Timetable


Data Collection Table For Performers Strengths And Weaknesses

Activity 1 = Badminton,   JUMP SMASH

Results of the friendly doubles game were:

Performer + Partner                   Opposition 

 15 points (winners)                         5 points

Data Collection Table For Performers Strengths And Weaknesses

Activity 2 = Shot Putt

The distances recorded using a 4kg shot were:

1- 6.78

2- 8.50

3- 7.90

4- 7.69


Evaluation

The activity that I have chosen for evaluation is badminton.  I shall now discuss the all round performance of the performer taking into consideration his strengths and weaknesses and what factors are causing certain outcomes.

If I were to place the performer on a learning continuum he would be positioned as shown in figure 1

fig 1

I have placed the performer just after the associative phase because ‘Fitts and Posner’ define the cognitive phase as being the initial phase of the learning process.  Some sport scientists define it as the ‘have a go’ stage as the performer has already played badminton before he is therefore not being faced with the acquisition of new skills.  The associative phase is defined by Kevin Wesson, (Sport and Pe), as being ‘after much practice and a variety of experience’.  Certain qualities of this phase include:

  • Motor programmes being developed.
  • Gross error detection and correction is practised.
  • The skills are practised and refined under a wide variety of conditions.

All of these qualities are shown by the performer and, more importantly, consistency.  The performer has competed for a club but never progressed any further.  His training is very inconsistent; as he averages one training session every other week.  When I observed the performer he was participating in a friendly game of doubles. The performer’s partner is also at the associative phase but closer to the autonomous phase along the continuum.  Some characteristics of the autonomous phase are listed below and the performers partner is able to reach some of these qualities but not the majority, indicating that he is slightly lower than the high skilled phase.

  • The performance of the skill has become almost automatic.
  • The skill is performed effectively with little, if any, conscious control- it is habitual.
  • The performance is consistent with highly skilled movement characteristics.
  • The performer is able to concentrate on additional higher-level strategies, tactics and options.

The performers partner competes for a local club and has represented his county, training on a weekly basis.  The performers opponents are both at the cognitive phase having only played badminton during physical education lessons at school.  

When carrying out the jump smash the performer consistently makes contact with the shuttlecock but his technique could be improved considerably. Firstly his feet were incorrectly positioned, and were kept very close together, both pointing forward towards the net. Due to him being right handed, the correct positioning should have been that his left foot was pointing forwards towards where he is going to hit the shuttle with his weight over his leg.  His right foot should be behind him shoulder width apart and pointing out to the right.  Shown in figure 2.

Fig 2.

RIGHT FOOT

LEFT FOOT

        

When making contact, the correct position is to be in the air with, for the performer, the right hip coming through so when striking the shuttlecock his hips should be square on facing his opponent.  Although the performer was square on to his opponent when striking the shuttlecock both feet were on the ground.  After striking the shuttle the ‘follow-through’ is very important when competing. It is also vital that once he has carried out the ‘jump-smash’, he immediately gets ready for the return.  When landing from the shot the performer’s feet should be the opposite way from their position before the shot, as shown in figure 3.

fig 3.

RIGHT FOOT

LEFT FOOT

                                                                                         

The performer did land like this a few times but mostly found himself falling away and losing his balance.  This affected his recovery, and the ability to be ready to return a shot because his positioning on the court was incorrect due to him falling to one side, which was nearly always to his left.  Another reason for the performer to have the incorrect foot positioning was due to his left arm during the shot.  The position for this arm is to be held in front of him in the air as if he was reaching for the shuttlecock above his head.  Then, once he had jumped to hit the shuttle he pulls his left elbow towards his left hip.  This causes his right hip to automatically fire forward giving the performer maximum power to lash at the shuttlecock.  Unfortunately, the performer did not do this very often and this resulted in:

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  • A lack of power
  • A lack of accuracy

It resulted in a lack of power because not having his left arm held up caused the performer to not have the ability to drive his arm back thus causing the right hip to swing forward, thereby not giving him the power from his wrist, arm and torso.  It also resulted in a lack of accuracy because when the left arm is held up pointing to the shuttle it causes the performer to know of its positioning and therefore is able to strike it at its best ...

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