Massed, distributed, variable and mental practice

Overview

Massed, distributed, variable and mental practice, their advantages and drawbacks, mental practice for novices, experts and the injured, and matching practice to skill classification.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is massed practice?

   Model answer

   Massed practice is practice with no rest intervals between repetitions. A tennis player hitting serve after serve without a break is using massed practice.

2. 2

   When is massed practice most appropriate?

   Model answer

   Massed practice suits discrete, simple and closed skills of short duration. Experienced, fit and highly motivated performers cope best with it.

3. 3

   Give one advantage and one disadvantage of massed practice.

   Model answer

   Massed practice grooves a motor programme quickly and makes the skill habitual. Fatigue and boredom can set in, which may lead to poor technique being learned.

4. 4

   Define distributed practice.

   Model answer

   Distributed practice includes rest intervals between attempts or sessions. The rest can be used for recovery, feedback or mental rehearsal.

5. 5

   Why would a coach choose distributed practice for a novice gymnast?

   Model answer

   Rest intervals prevent fatigue and help a beginner stay motivated and safe. Feedback and mental rehearsal can be given during the breaks.

6. 6

   What are the drawbacks of distributed practice?

   Model answer

   Distributed practice takes more time than massed practice. Negative transfer may occur if a different skill is practised during the rest interval.

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