Building Skill

When developing skill, it is important for the instructor and the learner to understand that practising a task effectively requires guided problem solving, internal motivation and focused repetitions, whether that’s linking turns or making a wedge for the first time.

Learning a new skill is tough and it is inevitable that errors will be made. However, there is no need to worry as making errors is a crucial part of the practice process. When developing new skills the learner must first prioritise focusing on the outcome of a successful performance, with the understanding of what a successful performance looks like and whether or not they are performing the outcome successfully or unsuccessfully, this will create clarity of outcome for the learner.

Secondly, the learner should focus on their sensory perception (what they are paying attention to), the movements of their body (movements themselves), and their proprioception (knowing where their limbs are relative to their body). Performing many focused repetitions, acknowledging when errors are made then adjusting the focus to continue striving for successful performance is the most productive way to develop new skills.

When learning a new skill or any time we move there is neurobiology involved. Here is some of the neurobiology that is involved when movement of any kind is generated:

• Central pattern generators (CPG) live in the spinal cord, they generate and control repetitive movements. When you are really good at something the CPGs will control those movements.
• Upper motor neurons control deliberate action, this is what you engage when you are learning deliberate (new) actions/skills.
• Lower motor neurons are the wiring from the spinal cord that cause the firing of muscle fibres.

Open & Closed Loop Learning

Open and closed loop learning explains how the brain controls, monitors and adapts movements when performing certain tasks. Skiing is one of those tasks.

Tasks that cannot be altered during their execution will fall into the open loop category:

• Open loop learning refers to signals sent from the brain directly to the muscles without proprioceptive or kinesthetic feedback guiding alterations to the performance. A motor function is performed in a consistent environment and you receive instant feedback on the outcome of your performance. A simple example for this would be throwing a dart at a dart board.

Tasks that are ongoing and provide an opportunity for internal or external feedback to take place will fall into the closed loop category:

There are two types of closed loop learning cycles:

• The first type of closed loop learning is where the muscles control the performance through internal feedback. Signals are sent from the brain to the muscles, then proprioceptive or kinesthetic feedback is processed within the muscles during the performance. The muscles can then adjust and adapt motor performance themselves through a shorter internal signalling loop. For example, trying to maintain an athletic stance while skiing, the muscles can control adjustments in the moment to correctly maintain an athletic stance.
• The second type of closed loop learning is where the brain controls performance through external feedback. Signals are sent from the brain to the muscles then the brain will process any external feedback and send more signals to the muscles, this is a longer feedback loop. For example, if you are skiing through an off-piste area and you see a rock, your brain will deliver this external feedback to your muscles and you will adapt your movements accordingly in order to avoid the rock.

In order for skill to be developed the concepts outlined above in this section need to be considered.