Effect of Practice on Consistency In Performance Technique

Abstract

Rapid-speed photographs taken early, midway, and late in a series of 80 trials of a closed skill (backward jump for distance) were analyzed to determine the effect of practice on within-S variability in performance technique. Means and variability for the distance criterion remained constant over sessions while variability at angle of hip and ankle during landing and variability of joint velocities prior to take-off decreased. Differences between kinds of closed skills were considered in accounting for the outcome.