Reducing errors benefits the field‐based learning of a fundamental movement skill in children

Abstract

Proficient fundamental movement skills (FMS) are believed to form the basis of more complex movement patterns in sports. This study examined the development of the FMS of overhand throwing in children through either an error-reduced (ER) or error-strewn (ES) training program. Students (n = 216), aged 8-12 years (M = 9.16, SD = 0.96), practiced overhand throwing in either a program that reduced errors during practice (ER) or one that was ES. ER program reduced errors by incrementally raising the task difficulty, while the ES program had an incremental lowering of task difficulty. Process-oriented assessment of throwing movement form (Test of Gross Motor Development-2) and product-oriented assessment of throwing accuracy (absolute error) were performed. Changes in performance were examined among children in the upper and lower quartiles of the pretest throwing accuracy scores. ER training participants showed greater gains in movement form and accuracy, and performed throwing more effectively with a concurrent secondary cognitive task. Movement form improved among girls, while throwing accuracy improved among children with low ability. Reduced performance errors in FMS training resulted in greater learning than a program that did not restrict errors. Reduced cognitive processing costs (effective dual-task performance) associated with such approach suggest its potential benefits for children with developmental conditions.

Movement pattern components and mastery of an object control skill with error-reduced learning

“…Focusing on overhand throwing, error-reduced learning has been shown to develop skills that are less dependent on cognitive resources [11,12]. The current findings deepen our understanding by providing insight into possible mechanisms that facilitate learning of movement pattern components, and development of skill mastery.…”

“…All procedures were reviewed and approved by the university institutional ethics review board, and had been reported in detail in two previously published papers [11,12].…”

“…Referred to as errorless learning in the motor control literature, this approach constrains the learning environment to suppress the likelihood of practice errors and, thus, the need for the learner to actively seek solutions for successful motor task performance [10]. Operationally termed as error-reduced learning, this approach was shown to promote better overhand throw movement patterns and increased target accuracy among typically developing children, compared to a training intervention that allowed errors to occur freely [11].…”

Motor Skill Learning in Groups: Some Proposals for Applying Implicit Learning and Self-Controlled Feedback. [Aprendizaje de habilidades/destrezas motoras en grupos: Propuestas para la Aplicación de Aprendizaje Implícito, autocontrolado y retroalimentado].

“…Making hardly any errors hampers hypothesis testing about how movement performance can be optimized, and hence, little or no declarative knowledge will be accumulated. Error-minimizing learning has been successfully used to induce implicit motor learning in, for instance, golf putting and ball throwing, with the participants initially practicing at close distance to the hole or target but with the distance slowly being increased to enhance learning (Maxwell, Masters, Kerr & Weedon, 2001;Capio et al, 2013). A third, more contentious, method for implicit learning is learning with an external focus of attention.…”

“…In this respect, recent work by Capio and colleagues, which examined motor skill learning in children, is pertinent (for a recent overview, see Masters, van der Kamp & Capio, 2013). Capio, Poolton, Sit, Holmstrom, and Masters (2013), for example, reported that primary school children, who practiced throwing a beanbag to a target, showed larger gains in throwing form with implicit than explicit learning. Similarly, throwing accuracy also increased to a greater extent with implicit learning, but only for children with lower motor ability.…”