The value of opposed and unopposed practice: An ecological dynamics rationale for skill development

Abstract

Recently, there has been a great deal of progress in our understanding of skill learning and the types of practice activities that best develop athletes. Evidence suggests sport practitioners’ assumptions about learning dramatically influence the types of practice activities they employ. Historically, dominant theoretical approaches emphasize a strong focus on repeated practice to “acquire” technical skills before these movements are applied in dynamic games. Moreover, these approaches to skill acquisition overvalue the importance of repetition of ideal movement patterns. Contemporary theories, such as ecological dynamics, suggest that movement problem-solving in alive environments, which involves opposed practice, is more beneficial for skill development. This paper explored the theoretical and practical differences in the rationale for opposed and unopposed practice tasks from an ecological dynamics lens. Example practice activities, underpinned by ecological dynamics, will be presented as alternate activities for common isolated technical drills.