Acquisition and Performance of Sports Skills

Praised for its clarity and sport focus, this new edition of Acquisition and Performance of Sports Skills , provides students with the theoretical and practical background that is necessary for an understanding of the basics of skill acquisition and performance. To reflect the debate among researchers into psychomotor learning – the ecological versus the cognitive approach– the author includes examples from both schools of thought, thus ensuring a balanced approach. As well as a major update of the text, examples and recommended reading, the new edition includes problem–solving tasks and, in each chapter, a report and brief critique of a relevant research paper. An accompanying website contains all the figures from the book together with a PowerPoint presentation of the key elements of each topic. • A new edition of an established textbook, that looks at skill acquisition firmly within the context of sports performance. • Clearly written, carefully structured and well illustrated with a colour plate section. • Excellent pedagogy including learning objectives, problem–solving tasks and end of chapter questions. • An accompanying website includes all the fi gures with annotations of the key elements of each topic and end of chapter experiments. Written by an author with many years teaching, research and practical coaching experience, the new edition of this successful textbook will prove invaluable for students of sport and exercise science taking a first course in skill acquisition, motor learning and/or motor control.

Prologue 1. Skill, Ability and Performance. 2. Sensation and Perception of External Information 3. Decision Making and Working Memory 4. Reaction Time 5. Anticipation 6. Motor Control 7. Memory 8. Learning I: Types, Theories, Styles and Measurement 9. Learning II: Instruction, Practice, Transfer of Training and Feedback 10. Motivation, Arousal and Learning and Performance 11. Conclusion Appendix 1. Writing an Academic Paper Appendix 2. Test Your Knowledge Answers Appendix 3. Calculating Variable Error References Index

Terry McMorris University of Chichester, UK