Understand the different purposes and types of feedback.

The idea

Feedback is the information a performer receives about a movement, and its purpose is to reduce the gap between the current attempt and the required technique. Types include intrinsic feedback, sensed by the performer through proprioception, and extrinsic feedback, provided by an outside source such as a coach. It may be concurrent, given during the performance, or terminal, given after it. It may be knowledge of results, telling the performer the outcome, or knowledge of performance, describing the quality of the movement itself. Positive feedback confirms what was correct, whereas negative feedback identifies what must change. Beginners rely more on extrinsic, positive and terminal feedback; skilled performers use intrinsic and knowledge of performance to refine technique.

What earns the marks

• Feedback is information about a performance that guides the performer towards the required technique.
• Intrinsic feedback comes from the performer's own senses and proprioception during or after the movement.
• Extrinsic feedback comes from an outside source such as a coach, teacher or video replay.
• Concurrent feedback is given during the performance, while terminal feedback is given after it.
• Knowledge of results concerns the outcome of the movement, such as whether a shot scored.
• Knowledge of performance concerns the quality of the movement itself, such as the position of the arm during a shot.
• Positive feedback reinforces correct actions, while negative feedback identifies errors to correct.
• The balance of feedback types should change as the performer moves from beginner to expert.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing knowledge of results with knowledge of performance.

  Put it right: Results describe the outcome, such as a goal scored, while performance describes how the movement was executed.

• Treating concurrent and terminal feedback as the same thing.

  Put it right: Concurrent feedback arrives during the performance, whereas terminal feedback arrives after it has finished.

• Assuming negative feedback means harsh criticism.

  Put it right: It simply identifies an error to correct and can be delivered constructively.

• Believing beginners should rely mainly on intrinsic feedback.

  Put it right: Beginners usually need extrinsic feedback because their kinaesthetic awareness is not yet developed.

Exam tips

• Name the type of feedback and then state its purpose in one sentence, for example terminal knowledge of results tells a javelin thrower the measured distance.
• Use a specific sporting example for each type so the distinction between results and performance is clear.
• When evaluating, match the feedback type to the performer's stage of learning rather than claiming one type is always best.