Explain the types of transfer of learning and how practice can be structured to promote positive transfer and limit negative transfer

What this dot point is asking

WACE expects you to define the types of transfer, give sporting examples, and explain how a coach uses practice design to promote positive transfer and reduce negative transfer. The application to coaching is where the marks are.

Positive transfer

Positive transfer occurs when the learning or performance of one skill assists another, usually because the skills share similar movement patterns or perceptual demands. The overarm throw transfers positively to the tennis serve and the cricket bowl, because the underlying action is similar. Coaches deliberately use positive transfer by teaching a foundation skill that supports several sports.

Negative transfer

Negative transfer occurs when one skill interferes with the learning or performance of another, often because two skills look similar but require a different response. A squash player may struggle with tennis because the wrist action differs, even though both use a racquet. Negative transfer is usually temporary and can be overcome with practice, but coaches manage it by being aware of which similar skills may interfere.

Zero transfer

Zero transfer occurs when learning one skill has no effect, positive or negative, on another, because the skills are unrelated. Learning to swim has no real effect on learning to play chess. Recognising zero transfer matters because it warns against assuming that practising any activity will help an unrelated skill.

Proactive and retroactive transfer

Transfer also has a direction in time. Proactive transfer is when a previously learned skill affects a skill learned later, such as an established throwing action helping a new sport. Retroactive transfer is when a newly learned skill affects a previously learned one, which can be positive or negative. Coaches consider the order in which skills are taught to maximise helpful proactive transfer.

Bilateral transfer

Bilateral transfer is the transfer of learning from one side of the body to the other, such as a player who can already kick well with the right foot learning to kick with the left more quickly than from scratch. Coaches use this to develop two sided players efficiently.

How this maps to the exam

A question gives two related skills or a coaching scenario and asks about transfer. Identify whether the transfer is positive, negative or zero, explain why based on the similarity of the skills, then describe how the coach designs practice to promote positive transfer (game like conditions) and limit negative transfer.