======Learning Curves in Sports Skills======


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**Alternative titles:** Motor Skill Acquisition, Practice Makes Progress
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Select one skill for the whole class (e.g., golf putting, basketball free throws, dart/beanbag target throws, sport stacking, table tennis keep-ups, agility ladder or cone-slalom).
  - Define performance metrics before starting (e.g., percent made, miss distance in cm, completion time, radial error, and trial-to-trial standard deviation).
  - Conduct a brief standardized warm-up (e.g., 2–3 practice attempts that are not scored).
  - Run a **Baseline block** (e.g., 10–20 attempts) and record metrics for each trial.
  - Implement structured practice:
    - Use 3–5 blocks of 10–20 attempts with consistent rest (e.g., 60–90 seconds) between blocks.
    - Keep setup constant (distance to target, target size, course layout).
  - Optionally compare **practice schedules** by splitting the class: one group uses massed practice (blocks back-to-back), another uses spaced practice (short unrelated activity between blocks).
  - Add a **Retention test** after a fixed delay (e.g., 10–15 minutes or next class): 10 additional trials under the same conditions; record metrics.
  - Plot and analyze:
    - Compute block means for accuracy/success, precision (SD), and time.
    - Graph performance vs. block to visualize improvement rate, consistency gains, and retention.



====Links==== 


====Variations====
  * **Golf putting accuracy:** 3–4 blocks of 10–20 putts at set distances; measure % made, mean miss distance, and SD.
  * **Basketball free throws:** 5×10 shots; compare massed vs spaced practice or blocked vs interleaved drills; track % made per block and learning slope.
  * **Dart/beanbag target throws:** use soft-tip/Velcro darts or beanbags; record radial error (cm), score, and variability across blocks.
  * **Sport stacking (cup stacking):** time best of 3–5 attempts per session; expect decreasing times and reduced variability.
  * **Table tennis keep-ups/basic strokes:** count consecutive hits or successes in 60 s; track errors per block.
  * **Agility ladder or cone-slalom (soccer):** time to complete and foot-faults per run; expect faster times and fewer faults.




====Safety Precautions====
  * Use non-hazardous equipment (beanbags, soft-tip/Velcro darts, plastic cups) and ensure ample space.
  * Establish clear lanes/areas; keep bystanders behind a safety line; one active participant per lane.
  * Remove tripping hazards; ensure proper footwear on smooth floors.
  * No running with equipment; supervise all timed/agility tasks.



====Questions to Consider====
  * What pattern in your graph indicates learning? (Improved accuracy/success, faster times, and reduced variability across blocks.)
  * Did massed or spaced practice produce better retention? (Spaced practice typically supports better retention, even if initial gains look slower.)
  * Why analyze both mean performance and standard deviation? (Mean shows accuracy/speed; SD shows consistency—both are essential for skilled performance.)
  * Did improvements persist at the retention test? (If yes, learning transferred beyond temporary warm-up effects; if no, gains were transient.)