Acquisition and Performance of Sports Skills

Acquisition and Performance of Sports Skills is the second title to appear in a new series – Wiley SportTexts that aims to provide textbooks covering the key disciplines within the academic study of sport.

Series Preface xi


Prologue xiii


1 Skill, Ability and Performance 1


Learning Objectives 1


Introduction 2


Skill 2


Classification of skills 5


Ability 7


The ability skill interaction 10


Summary 12


Theories of performance 12


Information Processing Theory 13


Ecological psychology theories 17


Conclusion 21


Key points 21


Test your knowledge 25


Part one 25


Part two 27


Additional reading 29


2 Perception 31


Learning Objectives 31


Introduction 32


Information Processing Theory and perception 32


Signal Detection Theory 33


Pattern recognition 36


Selective attention 37


Visual search 41


Individual differences 42


Summary 45


Ecological psychology and perception 45


Criticisms of the ecological approach 50


Summary 50


Conclusion 50


Key points 51


Test your knowledge 55


Part one 55


Part two 59


Additional reading 61


3 Decision Making 63


Learning Objectives 63


Introduction 64


Information Processing Theory and decision making 64


Individual differences 68


Dynamical Systems Theory and goal achievement 69


Research findings and problems with research design 70


Conclusion 73


Implications for coaches and players 73


Key points 74


Test your knowledge 76


Part one 76


Part two 77


Additional reading 78


4 Reaction Time 79


Learning Objectives 79


Introduction 80


Inter– and intra–individual differences 82


Hick Hyman Law 84


Probability and choice reaction time 85


Psychological refractory period 86


Arousal and reaction time 87


Stimulus and response factors 88


Reaction–time research findings as evidence for Information Processing Theory 91


Key points 91


Test your knowledge 94


Part one 94


Part two 96


Additional reading 97


5 Anticipation 99


Learning Objectives 99


Introduction 100


Interceptive actions 100


Information Processing Theory and interceptive actions 100


Action Systems Theory and interceptive actions 102


Perceptual anticipation 104


Information Processing Theory and perceptual anticipation 104


Ecological psychology and perceptual anticipation 105


Research paradigms in perceptual anticipation 105


Conclusion 110


Key points 110


Test your knowledge 113


Part one 113


Part two 115


Additional reading 116


6 Memory 117


Learning Objectives 117


Introduction 118


Information Processing Theory and memory 118


Sensory information store 118


Short–term memory 119


Short–term motor memory 122


Long–term memory 124


Ecological psychology and attunement to affordances 126


Key points 127


Test your knowledge 130


Part one 130


Part two 132


Additional reading 133


7 Motor Control 135


Learning Objectives 135


Introduction 136


Information Processing Theory and motor control 137


CNS PNS interaction 137


Efferent organization 143


Ecological psychology and motor control 148


Visual guidance of movement 150


Discussion 152


Key points 155


Test your knowledge 158


Part one 158


Part two 161


Additional reading 162


8 Learning 163


Learning Objectives 163


Introduction 164


Measuring learning 164


Information Processing Theory and learning 169


Instruction 171


Cognitivist theories of learning 174


Dynamical Systems Theory and learning 180


Developmental factors affecting learning 182


Cognitive development 183


Motor development 186


Optimal periods of learning 188


Practical implications 189


Key points 191


Test your knowledge 196


Part one 196


Part two 197


Part three 199


Part four 201


Additional reading 202


9 Practice 203


Learning Objectives 203


Introduction 204


Information Processing Theory and practice 204


Types of practice 204


Transfer of training 211


Feedback 216


Timing and precision of feedback 218


Dynamical Systems Theory and practice 221


Practical implications 224


Key points 228


Test your knowledge 232


Part one 232


Part two 237


Part three 238


Additional reading 239


10 Arousal and Performance 241


Learning Objectives 241


Introduction 242


Inverted–U theories 243


Yerkes Dodson Theory 243


Easterbook s cue utilization theory 245


Drive Theory 246


Allocateable Resources Theories 248


Practical implications 249


Warm–up decrement 249


Warm–up 250


Key points 251


Test your knowledge 253


Part one 253


Part two 255


Additional reading 256


11 Conclusion 257


Introduction 257


State of the art 257


Skill 258


Abilities 258


Perception 259


Decision making 259


Reaction time 259


Anticipation 260


Motor control 260


Memory 260


Learning 260


Practice 261


Information Processing Theory versus ecological psychology theories 261


Appendix 1 Writing an Academic Paper 265


Appendix 2 Glossary of Terms Used by Ecological Psychologists 269


Appendix 3 Test Your Knowledge Answers 271


References 287


Index 293