Lesson 4 - Motor programmes and sub-routines
with a focus on Adams' theories

STARTER

Source and show video clips [via Youtube] of selection of simple motor programmes [for example, tennis serves or free-kicks].

Q&A session for class on how each action can be broken down into smaller sections of the movement [subroutines].

MAIN ACTIVITY

Presentation: Motor programmes with subroutines
[slides 1-13]

Work through the presentation and encourage pupils to take notes where necessary. Lesson four of the block of work should cover all the Adams Open v Closed loop theory and end with a brief Q&A session regarding situations where the theory could come into question [ready for Schmidt theory the following lesson].

PLENARY

Q&A session on pupils’ knowledge. Ensure pupils are able to provide simple definitions and sporting examples of motor programmes and subroutines. Furthermore, pupils should know the key difference [which is often an exam question] between Adams Open and Closed Loop theory.

Lesson 5 - Motor programmes and sub-routines
with a focus on Schmidt's Schema theory

STARTER

Lesson to start with a short practical activity on the sports field for a ‘Welly Wangling’ competition. The idea is to reinforce Schmidt’s Schema theory which suggests that information in the memory is not stored as separate units but as a set of relationships and can be used to produce similar but different movements. The competition is simple - whoever throws / ‘wangles the welly’ the furthest wins.

Schmidt’s theory comes into practice as it is unlikely any of the pupils have ‘wangled a welly’ before. Although the movement will be different to any they have completed before, it will be a very similar action to things they have thrown in the past [for example, in athletics]. If pupils are successful, the exercise will support Schmidt’s schema theory.

MAIN

Presentation: Motor programmes with subroutines
[slides 14 to 26]

Pupils to move back into the classroom to complete the notes on the theory behind Schmidt’s Schema theory.

PLENARY

Q&A session on ‘Boys versus Girls’ [or split classroom into two] Competition. Get all pupils to close their books, folders, notes etc. Have a copy of the presentation slides from all 5 lessons close at hand. Move through the topics covered asking simple questions [for example, how many items of info can the short term memory hold?]. Whoever is first to stand up will get the chance to answer the question and earn a point for their team. Incorrect answers result in a one point deduction. If you answer a question correctly you must abstain from the next 3 questions.