THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT EXPERTISE - FROM LEEDS TO MVP LEGEND

The contributions Of motor skill and cognition (decision making and kn owledge) to sport performance change across age, expertise, and sports . Knowing how to execute a skill is a prerequisite for efficient and e ffective execution. As skill execution improves, the cognitive aspects of motor execution become automated. For low-strategy sports (e.g., s wimming) variables such as physical size and ability combine with moto r skill to determine expertise. In high-strategy sports (e.g., basketb all) cognition remains an important variable in game performance. The performer must know what to do and then be able to execute the plan. K nowledge and decision making should not limit the development of exper tise. Specific strategies for coaches and teachers may facilitate the development of expertise in children and adolescents.