Dr.Ed Coughlan: why practice tasks must be consolidated effectively if there is to be successful transfer to the game

Player | Learning | Peter Glynn | 21.05.22

How practice tasks are consolidated with players significantly impacts the effectiveness of learning transfer to the game, says, Dr.Ed Coughlan, skill acquisition expert and Senior Lecturer at Munster Technological University. Getty Images/DeFodi images

Learning: 

-       Consolidation of training tasks is key to effective transfer to the game

-        Consolidate in a logical and timely manner before progressing to the next task

-        Provide players with a clear and narrow objective to ensure clarity of focus

How practice tasks are consolidated with players significantly impacts the effectiveness of learning transfer to the game, says, Dr.Ed Coughlan, skill acquisition expert and Senior Lecturer at Munster Technological University.

“If we don't set up our feedback in the right way, we're messing with consolidation of learning and we're messing with the transfer to the game,” says Coughlan, who works as a coach, coach educator and mentor across a number of different sports, including football.

 “If I'm doing task ‘A’ and then I rush straight into task ‘B’, the consolidation of task ‘A’ gets lost,” he adds.