Learning vs. Performance and Learning occurs in phases

Note

A change in performance over time is often used to infer learning.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in performance resulting from practice or experience (excludes changes due to maturation or degeneration)

Performance

A temporary occurrence, fluctuating over time

Autonomous (final phase)

Learned skill becomes habitual or automatic, Can perform consistently with little overt cognitive activity, Able to recognize errors and knows the process to correct them, May take years to get this phase, Coach should ask questions like 'How did that feel?' to understand where athlete is in learning progression.

Cognitive/verbal (early phase)

The beginning, Athlete tries to make sense of instructions, identification and development of component parts of skill, Athlete aware of mistakes, has no idea how to correct them, characterized by crude, uncoordinated movements

Associative (intermediate phase)

With practice comes knowledge of what to do, Basic fundamentals and mechanics have been learned-> smooth action, can recognize errors (and is aware of proper steps to correct them), Important that coach provides useful, precise and constructive feedback