Types of Presentation in Sports Skills

In sports, when athletes are learning or refining skills, coaches may use different teaching methods to ensure effective learning. The four main methods of presentation are: the whole method, the part method, the progressive method, and the whole-part-whole method. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and their suitability depends on the nature of the skill and the athlete's experience.

1. Whole Method

Explanation

• In the whole method, the entire skill or movement is taught and practiced as a complete action, without breaking it down into smaller parts.
• This approach is often used for skills that are simple or that flow continuously, where breaking the skill into parts may disrupt the natural flow.

Example

• Tennis Serve: A player learns to serve by practicing the whole motion from start to finish, without isolating any part of the serve (e.g., toss, swing, follow-through).

Advantages

• Maintains skill integrity: By practicing the whole skill, athletes develop a sense of the complete movement and rhythm.
• Faster overall learning: Suitable for simple, continuous movements that don't require complex decision-making.

Disadvantages

• Difficult for complex skills: Complex or intricate skills with multiple components might overwhelm the learner.
• Potential for poor technique: If the athlete makes mistakes in one aspect of the movement, it may be hard to isolate and correct the error without breaking the skill down.

2. Part Method

Explanation

• The part method involves breaking a skill down into smaller, manageable parts and practicing each part separately before combining them into a whole. This method is particularly useful for complex or multi-phase skills.

Example

• Gymnastics Vault: A gymnast practices different parts of the vault (approach, take-off, flip) separately before attempting the whole routine.

Advantages

• Focus on technique: Allows learners to focus on mastering each part of the skill before combining them, improving technique.
• Reduces complexity: Helps learners manage complex skills by isolating individual parts.
• Effective for beginners: Especially useful for athletes with limited experience in the sport.

Disadvantages

• Lack of fluidity: May lead to a lack of coordination between parts, as the individual components might not flow smoothly when put together.
• Time-consuming: It can take longer to learn the whole skill as the athlete must practice each part separately.