Types of Guidance

Visual Guidance

Visual guidance involves showing the performer what to do or how they are performing. Visual guidance can be presented in the following ways:

• Demonstrating. It is important that the demonstration must be the perfect model and delivered by a skilled performer. It is important that the observers can see and hear the demonstration if guidance is to be successful. The demonstration should highlight any important aspects, if possible the skill can be broken down and verbal cues can be given at the same time. The demonstration should be brief and the learners should be given time to mentally rehearse the skill before attempting it.
• Video. The learner can be shown a video of an elite performer. Video can also be used to record the performance of the learner for viewing to analyse their technique. A benefit of videoing skilled performances is that the skill can be videoed from different angles and different playback speeds can be utilised to emphasise key points. Posters, charts and photographs can also be used.

Verbal Guidance

Verbal guidance is a common technique where the coach gives participants instructions to perform the action. For verbal guidance to be successful the coach needs to make sure:

• Learners can hear what is being said.
• They alter the pitch and tone of their delivery. A dull monotone means learners may not pay attention.
• They use terminology that can be understood. For example it would probably be a waste of time telling a Year 5 football player to ‘concentrically contract their Illiopsoas muscle to cause flexion at the hip joint’ when teaching them how to shoot!

Manual Guidance

Manual guidance is the physical manipulation of performer’s body by a coach. An example would be in gymnastics when a performer attempts a handspring on a box. The coach might physically hold or support the performer through the movement. Giving this support enables the coach to control the movement of the performer allowing them to experience, kinaesthetically, the skill correctly, and also ensure the safety of the performer during the movement.

Mechanical Guidance

Mechanical guidance involves the use of apparatus or equipment to support or assist a performer as they execute a movement. For example, the use of a harness in trampolining when a performer is learning to somersault or when a child learns to ride a bike using stabilisers. In rock climbing the coach may often be holding the ropes belaying the performer from the bottom of the rock face. As with manual guidance, the security of the support enables the learner to develop kinaesthetic awareness in a safe environment.