The Emergence of Special Skill in Basketball Free Throw with Different Levels of Expertise

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the emergence of special skill in basketball free throw at different skill levels based on Newell's model of learning stages. Participants were assigned to three skill groups (n=10): coordination group, coordination control group, and optimization group. They threw 350 fixed shots from 7 parametric points (2.74, 3.35, 3.96, 4.57, 5.18, 5.79, 6.4), carrying out 50 shots in each point. Regression analysis showed that the accuracy of those who were in the third stage of Newell's model in 4.57 m point, which is the same line of penalty, was significantly higher than the anticipated regression equation and supported the emergence of special skill (P>0.05), but the rest of the points did not follow the principles of force variability and performance accuracy decreased by increasing distance parameter. Moreover, multiple regression analysis showed that the rest of the points had no contribution to the emergence of special skill and this conclusion may be the reason for rejecting generalized theory in the creation of special skill.

Keywords

• generalization of practice
• newell model
• schema theory
• special skill
• specificity of practice