Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Contextual interference in learning precision skills.

Francisco J Moreno1, Francisco Avila, Jesús Damas

  • 1Sport Sciences Faculty, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain. fjmoreno@unex.es

Perceptual and Motor Skills
|November 8, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Both blocked and random practice improved throwing skills. However, no significant differences were found between practice types during acquisition or long-term retention for these motor skills.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evaluation of two inactivated vaccines against Campylobacter fetus in an experimental bovine model: immunological survey and genital clearance in heifers.

Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]·2026
Same author

Understanding coaches' perspectives on sport as a driver of employability-related soft skills in athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Research in developmental disabilities·2026
Same author

Fatal enteric disease reproduced in guinea pigs by oral administration of pollen beetle (<i>Astylus atromaculatus</i>).

Veterinary pathology·2026
Same author

Exploring motor variability in adults with severe athetoid or ataxic cerebral palsy: Impact on error-based and reward-based learning.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Motor Variability as a Predictor of Strength Adaptation: The Role of Complexity in Resistance Training.

Journal of strength and conditioning research·2026
Same author

Linear and Curvilinear Sprint Performance Comparison in Footballers With and Without Cerebral Palsy.

Perceptual and motor skills·2026

Area of Science:

  • Motor Learning
  • Sports Science
  • Skill Acquisition

Background:

  • Understanding optimal practice structures is crucial for effective skill acquisition in sports.
  • Blocked practice involves repeating one skill continuously, while random practice alternates between different skills.
  • The impact of practice organization on motor skill learning, particularly for precise movements, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of blocked versus random practice schedules on the learning and retention of three distinct throwing skills.
  • To compare the efficacy of different practice organizations in a controlled motor learning experiment.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-five male students were divided into two groups: one receiving blocked practice and the other random practice.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants practiced three precise throwing tasks over a three-week period.
  • Performance was assessed at the end of acquisition and during retention tests conducted at 48 hours, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-training.

    • Main Results:

    • All participants demonstrated significant improvement in throwing performance from their initial baseline.
    • No significant differences in performance were observed between the blocked and random practice groups at the end of the acquisition phase.
    • Retention tests revealed no significant differences between the groups, indicating similar long-term skill retention regardless of practice structure.

    Conclusions:

    • Both blocked and random practice methods are effective in improving precise motor skills like throwing.
    • The organization of practice (blocked vs. random) does not appear to influence the rate of learning or long-term retention of these specific throwing skills.
    • These findings suggest flexibility in choosing practice structures for teaching precise motor actions.