Massed, distributed, fixed and varied practice

Overview

Massed practice for free throws, distributed practice for a beginner swimmer, fixed practice for closed skills and varied practice for football passing, with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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 little or no rest between attempts. Sessions tend to be long and continuous.

2. 2

   When is massed practice most suitable?

   Model answer

   Massed practice suits fit, motivated and experienced performers. Massed practice works best for simple, discrete and closed skills of short duration.

3. 3

   Give two advantages of massed practice.

   Model answer

   Repeated attempts help to groove a motor programme, so the skill becomes habitual. Massed practice is also efficient when training time is limited.

4. 4

   Give two disadvantages of massed practice.

   Model answer

   Fatigue can build up and cause errors or injury. Boredom and loss of motivation can also occur.

5. 5

   Why would a basketball coach use massed practice for free throws?

   Model answer

   The free throw is a closed, discrete skill of short duration. Many repetitions without rest help to groove a consistent shooting action.

6. 6

   What is distributed practice?

   Model answer

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

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.