Comparison of specific, variable/blocked, and variable/random practice schedules for the retention and transfer performance of college males in a basketball jump-shooting task

Abstract

College males (N = 22, mean age = 21.3) were randomly assigned into 3 groups (SP, VB, VR) and practiced under specific, variableJblocked, and variableJrandom schedules respectively, performing 5 sets of 45 jump-shots for each set (total a 225). TWO posttests were given, 1 for retention performance from a prepracticed position, and 1 for transfer performance from a new position. Each posttest consisted of 45 shots. Two ANCOVAs, with day 1 practice percentage being the covariate were calculated for the detection of treatment effect during retention and transfer among the groups. An LSM post-hoc test was employed subsequently to determine differences between pairs of groups for percentage of successful shots. Level of significance was set at (p < .05) for all tests. No differences among the groups were found during retention (p = .61). Difference was detected during transfer, with the VR group performing better than the VB group (p = . 0 2 ) . The results indicated no superiority sf variable over specific practice schedules for both retention and transfer. Also, it appeared that VR schedules were more effective than VB schedules for performance from a novel position.