Evaluating Types of Guidance (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))
Revision Note
Author
Naomi HolyoakExpertise
Biology
Evaluating Types of Guidance
When learning or developing skills, performers may need assistance from a coach or teacher; this assistance is known as guidance, and can come in various forms:
Visual
Verbal
Manual
Mechanical
The type of guidance chosen in any given situation will depend on the experience level of the performer; beginners will need different guidance to elite performers
Visual guidance
This involves a performer being shown how to carry out a particular skill so that they can see what it looks like, e.g.
A live demonstration
A video
A photograph
Watching an event
Visual guidance allows learners to see a skill performed as a whole movement, or broken down into individual, smaller actions
This type of guidance is especially important for beginners learning new skills, who may struggle to follow spoken instruction without first being able to visualise a movement
Elite performers may rely less on visual guidance as they are more familiar with complex spoken terminology
Elite performers may make use of visual guidance in the form of slow motion video, or software that breaks movements down into a series of still images
Visual guidance should be:
Clear
Easy to understand
Shown at a realistic level of difficulty for the learner
Accompanied by spoken instruction
Verbal guidance
Verbal guidance is spoken guidance, and involves a performer being told how to perform a skill by a coach or teacher
When given to beginners verbal advice is likely to be more effective when used alongside visual guidance; this is because:
Beginners may not yet have a good grasp of sport-specific language
Beginners may not be able to visualise a skill performed effectively
Elite performers are likely to make more use of verbal guidance, and may not need it to be accompanied by visual aids
Elite performers will have learned complex terminology relating to particular skills
Elite performers will know what skills should look like
Manual guidance
This involves a coach physically moving or supporting a performer's body to show how to perform a skill correctly, or to aid the performance
Note that sports governing bodies will have specific rules on the use of manual guidance to ensure that coaches and performers agree on how and when such guidance should be used, and that performers are comfortable receiving such guidance
Manual guidance is used more during beginner development, allowing beginners to carry out skills which they might otherwise be unable to complete, and to learn how a movement feels, e.g.
Physically guiding the body of a beginner through a complex movement, such as a golf swing
Supporting a beginner as they perform a movement that might otherwise be too dangerous, such as a beam balance
Elite performers are unlikely to require manual guidance
Mechanical guidance
Mechanical guidance plays a very similar role to manual guidance, but it involves the use of supportive equipment rather than physical support from a coach, e.g.
Armbands or floats used by a new swimmer
A trampoline harness
This type of guidance provides additional support and safety, allowing beginners to learn new skills without worrying about harm
As with manual guidance, this is unlikely to be needed by elite performers
Exam Tip
You need to be able to choose appropriate forms of guidance for performers at different levels, and to justify your choice.
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