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HMS, BM 2024 HSC 4 MC

The player profile for Athlete A is shown.

Athlete A:

  • Athletic build
  • Height: 195 cm (6 ft 4 in)
  • Hardworking
  • Willingness to listen

What do the characteristics of Athlete A relate to?

  1. Ability and confidence
  2. Ability and personality
  3. Heredity and confidence
  4. Heredity and personality
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct. The athlete profile describes both heredity characteristics (height and athletic build) and personality traits (hardworking, willingness to listen).

Other Options:

  • A and C are incorrect: Confidence is not mentioned in the profile.
  • B is incorrect: Ability refers to acquired skills, not mentioned in the profile.

HMS, BM EQ-Bank 536

Discuss how age as a characteristic of a learner affects skill acquisition and influences coaching approaches.   (6 marks)

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*PEEL – Solution is structured using separate PEEL methods for each side of the argument; [P] Identify the point, [E] expand on the point with a link to question asked, [Ev] apply evidence/examples, [L] linking sentence back to question.

Age positively influences skill acquisition:

  • [P] Children’s neuroplasticity improves their motor learning capacity.
  • [E] Young learners’ developing nervous systems adapt quickly to new movement patterns, making skill acquisition more efficient.
  • [Ev] A 7-year-old learning tennis develops coordination patterns faster than adults starting the same sport.
  • [L] Therefore, age-appropriate coaching capitalising on neuroplasticity accelerates skill development in children.
     
  • [P] Adults possess superior cognitive processing for complex skills.
  • [E] Mature learners understand abstract concepts and strategic elements better than children.
  • [Ev] Adult basketball players grasp defensive zone strategies more readily than youth players.
  • [L] Thus, age brings cognitive advantages that coaches can leverage for tactical skill development.

Age negatively affects skill acquisition:

  • [P] Physical decline in older adults limits skill performance.
  • [E] Reduced reaction time and flexibility restrict movement execution and learning of dynamic skills.
  • [Ev] A 50-year-old learning gymnastics faces greater physical barriers than younger learners.
  • [L] Consequently, age-related physical changes require modified coaching approaches emphasising technique over power.
     
  • [P] Children’s limited attention spans hinder sustained practice.
  • [E] Young learners struggle with repetitive drills needed for skill automation.
  • [Ev] 8-year-olds typically maintain focus for only 15-20 minutes versus adults’ 45-60 minutes.
  • [L] Therefore, coaches must adapt practice structures to accommodate age-related attention limitations.
Show Worked Solution

*PEEL – Solution is structured using separate PEEL methods for each side of the argument; [P] Identify the point, [E] expand on the point with a link to question asked, [Ev] apply evidence/examples, [L] linking sentence back to question.

Age positively influences skill acquisition:

  • [P] Children’s neuroplasticity improves their motor learning capacity.
  • [E] Young learners’ developing nervous systems adapt quickly to new movement patterns, making skill acquisition more efficient.
  • [Ev] A 7-year-old learning tennis develops coordination patterns faster than adults starting the same sport.
  • [L] Therefore, age-appropriate coaching capitalising on neuroplasticity accelerates skill development in children.
     
  • [P] Adults possess superior cognitive processing for complex skills.
  • [E] Mature learners understand abstract concepts and strategic elements better than children.
  • [Ev] Adult basketball players grasp defensive zone strategies more readily than youth players.
  • [L] Thus, age brings cognitive advantages that coaches can leverage for tactical skill development.

Age negatively affects skill acquisition:

  • [P] Physical decline in older adults limits skill performance.
  • [E] Reduced reaction time and flexibility restrict movement execution and learning of dynamic skills.
  • [Ev] A 50-year-old learning gymnastics faces greater physical barriers than younger learners.
  • [L] Consequently, age-related physical changes require modified coaching approaches emphasising technique over power.
     
  • [P] Children’s limited attention spans hinder sustained practice.
  • [E] Young learners struggle with repetitive drills needed for skill automation.
  • [Ev] 8-year-olds typically maintain focus for only 15-20 minutes versus adults’ 45-60 minutes.
  • [L] Therefore, coaches must adapt practice structures to accommodate age-related attention limitations.

HMS, BM EQ-Bank 528 MC

A basketball coach is working with a player who recently experienced a severe ankle injury. Despite having physically recovered, the player hesitates when performing layups and avoids jumping in traffic under the basket.

Which characteristic of the learner is most directly impacting skill performance in this scenario?

  1. Prior experience
  2. Heredity
  3. Ability
  4. Confidence
Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct: Includes past injuries that can negatively impact current performance, even after physical recovery.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: Heredity refers to inherited traits, not experiences that affect performance.
  • C is incorrect: Ability refers to how easily one learns skills, not psychological impacts of past experiences.
  • D is incorrect: While confidence is affected, the root cause is the negative prior experience of injury.

HMS, BM EQ-Bank 527 MC

Four soccer players display the following characteristics:

Player W: Has exceptional field vision and problem-solving during game situations
Player X: Possesses high levels of dedication and willingness to take risks to improve
Player Y: Has a tall, lean build with a high percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibres
Player Z: Shows outstanding cooperation with team mates and listens attentively to coaching

Which TWO players' characteristics would be classified as non-modifiable learner characteristics?

  1. Players W and X
  2. Players X and Z
  3. Players Y and Z
  4. Players W and Y
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution

Consider Option D:

  • Player W demonstrates natural ability in field vision and problem-solving (cognitive abilities)
  • Player Y shows physical heredity traits (body type and muscle fibre composition)
  • Both of which are non-modifiable characteristics.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Player X’s dedication and risk-taking are personality traits which can be developed.
  • B is incorrect: Both Player X’s dedication and Player Z’s cooperation are modifiable personality traits.
  • C is incorrect: While Player Y has non-modifiable physical traits, Player Z’s cooperation and listening skills are modifiable personality traits.

HMS, BM EQ-Bank 525 MC

A beginner swimmer is learning the backstroke. The coach notices the student has good coordination and readily visualises movements before attempting them. The coach concludes this will help with skill acquisition.

Which characteristic of the learner is the coach most directly referring to?

  1. Prior experience
  2. Conceptual ability
  3. Ability in sense acuity
  4. Personality traits
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Conceptual ability refers to the ability to visualise a movement and make it materialise, which is exactly what the swimmer is demonstrating.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Prior experience relates to previously learned skills, not the ability to visualise new movements.
  • C is incorrect: Sense acuity relates to gathering cues from instructional situations, not specifically visualisation.
  • D is incorrect: Personality traits relate to behavioral characteristics like motivation and cooperation, not visualisation abilities.