Seneca Topic 6

Question 1

What are ability’s ?

Answer 1

Abilities are inherited genetically (relates to genes) from your parents. Abilities are traits (characteristics) that determine a person’s potential to learn new skills.

Abilities are things that you are naturally good at because you are born with them. Abilities can help performers to learn new skills quickly (a gymnast with the ability of balance will learn skills needed for the beam more easily).

Question 2

What’s a skill?

Answer 2

Skills are actions or behaviours that can be learned. The reason we learn skills is to bring about a goal using the least amount of time or energy possible.

When a skill has been mastered, it can be used consistently and made to look easy (e.g. a 3 point set shot in basketball).

Question 3

What are the stages of information processing ?

Answer 3

Input, decision making, output, feedback

Question 4

What is a basic skill ?

Answer 4

In basic skills, not many decisions need to be made, they are usually carried out by a beginner and they are easy to learn.

Walking and jumping are basic skills.

Question 5

What is a complex skill ?

Answer 5

Complex skills need a high level of decision making. They are usually carried out by experienced performers and they can take a long time to learn.

Bowling in cricket is a complex skill because a performer needs the coordination of several movements to effectively run up and deliver an accurate ball with spin or at speed.

Question 6

What are examples of complex skills ?

Answer 6

Basket ball dunk
Free kick in football
Bowling in cricket

Question 7

What’s an open skill ?

Answer 7

In an open skill, the way the skill is performed is affected by the environment you are in (positioning of the opposition, the weather or the terrain (type of ground)).

These are usually externally paced skills (outside the control of the performer).

A pass in football depends on the position of the opposition players, the performer’s position on the pitch, the weather conditions and the terrain.

Question 8

What’s a closed skill ?

Answer 8

In a closed skill, the way the skill is performed is not affected by the environment you are in (i.e there is no impact from the opposition, the weather or the terrain etc).

These are usually internally paced skills (within the control of the performer).

A somersault in gymnastics is not affected by external factors because it is a skill that is being performed in the performer’s own time. There is no pressure from the opposition.

Question 9

What is a self paced skill ?

Answer 9

The performer initiates (starts) the skill. Therefore, the performer decides when to start and the speed or rate of the skill.
For example:

During the long jump, the performer starts the run up when they feel ready.

During a marathon, the runner decides the pace they feel they need to run at.

Question 10

What is an externally paced skill ?

Answer 10

An external factor initiates (starts) the skill. This could mean that an opponent decides when to start and the speed or rate of the skill being performed.
For example:

When receiving a serve in badminton, a performer returns a shot when the opponent serves. The opponent decides when to serve and how fast to serve.

When marking an opponent in handball, your movement depends on the movement of the opposition (you move when they move).

Question 11

What’s an outcome goal ?

Answer 11

The focus here is on the end result. The goals are usually compared against other competitors.

The standard of the performance does not matter because the aim is purely focused on the outcome.

For example, a footballer may just want to win the match without caring about how he performs individually.

Question 12

What’s a performance goal ?

Answer 12

The performer compares their performance against a previous performance to find out what they have done or what they are going to do in the future.

This does not involve a comparison with somebody else.

For example, a golfer may hope for a better drive off the tee than their last one.

Question 13

Why for beginners is it NOT always useful to use performance goals and outcome goals together ?

Answer 13

For beginners, it is very important to focus on the performance rather than the outcome. This is because beginners can lose motivation through poor outcomes.

This is because outcome goals can rely on the performance of others, rather than just your own.

Question 14

Why for elite athletes is it NOT always useful to use performance goals and outcome goals together ?

Answer 14

Elite athletes are usually only driven by the outcome of winning.

Athletes use performance goals to develop specific areas of focus.

The outcome goals motivate them to succeed.

Question 15

Why for top performers is it NOT always useful to use performance goals and outcome goals together ?

Answer 15

The top performers are the most resilient (recover quickly). If they fail, they become even more determined to succeed. But if a beginner fails, they might not want to try.

Question 16

What do the letters in SMART targets stand for ?

Answer 16

Specific 
Measurable 
Accepted 
Realistic
Time-bound

Question 17

What does the S in SMART targets mean ?

Answer 17

Specific

Your goals should be specific to the demands of your sport, the muscles that you use and the movements and techniques involved.

For example, there is no point in setting the goal of improving your speed if you are a golfer.

Question 18

What does the M in SMART targets mean ?

Answer 18

Measurable

Your goals should be measurable so that you can clearly see whether you have achieved them or not.

If your goal is to improve your speed, you need to carry out regular speed tests to measure your progress

Question 19

What does the A in SMART targets mean ?

Answer 19

Accepted

The performer and the performer’s coach must agree on the goals that are set.

If a performer accepts the goals, they will be more motivated to achieve and work towards them.

Question 20

What’s does the R in SMART targets mean ?

Answer 20

Realistic

Your goals must be achievable. If they are too difficult to achieve, then the performer could lose interest and give up on them

Question 21

What’s does the T in SMART targets mean ?

Answer 21

Time-bound

Your goals must be set over a fixed period of time.

This gives a performer enough time to achieve them. There is no point in asking a performer to improve their speed by an unrealistic amount in just one week.

Question 22

What happens in stage 1 (input stage) of information processing?

Answer 22

The first stage of information processing is receiving an input.

Inputs normally come from your 5 senses - sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
This could be seeing a football fly towards you or watching someone try to tackle you in hockey.

An example of a hearing (auditory) input would be hearing your teammates’ shouts.

Over time as you gain experience, your mind will automatically focus on (and notice) different cues faster. It will learn what to pay the most attention to.

Question 23

What happens in stage 2 (decision making stage) of information processing ?

Answer 23

You receive the information from the input and then make a decision.

If you are a goalkeeper, you may decide to dive to stop the football.

If you see someone trying to tackle you in hockey, you may change direction.

You will build up memories from your previous experiences and you will choose your actions based on which actions (outputs) were most successful in the past.

This stage determines whether a person will respond and how they will respond.

Question 24

What happens in stage 3 (output stage) of information processing?

Answer 24

In response to the input, your decision will lead you to change your actions. This is the output stage of information processing.

If you are the goalkeeper, you will dive.

If you are the hockey player, you may change direction.

The output will be communicated from your brain to your muscles via the nervous system, causing you to change your behaviour.

Question 25

What happens in stage 4 (feedback stage) of information processing ?

Answer 25

Feedback tells you whether your actions were successful and achieved the desired result. If you are the goalkeeper, you may have dived successfully to stop the goal. Or you might have dived too far or too late. You will store this experience to improve your dive the next time the football flies towards you. Feedback can be split into 2 types: Intrinsic feedback comes from yourself - something didn't go the way you wanted it to. You could score a goal, but do it accidentally by miskicking a ball. Noticing this would be intrinsic feedback. Extrinsic feedback comes from outside the body - like a goal being scored or not. This can come from a coach or it could be dependent on results or outcomes like scoring a goal.

Question 26

What are the 4 types of guidance on a performer ?

Answer 26

Verbal Visual Manual Mechanical

Question 27

What is verbal guidance?

Answer 27

Verbal guidance involves a coach or teacher telling a performer what they are doing well and badly.

Question 28

What is visual guidance ?

Answer 28

Visual guidance is when the performer can see something.

Question 29

What is manual guidance ?

Answer 29

Manual guidance involves physically moving the performer

Question 30

What is mechanical guidance?

Answer 30

Mechanical guidance involves using mechanical aids to help a performer.

Question 31

Why is visual guidance important for a beginner ?

Answer 31

For beginners, visual guidance is important because the performer often needs to see what the desired skill should look like to try to copy it. Demonstrations need to be: Clear, concise, quick, easy to understand and of a realistic standard.

Question 32

Why is visual guidance important for an elite performer?

Answer 32

For elite performers, visual guidance comes into play when performers watch themselves on video to look at their technique. Elite performers also use visual guidance when looking at video analysis of their future opponents.

Question 33

How is verbal guidance important for beginners ?

Answer 33

For beginners, verbal guidance is most effective when given along with visual guidance. The verbal guidance must be simple and brief.

Question 34

What is verbal guidance like for elite performers ?

Answer 34

For elite performers, the verbal guidance can be longer and more complex. No visual guidance is needed as they are experienced enough to know what the performance should look like.

Question 35

What are the two most effective types of guidance

Answer 35

Visual | Verbal

Question 36

For beginners why are manual and mechanical guidance common ?

Answer 36

For beginners, manual and mechanical guidance are common because it lets them practice the skills safely.

Question 37

For elite performers why is mechanical and manual guidance rare ?

Answer 37

Manual and mechanical guidance is rarely used for elite performers because they can already perform the skill.

Question 38

What’s an example of manual guidance?

Answer 38

a gymnastics coach assisting with a new skill

Question 39

What’s an example of mechanical guidance ?

Answer 39

Arm bands for swimming

Question 40

What are the types of feedback ?

Answer 40

``` Positive Negative Extrinsic Intrinsic kinesthesis (how the muscles feel)(part of intrinsic) Knowledge of results Knowledge of performance ```

Question 41

What is positive feedback ?

Answer 41

This is an important process in telling the performer what they need to continue to do for future performances. Positive feedback is excellent for motivating a performer. It is particularly important for beginners because it helps to build their confidence when they are trying a new skill.

Question 42

What is negative feedback ?

Answer 42

Negative feedback is an important process for identifying faults for a performer so that they can correct them for future performances. Negative feedback is mainly used with elite performers so that they can make small corrections to their technique

Question 43

How are positive and negative feedback provided ?

Answer 43

Positive and negative feedback are both provided by other people (extrinsic). Positive feedback tells the performer what went well with the performance. Negative feedback, on the other hand, tells the performer what did not go well with their performance.

Question 44

What is extrinsic feedback ?

Answer 44

Extrinsic feedback often comes from a coach or teacher (it comes from the outside). Extrinsic feedback could also come from a team-mate or, from a result they get in competition. Extrinsic feedback is important for beginners because they do not have the experience to recognise faults (or positives) with their own performance.

Question 45

What is intrinsic feedback ?

Answer 45

Intrinsic feedback comes from within a performer themselves, Performers can use their senses to tell themselves (e.g. the feel of the shot off the bat in cricket or looking to see where a golf shot lands). The process of ‘feeling’ performance through the muscles is known as kinesthesis feedback. Elite performers commonly use this. They know how a technique or skill should feel when doing it well.

Question 46

How is knowledge of performance a type of feedback ?

Answer 46

This focuses on the quality of the performance rather than the outcome. This type of feedback relates to the whether the technique was correct or not. The goal is not important here. Examples include: Executing (carrying out) an excellent golf swing on a drive. Good elbow extension (lengthening) in a free throw in basketball

Question 47

How is knowledge of results a type of feedback ?

Answer 47

This focuses on how successful a performer is in achieving their desired outcome (goal). This type of feedback is mostly factual. It tells the performer about a result. This is usually external (e.g. from a coach) but can also be internal: Seeing the distance achieved in a long jump (internal). Golf score. Whether your shot in hockey went in or not.

Question 48

What is arousal ?

Answer 48

Arousal is a physical and mental (physiological and psychological) state of alertness (being alert) or excitement. It can vary from deep sleep (low arousal) to intense excitement (high arousal).

Question 49

How can arousal physically affect a performer ?

Answer 49

Causing a performer to sweat more: This can positively or negatively impact performance depending on the level of arousal. Increasing heart rate This can positively or negatively impact performance depending on the level of arousal.

Question 50

What is the inverted U theory ?

Answer 50

The theory was proposed by Yerkes and Dobson in 1908. It suggests that: As arousal increases, performance also increases up to an optimal (perfect) level. If arousal continues to increase past the optimal level, performance will begin to decrease. The optimal level of arousal may be different for different skills.

Question 51

Why is arousal different for fine skills and gross skills ?

Answer 51

Fine skills need a low level of arousal because performers must be accurate and precise. Gross skills need a higher level of arousal because performers must be powerful and strong. It is important for performers to be able to control and optimise levels of arousal so that they can execute their skills.

Question 52

What are methods/techniques to control arousal ?

Answer 52

Mental rehearsal, visualisation or imagery (mental/cognitive). Positive self talk (mental/cognitive). Selective attention (mental/cognitive). Deep breathing (physical/somatic). These Can be used before performance to help calm nerves or during performance to help narrow focus.

Question 53

Why do performers need to control levels of arousal ?

Answer 53

Because different skills need different levels of arousal, performers need to be able to control and optimise their arousal levels. E.g. when footballers take penalties, they need to calm their arousal so that they don't become too excited and strike the ball too hard or miss the target.

Question 54

For a free throw in basket ball how should arousal be managed ?

Answer 54

Arousal must be calmed so that the free throw can be taken with composure

Question 55

In archery how should arousal be managed ?

Answer 55

Archery is a fine skill and so low levels of arousal are optimal.

Question 56

For a penalty in football how should arousal be managed ?

Answer 56

Arousal must be calmed so that the penalty can be taken with composure

Question 57

In hockey how should arousal be managed?

Answer 57

Hockey is a fast-paced sport and will mostly require high levels of arousal.

Question 58

What is mental rehearsal?

Answer 58

A performer pictures themselves performing the skill perfectly before they actually perform it

Question 59

For a performer What are the uses of mental rehearsal ?

Answer 59

To control arousal before taking a conversion in rugby. To control arousal before throwing a javelin. To control arousal before taking a penalty in football.

Question 60

Why is positive self talk used ?

Answer 60

Performers use this technique to reassure themselves of their ability, tell themselves they are doing well and build their confidence in a particular skill.

Question 61

When will a performer use positive self talk ?

Answer 61

A golfer would use this technique to reassure themselves that they will make a difficult putt. A basketball player would motivate himself when taking a free throw under pressure.

Question 62

What are the two types of aggression ?

Answer 62

Direct aggression and indirect aggression

Question 63

What is direct aggression ?

Answer 63

Direct aggression is where there is physical contact between 2 or more performers. The person starting the aggression is known as the aggressor

Question 64

What is the use of direct aggression ?

Answer 64

In direct aggression, the aggressor uses physical contact to directly or deliberately hurt an opponent

Question 65

What are examples of direct aggression ?

Answer 65

Tackling too high in rugby. A ‘low blow’ in boxing (below the belt). A tackle from behind in football

Question 66

What is indirect aggression ?

Answer 66

Indirect aggression is where there is no physical contact between performers. The aggression is taken out on an object to gain a psychological (mental) advantage over an opponent.

Question 67

What is the use of indirect aggression ?

Answer 67

There is no physical harm caused, only ‘mental’ harm. The idea is to intimidate (scare) the opposition and make them feel less confident

Question 68

What are examples of indirect aggression ?

Answer 68

Volleying the ball hard in tennis to win a point but also to put off an opponent. The Haka that the All Blacks perform before every game lays down an intimidating marker of intent.

Question 69

What is intrinsic motivation ?

Answer 69

Intrinsic motivation comes from within a performer. Performers have internal motivation to achieve self-satisfaction, pride or personal achievement. E.g. someone may experience enjoyment from playing cricket

Question 70

What is extrinsic motivation?

Answer 70

``` Extrinsic motivation comes from an external source. A performer wants to succeed because of external rewards from a competition, coach, peer or family member: Tangible rewards (can touch them): certificates, trophies, medals and money. Intangible rewards (can't touch them): praise, positive feedback or applause from the crowd. ```

Question 71

In the long term what type of motivation is more effective?

Answer 71

Intrinsic motivation is widely accepted as the more effective source of motivation in the long-term. However, it is often the case that both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are present at the same time

Question 72

How do Intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation effect one another?

Answer 72

Research shows that intrinsic motivation is much more powerful than extrinsic motivation. A performer who is playing for pride or because they enjoy something is more likely to stick at it than a performer who only plays for rewards. Too many extrinsic rewards can decrease the value of intrinsic motivation. Performers can get carried away with extrinsic rewards and forget that they play for pride, fun and self-satisfaction.

Question 73

When winning a tennis tournament how are the motivations shown ?

Answer 73

Extrinsic reward = trophy. | Intrinsic rewards = pride and satisfaction.

Question 74

What is motivation?

Answer 74

is the drive or desire to achieve something.

Question 75

What are the two personality types ?

Answer 75

Introverts and extroverts

Question 76

What are characteristics of introverts ?

Answer 76

Introverts are usually shy, quiet and thoughtful. Introverts do not need a high level of arousal. Introverts can easily become over-aroused.

Question 77

What are characteristics of extroverts ?

Answer 77

Extroverts are sociable, enthusiastic, talkative and get bored easily. Extroverts need high levels of arousal to motivate them and to prevent boredom.

Question 78

What sports do introverts typically play ?

Answer 78

Introverts usually play individual sports because they are self-motivated (i.e. they do not need others to motivate them). Examples include badminton players and marathon runners. Introverts play sports that need: Concentration and precision (fine skills). Low arousal.

Question 79

What sports do extroverts typically play ?.

Answer 79

Extroverts usually play team sports that are fast-paced (basketball/football), need low concentration and use gross skills (power and strength). Extroverts are usually leaders within a team because of their social skills and confidence.

Question 80

What are examples of sports that introverts play ?

Answer 80

Running: Runners, like Mo Farah, spend long periods of time on their own in order to clock enough miles to be race fit. This is something that extroverts would dislike and introverts would relish. Badminton: Badminton is an individual sport, and so is more likely to be played by introverts.

Question 81

What are examples of sports that extroverts would play ?

Answer 81

Rugby: Rugby is not only a team sport but also relies heavily on gross skills such as speed and strength. And so, it is ideally suited to extroverted people. Football: Football players, like Cristiano Ronaldo, are likely to be extroverts given the team-based nature of the sport