The Contextual Interference Effect in Sports Practice

Study Notes

Practice design aims to optimize learning and retention for maximum transfer to sporting environments.
Practice variability refers to the variety of movement and context characteristics experienced while practicing a skill.
Contextual interference (CI) is the memory and performance disruption resulting from performing multiple skills or variations within the context of practice.
The contextual interference effect shows that high CI practice schedules result in greater learning benefits than low CI schedules.
High CI conditions may negatively affect current performance within a practice setting compared to low CI conditions.
High CI conditions can result in significantly higher retention and learning following a series of practice sessions.
Moderately skilled learners benefit from practicing with systematic increases in contextual interference.
A progressive increase in CI from a blocked to random schedule improved retention of passing skills better than a random or blocked only schedule.
Increased CI is associated with a short-term performance decrement in practice.
Increased CI results in significant improvements in learning and retention.