(1)
The diagram above shows that with constant feedback skills can be improved and maintained so that the performer can execute them on a more consecutively accurate level.
Feedback can be seen in six main forms;
Positive feedback - This can be seen as what went well during the performance of a skill. This is essential to learning new skills because it lets the athlete no what part/s of the shill/sequence not to change.(1) E.g. in a serve in tennis a coach might tell the player that the height of the throw and connection with the ball was good so they no not to change it so correct repetition of the skill can be performed.
Negative feedback - this is also known as constructive criticism and should contain more than just bad points it should state what went wrong but also inform how to put those points into action and right if it is to be beneficial to the performance. This form of feedback has major benefits when perfecting a skill but must be used carefully with beginners, over use may lead to the performer loosing the enjoyment of a sport consequently leading them to giving up completely. This feedback can be seen when taking a shot in basketball the coach may tell the player there wasn’t enough power on the shot or give them a specific area to aim for on the backboard when shooting. (3)
Continuous feedback - this feedback can also be called ongoing feedback and is most frequently received as proprioceptive information. For example in golf when driving the ball knows when it’s a good connection with the ball by the ‘feel’ of the shot, they can also feel the if they have hit the ball with the sweet spot. (4)
Terminal feedback - this feedback comes straight after the performance of a skill or task. This can come either immediately after a performance or later at a more appropriate time. For example if a badminton player reached the final you wouldn’t say just before they played what went wrong in the previous game. (3) however this type of feedback is not appropriate for sports such as motor sports where constant or continuous feedback is more suited so that the performer knows to keep a constant time or up there performance.
Intrinsic feedback - this type of feedback comes from the performer themselves and can be both positive and negative. E.g. a javelin throwing will feel it’s a throw even before the javelin has landed. It generally comes through as negative especially with beginners because they are always trying to either perfect a skill or learn a new one. However with the negative feedback intrinsic feedback can be very dangerous with players self esteem. E.g. a full back in rugby may miss one tackle but it might be on his mind for the rest of the game causing his performance to go in a downward spiral. (3)
Extrinsic feedback - feedback that comes from an external source e.g. sound or vision. For example in a football game a player either a striker or goalie just before a penalty may hear the chants from the crowd or may see the opponents looking or leaning to one side so he has an idea of which way to dive to make the save. Also a badminton player may see an open space in a game of doubles that is constantly opening and play a shot into it to use the players weakness against them. (1)
Feedback plays an important role in all three aspects of learning and perfection but particularly in the learning of new skills. For any sport positive feedback is important but too much positive feedback may lead a beginner into becoming too complacent and could lead to the player being incapable of receiving negative feedback. However too much negative feedback can lead to the players self-confidence being destroyed and will take all enjoyment totally from the sport. In a racket sport such as badminton or tennis when learning skills such as serves, volleys and drop shots, the ideal feedback would an equal amount of both positive and negative feedback and with continuous extrinsic feedback so they can start getting the skill right from the beginning. However an individual or team sports such as sprinting continuous feedback is not practical or constrictive so the coach should use more of a terminal approach to giving there feedback. In team games sometimes the best form of feedback is an intrinsic and both positive and negative approach so that the player themselves can place skills they have freshly learnt in training and apply them in a match or game like scenario. Personally I prefer to have negative feedback so that I gain the motivation to improve and perfect the skills that need improving until they are consistently accurate. I also prefer to have extrinsic feedback coming from both the coach and team mates so that the skills develop a place within the team and game. Also continuous and terminal feedback so that the coach can explain exactly where and what is going wrong when taking a conversion or placed kick in rugby if the ball is angled wrong or if I am striking the ball without enough power.
In conclusion the best forms of feedback for learning new skills are all forms in the right equal proportions. However intrinsic feedback plays a more crucial part in the development and perfecting phase due to the player already knowing what the skill should be performed like.
