Motor learning is the process of learning a new skill or ‘skill acquisition’. This occurs at a psychological and physiological level and is vital within athletic development and sports performance. The process of learning a new skill is of great interest to cognitive psychologists, as the acquisition of a new skill involves the processing of information. Physiologically, the performance of a skill involves a synergist collaboration between the neuro-muscular- skeletal bodily systems, with movement quality improving as the synchronisation of motor unit recruitment, rate coding and muscle contraction timing becomes more efficient. At this point movement becomes autonomous or subconscious, allowing athletes to perform optimal movement at a subconscious level.
Therefore, this short course aims to explore the fascinating field of motor learning, combining the science of neurology, physiology and psychology to improve our understanding of how we learn new skills, and ultimately, our overall coaching practice.
Suggested Pre-requisite:
- CIMSPA: L2 Gym / Group Ex
Aims and objectives:
- Describe the science of motor learning and the motor learning process.
- Explain how attention of focus can affect the motor learning process.
- Describe the associated neurological changes associated within motor learning including neural plasticity and synaptic adaptations.
- Describe how the type and timing of feedback can affect the motor learning process, including the motivational effects.
- Explain how effective observation strategies can enhance the motor learning process, including model considerations, and the different functions observation models serve.
- Describe the concepts of motor imagery and visualisation within motor learning.
- Describe the PETTLEP motor imagery method and how it can be implemented to improve the motor learning process.
- Describe the concept of Dynamic Systems Theory within motor learning.
- Describe the constraints-led approach of motor learning and how it can be implemented to improve skill acquisition.
Author Bio
My name is Thomas Stringwell and I am the founder of Your Gym Sports Performance Ltd, an education provider that specialises within the fields of strength and conditioning and sports science. I am an accredited strength and conditioning coach with the UKSCA and currently provide performance consultancy services across a range of sports including rugby union, rugby league, soccer, handball, boxing, mixed martial arts, BMX supercross, strength sports and Youth Athletic Development.
I hold a MSc in Sports Biomechanics (Loughborough University), a 1st class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science (Manchester Metropolitan University) and a Certificate in Education teaching degree (Huddersfield University), with future ambitions of completing a PhD within the field of motor learning, constraints-based learning and non-linear pedagogy.
I have a real passion for education and coach development, having both coached and taught within the fields of strength and conditioning and health and fitness for over a decade. I am a lifelong strength sport enthusiast, having competed both in Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting at a national level, with a genuine drive to support and educate coaches throughout our industry.
Your Gym Sports Performance prides itself on educational excellence, providing evidence-based education to aspiring sports and fitness professionals, whilst supporting practitioners throughout their coaching journey. Our Strength and Conditioning educational pathway enables sports and fitness practitioners to progress within their professional arena, providing coaches with the necessary skill set to apply performance training within their current practice. We aim to inspire and motivate coaches to develop as professionals, creating a lifelong learning experience that assists practitioners beyond the completion of their course, whilst raising the standard of sports performance education within the health and fitness sector.
