Expertise and research into the development of expertise and skill acquistion in sports performance is a specific area of research within the more general field of motor skills acquisition. This is the first fully comprehensive and focused work on the subject.

Integrating theory with practice, this core textbook provides a structured and sequential introduction to motor learning and motor control. Part 1 begins by introducing what motor learning is and how movement is controlled, before exploring how a learning environment may be manipulated to assist in the learning and performance of movement skills. Part 2 explores motor control from neural, behavioural and dynamic systems perspectives. Part 3 provides an overview of considerations in applying motor learning and skill acquisition principles to physical education, exercise and sports science. Chapters are illustrated with flowcharts and diagrams to aid students' understanding, and include activities and end-of-chapter review questions to consolidate knowledge. Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition is essential reading for all Physical Education, Exercise and Sports Science and Sports Coaching students. New to this Edition: - New and updated chapters on skill acquisition approaches, talent identification and development, and performance analysis and feedback as well as separate chapters on practice design and task modification, and practice organisation and planning - Contains additional content on decision-making, tactical and strategic skills, traditional and constraints-led skill acquisition approaches, practice design, and skill-drill and game-based practice for skill acquisition - Supported by a bank of online lecturer resources, including PowerPoints, MCQs and lab activities

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. This understanding is founded on the student's existing knowledge of sport and leads into the subject, using a student centred, problem-solving approach. The first half of the book examines the nature of sports performance and the second skill acquisition. There is a debate among researchers into psychomotor learning: the ecological versus the cognitive approach. Because this book is aimed clearly at students taking a first course in the subject the author includes examples from both schools of thought thus ensuring a balanced approach. looks at skill acquisition firmly within the context of sports performance takes students' practical experience as a starting point then clearly explains the underlying theories presents both cognitive and ecological approaches to the subject to give a balanced view excellent pedagogy including problem-solving tasks, practical experiments and revision notes at the end of chapters Written by an author with many years teaching, research and practical coaching experience, Acquisition and Performance of Sport Skills proves invaluable for students of sport and exercise science taking a first course in skill acquisition, motor learning and/or motor control. This is the second title to appear in the Wiley SportTexts Series that aims to provide textbooks covering the key disciplines within the academic study of sport.

In recent decades, sport science has seen an explosion in the volume of knowledge regarding skill acquisition and motor control. Sport Skill Acquisition carefully and critically considers the expanding knowledge, with a focus on application, examining three major theoretical perspectives that dominate the field: cognitive, ecological dynamics, and predictive processing. Editors Dave Collins, PhD, and Jamie Taylor, PhD, use their combined wisdom as coaches, coach developers, and expert sport psychology practitioners to offer practical advice on blending theoretical approaches, using examples from a variety of sports and activities. Students and practitioners across a variety of professions based on the development and refinement of effective movement—including coaches, sport scientists, physical educators, physical therapists, and trainers—will appreciate the applied focus of Sport Skill Acquisition. The text champions the connection of research to direct application using a practice termed professional judgment and decision making (PJDM), or the it depends approach, which stresses the need to carefully consider and apply the best strategy for each particular context. Organized into four parts, Sport Skill Acquisition begins by considering the three theoretical approaches to skill acquisition. It goes on to explore how these different approaches can be used separately or in a blended form, before considering the wider ramifications of an integrated approach. Then the mental, organizational, planning, and social aspects of skill are discussed, along with practical guidance on how skill can best be planned for, developed, executed, and integrated. Throughout the book, learning features guide readers through the content. Chapter objectives direct readers on their learning path and ensure they focus on key concepts, while chapter summaries offer a concise wrap-up of the material presented. Review questions and key terms support understanding and knowledge. Case studies and practical questions offer real-life situations that support critical thinking. For those looking to improve their work with performers, Sport Skill Acquisition provides a road map for choosing the best approach for each unique situation to develop skills for optimal sport performance.

An athlete’s development from ‘ordinary’ talent to elite accomplishment in sport is a long one. The emergence and fine tuning of high level sport skills takes place in increments over many years and is a journey that fascinates sport scientists, sports coaches and sports fans alike. Developing Sports Expertise, the first available textbook for undergraduates in sports skills development, examines the science behind sports skill acquisition and explores the application of science to optimal sports training, and talent identification. The text also contains Coaches Corner insets throughout to provide effective day-to-day advantage based on in the text. Edited by three of the world’s leading scientists in sports skills acquisition and with contributions from both world class coaches and cutting edge researchers, this textbook provides comprehensive, authoritative guide to the field.

Dynamics of Skill Acquisition, Second Edition, provides an analysis of the processes underlying human skill acquisition. It presents the ecological dynamics multidisciplinary framework for designing learning environments that foster skill development.

This user-friendly, accessible text will enable new students to understand the basic concepts of sport skills acquisition. Each chapter covers important theoretical background and shows how this theory can be applied through practical examples from the world of sport. The book also examines the ways in which skills can be developed most effectively and addresses issues such as: characteristics and classifications of abilities and skills in sport information processing in sport motor programmes and motor control phases of learning presentation of skills and practices. A valuable resource for students and teachers in physical education, sport studies and sports science courses as well as for coaches who want to develop their theoretical knowledge.

The Athletic Skills Model offers an alternative to dominant talent development theories in the form of holistic broad-based movement education, focusing on health and wellbeing. It places the emphasis on ‘physical intelligence’ – including attributes such as agility, flexibility and stability – through adaptable and varied training programmes, creating a skilled athlete before introducing sport specialization. The book sets out the scientific underpinnings of the ASM before going on to offer practical guidance on the content of the programme, how to adapt and vary the programme, and how to apply the approach to different age groups and sports. The ASM’s application in the youth development programme at AFC Ajax is explored in depth, before a future of talent development with an emphasis on athletic, rather than sport-specific, expertise is imagined. The Athletic Skills Model introduces an important and timely challenge to conventional wisdom in talent development and is a fascinating read for any upper-level student or researcher interested in youth development, skill acquisition, motor learning or sports coaching, and any coaches wanting to refresh their approach to talent development.

Nonlinear pedagogy is a powerful paradigm for understanding human movement and for designing effective teaching, coaching and training programs in sport, exercise and physical education. It addresses the inherent complexity in the learning of movement skills, viewing the learner, the learning environment and the teacher or coach as a complex interacting system, with the constraints of individual practice tasks providing the platform for functional movement behaviours to emerge. This is the first book to explain this profoundly important new approach to skill acquisition, introducing key theoretical ideas and best practice for students, teachers and coaches. The first section of the book offers a general theoretical framework to explain processes of skill acquisition and the learning of movement skills. The book then defines nonlinear pedagogy, and outlines its key principles of practice. It offers a thorough and critical appraisal of the optimal use of instructional constraints and practice design, and discusses methods for creating challenging and supportive individualised learning environments at developmental, sub-elite and elite levels of performance. Every chapter contains cases and examples from sport and exercise contexts, providing guidance on practice activities and lessons. Nonlinear Pedagogy in Skill Acquisition is an essential companion for any degree level course in skill acquisition, motor learning, sport science, sport pedagogy, sports coaching practice, or pedagogy or curriculum design in physical education.

Laterality in Sports: Theories and Applications summarizes recent research on the neurophysiological foundations of handedness, and how left or right lateralization (affecting primary hand use, foot use, and eye use) affects motor control, performance outcome, skill acquisition, and achievement of sports expertise—both for one-on-one sports and team sports. As laterality research has matured, greater focus has been given to applications in human endeavours and, in particular, sport. The book examines performance within individual sports, and discusses the coaching ramifications of coaching to a specific lateralization preference. - Describes the neurophysiological foundations of handedness - Discusses the origins and development of laterality in humans - Summarizes the impact of laterality on motor control and sports performance - Encompasses research on both individual and team sports - Includes research on skill acquisition, coaching, and development of expertise - Covers research on laterality in preferred hand, foot, and eye use in sports