Long-term effects of type of practice on the learning and transfer of a complex motor skill

This study analyzed the long-term effects of practice schedule on shooting performance in basketball during actual field training. 32 college students (16 female) ages 20 to 29 years completed voluntary basketball training in one of two equal-sized groups employing either constant versus random training. The constant practice group took 160 shots from the free throw line, while the variable practice group took 160 shots from different positions around the restricted area. Learning and transfer (variation of throwing distance and size of the ball) performance was assessed with the Basketball-Shooting Test before and after training and on a retention test 1 yr. later. Significant measures in performance were attributed to learning and transfer in both training groups at all measurement times. Constant training groups had better acquisition and random training groups had better retention. The anticipated transfer effect in the random group was not found.