Motor Programmes in Sports Performance
What is a Motor Programme?
A motor programme is like a pre-programmed set of instructions stored in our brain that controls how we perform movement patterns. Think of it as a mental recipe book for movements that we've learned and practiced.
Motor programmes are stored in our long-term memory and can be recalled whenever needed, allowing us to perform movements without conscious thought about each individual component.
Key Components of a Motor Programme
1. Executive Program
- Contains the basic pattern of movement
- Determines the order of actions
- Sets the timing of different movement components
2. Subroutines
- Smaller units of movement within the larger program
- Can be modified based on the situation
- Allow for flexibility in movement execution
In a tennis serve:
- Executive Program: The overall serving motion
- Subroutines:
- Ball toss
- Backswing
- Forward swing
- Follow-through
Characteristics of Motor Programmes
- Generalized Nature
- One programme can control similar movements
- Adaptable to different situations
- Can be scaled up or down in size and speed
- Hierarchical Structure
- Organized in levels of complexity
- Higher-level programs control overall movement
- Lower-level programs handle specific details
