Research article - (2012)11, 304 - 311
Practicing Field Hockey Skills Along the Contextual Interference Continuum: A Comparison of Five Practice Schedules
Jadeera Phaik Geok Cheong1,3,, Brendan Lay1, J. Robert Grove1, Nikola Medic2, Rizal Razman3
1School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
2School of Exercise, Biomedical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
3Sports Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jadeera Phaik Geok Cheong
✉ Sports Centre, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Email: jadeera@um.edu.my
Received: 15-02-2012 -- Accepted: 27-03-2012
Published (online): 01-06-2012

ABSTRACT

To overcome the weakness of the contextual interference (CI) effect within applied settings, Brady, 2008 recommended that the amount of interference be manipulated. This study investigated the effect of five practice schedules on the learning of three field hockey skills. Fifty-five pre-university students performed a total of 90 trials for each skill under blocked, mixed or random practice orders. Results showed a significant time effect with all five practice conditions leading to improvements in acquisition and learning of the skills. No significant differences were found between the groups. The findings of the present study did not support the CI effect and suggest that either blocked, mixed, or random practice schedules can be used effectively when structuring practice for beginners.

Key words: Skill acquisition, blocked practice, random practice

Key Points
  • The contextual interference effect did not surface when using sport skills.
  • There appears to be no difference between blocked and random practice schedules in the learning of field hockey skills.
  • Low (blocked), moderate (mixed) or high (random) interference practice schedules can be used effectively when conducting a multiple skill practice session for beginners.








Back
|
Full Text
|
PDF
|
Share