THE HONG KONG SPORTS INSTITUTE

COACH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

INTRODUCTORY SPORTS COACHING COURSE

Topic 1: Concept of Sports

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 1.1 What’s Sport?

What can sports bring you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzHkbIxejUY

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 1.1.1 Physical Education
 Physical education - The concept of educating students
through physical activities to attain the objectives of
cognitive development, affective development and
psychomotor development (including physical skills and
fitness) and emphasize on meaning of education and fun.

Photo reference: https://strand.coronadousd.net/academics/physical-education-pe/ 3

 1.1.2 Sports
 An institutionalised game or kind of play with
rigorous rules and regulations that is competitive in
nature. The aim is to strive for the best through non-
stop drilling of practice.

Photo reference: https://sportspsychiatry.org/

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 1.1.3 Physical Activity
 Physical exercise, Physical activity, physical conditioning
activity, physical education activity - Any bodily
movement increases energy expenditure above the
baseline level (World Health Organisation, 2009)
 Training with energy expenditure, recreational and
competitive activity (Curriculum Development Board,
2007)

Photo reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-019-0559-9 5

 1.1.4 Exercise
 Physical activity that is planned, structured and
repetitive for the improvement or maintenance of
physical fitness.

Photo reference: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-best-apps-for-exercise-health-and-fitness-zqqkl3nmb

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 1.1.5 Recreation
 (A way of) enjoying yourself for happiness.

Photo reference: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/prescott/recreation

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 1.1.6 Leisure Activity
 Participate in light activities when you are not working.

Photo reference: https://stock.adobe.com/nz/images/summer-camping-icon-set-tourist-

camp-equipment-cartoon-signs-leisure-activity-elements-for-nature-outdoor-advertisement-
collection-of-icons-for-tourism-adventure-journey-vector-illustration/212126643

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 1.1.7 Games
 Structured play, for fun and /
or for education.

 Electronic games and video

Photo reference:
games mean any of http://entertainerforkids.com/party-games-for-
children/
various computerized games,
games console or mobile
phone to operate the game
for fun.
Photo reference:
https://www.earnest.com/blog/the-demographics-
of-video-gaming/ 9
 Discussion

Compare Electronic Games and Traditional Sports:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux50Zfn--3w

Photo reference: https://www.independent.co.uk/life- Photo reference: http://usainbolt.com/photos/olympic-

style/video-games-stress-playing-strategy-key-gamers- games-2012-100m-round-1/
study-a8202541.html
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1.2 Skill learning process

Photo reference: https://scysa.ca/play_main

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 Skill learning process

In an information processing model, the

process of skill acquisition is described as
follows:
 A motor task, the input, is perceived and a motor
response, the output directed by the central nervous
system, is generated.

Photo reference: https://tickikids.com/hk/sparkletree-academy/tinytots-soccer-18-months-4-

years-old/
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 Skill learning process
 After executing the motor response, all the related
information, including the perceived requirements of
the motor task, neuromuscular control instructions
from the central nervous system and feedback is
stored in the short-term memory in the form of a
motor programme.

Photo reference: http://www.magicyears.ac.th/teaching-

learning/specials/soccer/ 13
 Skill learning process
 Next time when the same or a similar motor task is
perceived, the corresponding motor programme is
retrieved to generate a response; the motor
programme is then refined according to the new
information received and is stored in the long-term
memory.

Photo reference: https://www.hkfc.com.hk/sports/junior-soccer

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 Skill learning process
 At the early stage of learning, the central nervous system
has to identify an appropriate motor programme or
modify the neuromuscular control instructions, which
have been built in the motor programme previously, to
cope with new situations. These explain why there are
delays or errors in the motor response. As we accumulate
more experience, the motor programme operates in a
highly autonomous manner and needs minimal
involvement of the central nervous system.

Photo reference:
https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2019/02/01/bellingham-spring-break-
camps-providing-fun-and-physical-learning-for-children/

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 1.3 Factors affecting skill learning

Photo reference: http://dhrramalaysia.org.my/cause/sports-development-programme-2/

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 1.3.1 Individual Learning Competence
 Learning style
 Cultural background
 Sense & perception (observe, compare & decide)
 Attention (limited)
 Memory (short & long-term)

Photo reference: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-multi-

culture-children-image5625630 17
 1.3.2 Physical factors

 Age
 Gender
 Fitness level

Photo reference: https://www.dreamstime.com/tug-war-contest-boys-girls-two-

groups-children-different-sex-pulling-opposite-ends-rope-tug-war-contest-
image103522186
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 1.3.3 Psychological factors
 Emotion
 Attitude
 Experience

Photo reference: https://www.parentsinsport.co.uk/2018/05/01/is-your-child-a-good-sport-

parents-you-hold-the-key/
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 1.4 Practice
 Practice refers to the execution of a skill for learning.
When planning practice, the following points should
be noted: Individual needs and characteristics of
learners should be considered. Employ individualised
practice to cater for different needs and
characteristics. For example, some learners may
benefit more from massed practice (i.e. undergoing
many practice trials / blocks / sessions within a short
period of time), whereas for other learners,
distributed practice (i.e. scheduling relatively long rest
periods between practice trials / blocks / sessions)
may be more effective.

Photo reference: https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson/sport/pages/sport.aspx 20

 1.4.1 Practice method
a. Do adequate warm-up and cool-down activities in each
practice session.
b. Mainly on physical training.
c. Identify and practise the relevant skills learnt for transfer
of learning.
d. Break a complex skill into parts, learn the parts one by
one and then link them together.

Photo reference:
https://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/articles/physical
-activity-how-much-children 21
 1.4.1 Practice method (continue)
e. Progress to simulated competitions / game
situations as soon as the basic skills are acquired.

f. Repeatedly rehearse a skill and use it in various

situations for over-learning, i.e. well beyond the
point of initial mastery, leading to automation.

g. Include assessment for learning in each practice

session, e g. acquiring knowledge of performance
through peer observation.

h. Go through a reflective thinking process after

each practice session to generalise or adjust
learning strategies. 22
 1.5 Skill learning stages (3 stages)

1.5.1 Cognitive stage

 The learner is trying to familiarise himself / herself
with the basic movements of the skill.
 The learner needs to process a lot of information
from visual, verbal and kinesthetic feedback.

Photo reference: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/growing-

friendships/201307/learning-be-good-sport
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 1.5.2 Motor stage
 The learner begins to integrate discrete actions into a set
of serial actions.
 There are improvements in consistency, anticipation and
timing. The focus of this stage is to emphasise the
refinement of the skill.
 Feedback is important.
 Provide intrinsic feedback more than extrinsic feedback.

Photo reference:
https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2018/04/17/news/anyone-for-
tennis-six-reasons-children-should-take-up-a-racket-this-summer-
1305531/ 24
 1.5.3 Autonomous stage
 Adjust and strengthen the movement slightly. Keep
striving.
 Nurture intrinsic feedback is important and develop
self-reflection ability.
 The performance of a skill is automatic and is
performed smoothly with little chance of error. The
performer can process information easily and the
emphasis is placed on the strategic aspect of
performance.

Photo reference:
https://www.123rf.com/photo_85357539_child-
playing-tennis-on-outdoor-court-little-girl-with-tennis-
racket-and-ball-in-sport-club-active-e.html 25
 1.6 Skill learning stages summary

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7UcobScnck

Photo reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7UcobScnck

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 1.7 Skill learning stages (practical)

How to Juggle Three Balls?

• https://www.youtub.com/watch?v=kCt1bmSASCI

Photo reference: https://www.wikihow.com/Juggle

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 References
About Physical Activity. US Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/about-physical-activity/index.html

How much of physical activity is recommended? World Health Organization (2020, November).Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity

Information Processing Theories. Educational Psychology. Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/edpsy/chapter/information-processing-theories/

Physical Education, Sport, Recreation, Leisure and Wellness: History and Recent Development. Education
Bureau. Retrieved from https://cd1.edb.hkedcity.net/cd/pe/tc/nss%20pe/nss_lt/Part1_en.pdf

Sport and Recreational Management. Education Bureau. Retrieved from

https://cd1.edb.hkedcity.net/cd/pe/tc/NSS%20PE/nss_lt/Part9_en.pdf

Understanding Motor Learning Stages Improves Skill Instruction. Applying Educational Psychology in Coaching
Athletes. Human Kinetics. Retrieved from https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/understanding-motor-
learning-stages-improves-skill-instruction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzHkbIxejUY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux50Zfn--3w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7UcobScnck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCt1bmSASCI
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