Use of guidance and feedback: Knowledge of performance.

The idea

Knowledge of performance (KP) is information about the quality or technique of a movement, rather than its outcome. It tells a performer how the movement was executed: for example, a coach may say that a gymnast's hips were too high during a handstand or that a javelin thrower's elbow dropped on release. KP can come from a coach, video replay, a mirror or the performer's own proprioception. It is most useful when it is specific, accurate and given soon after the attempt, because it helps the learner compare their actual technique with the correct technique and adjust the next attempt.

What earns the marks

• Knowledge of performance is information about the quality or technique of a movement, not its outcome.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing knowledge of performance with knowledge of results.

  Put it right: KP describes how the movement was performed, while KR describes the outcome such as time, distance or score.

• Assuming KP must come from an external source.

  Put it right: The performer's own proprioception can also provide KP.

• Thinking KP is only useful after a failed attempt.

  Put it right: It can improve technique after successful attempts too.

• Believing KP should be vague to avoid overloading the learner.

  Put it right: Specific, accurate KP is more useful for technique correction.

Exam tips

• Read the feedback description carefully and ask whether it tells the performer about the movement itself or only about the result.
• Look for words such as technique, body position, limb action or execution, which point to knowledge of performance.
• Eliminate options that describe outcome measures such as time, distance, score or win/loss, because these are knowledge of results.