SPRT2411: Developing Movement Skills

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• To provide students with sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the control of movement skill and how this contributes to the skilled performance within sport;
• To provide students with sophisticated knowledge and understanding of how movements are learned, and learning environments that promote movement skill development and retention;
• To provide students with an overview of coaching planning and pedagogy as it relates to skill acquisition and development.

• This module will have two distinct parts. The first part is a series of one-hour lectures on key theories and principles of skill acquisition and development. Appropriate, specific sport examples will be used throughout to illustrate the application of theories and principles and also to engage the students. Topics covered will include: the learning process; defining skill and related terms; information processing; feedback; phases in learning and developing skills; practice considerations; assessing and evaluating skills; quality practice;
• The second part is a series of one-hour practical workshops whereby students participate in selected movement-related tasks with an emphasis on how technique, skills and strategies are introduced/developed. As the workshops progress, students are expected to play a fuller role in their own learning by preparing practices.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Explain key principles of skill acquisition and development and relate these to sporting contexts;
• Understand and apply the key aspects of the definition and classification of a motor skill;
• Develop an understanding of the fundamental nature of motor abilities;
• Demonstrate a theoretical understanding of how motor movements are programmed and controlled.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of skill development to the specific context of improving performance in selected sports;
• Deconstruct and classify motor skills, and design appropriate learning environments;
• To effectively deconstruct a motor skill so that the organisational demands of the movement task can inform appropriate practice and training schedules;
• Analyse and solve skill-related movement problems.

Key Skills:

• Reading and presenting an evidence base to inform practice decisions;
• The appliaction of theory to practice;
• Time management and independent learning;
• Use information technology.

• Teaching and learning will be centred around lectures and practical workshops;
• The lectures, while imparting key principles and referring to relevant literature, will attempt to engage students throughout in question/answer and discussion work;
• In the practical workshop sessions, students will experience the introduction and progression of key techniques, skills and strategies within selected movement-related tasks;
• Students will be assessed on a formative assignment, a summative assignment of 2000 words and a 2 hour examination. The coursework assignments will assess students ability to research a relevant topic in detail and analyse key issues. In the unseen examination, students are required to review all material within the module in order to be able to answer specific questions on applying key principles and issues to skill development in sport.

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