive situations.
- Retention — ability to perform a skill after time has passed.
- Transfer — ability to use learned skills in new or varied situations.
- Block practice — repetitive practice of the same skill without variation.
- Random practice — practice with varied tasks and conditions, requiring more adaptation.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Apply random practice principles in your training sessions.
- Assess your improvement through retention and transfer tests, not just in-practice success.
- Prepare to learn about specificity in the next lecture.