In this article we give a quick guide to serial skills, how they differ from continuous and discrete motor skills, and why they are important to understand as a coach and sport scientist.
Motor Control
Welcome to Motor Control hub, a comprehensive resource for coaches, athletes, sports science students, and enthusiasts who aim to deepen their understanding of the intricate processes that govern movement and coordination in sport and exercise. This category is dedicated to providing expert insights, research-based knowledge, and practical tips on the fascinating subject of motor control and its applications in athletic performance and skill development.
Discover our extensive collection of articles that explore the fundamentals of motor control, including the role of the nervous system, sensory feedback, motor learning principles, and the development of motor skills. We delve into cutting-edge research and established theories to equip you with actionable information that can be applied to optimize movement patterns, enhance skill acquisition, and improve overall performance.
At Motor Control Mastery, we recognize the importance of a well-rounded understanding of motor control principles for coaches and athletes alike. Learn how to identify and correct movement inefficiencies, develop effective coaching strategies for skill acquisition, and foster a deeper understanding of the factors that influence motor performance.
Whether you are a coach seeking to refine your approach to skill development, an athlete striving for improved movement efficiency, or a sports science student eager to explore the underpinnings of human movement, our expert-driven content caters to your needs. Join our community of motor control enthusiasts, and together, let’s elevate our mastery of the science and art of movement.
Whole & Part Practice: Answer For Coaches & Athletes
The way you train can play a key role in how quickly you learn a skill. Here we explain whole and part practice, before diving into what the research says about the best methods to use in order to optimise your skill development.
What is the learning effect in research and testing?
The learning effect is a phenomenon observed in many areas of testing and research that surround human performance with a physical or cognitive capacity. In this article we’ll explain the learning effect, when it can become an issue and how to account for it.
How Many Learning Stages are There?
If you’re wondering how many stages of learning there are, then this article is for you! There has been a great deal of research and study on the topic and we will explore the various theories.
Distributed Practice vs Massed Practice Explained
If you are going to invest time practising or coaching a skill you may as well try to find the optimum way to structure practice. Here we look at massed and distributed practice, where research suggests the breaks or lack of breaks, in between repetitions can influence our rate of learning
The Contextual Interference Effect Explained
As athletes, coaches and sport scientists we are interested in any factors that can speed up skill acquisition. Contextual interference is one factor that has been shown to accelerate motor learning. In this article we’ll explain contextual interference, discuss how you can apply it in practice and explore the theory behind this effect.
Motor Learning Explained
In this article we’ll cover all you need to know about motor learning, from what it is, how to measure it, and leading motor learning theories.
Motor learning defined
Motor learning can be defined as – a relatively permanent improvement in performance as a result of practice or experience. The relatively permanent feature of motor learning is a small but important detail. As it highlights that we cannot assess how much learning has taken place until after practice has finished.
Knowledge of Results vs Knowledge of Performance
Feedback is critical when learning any skill. Here we’ll look at two types of feedback – knowledge of results and knowledge of performance. We’ll define both and explain how they can be applied to a sporting context.