Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relative effectiveness of 2 forms of physical education instruction on students' skill and technical performance, as well as content knowledge in 3 track and field events. Method: Students from 6 classes in 3 Portuguese schools completed 900-min units conducted under the auspices of sport…

Accomplished throwers conserve angular momentum when distal joints of the throwing arm reach peak velocity at a later time than their proximal neighbors. The result is an increase in velocity of the most distal segment--the hand. Past research indicates that skill level varies by the number of joints experiencing distal timing lag (time to peak…

In terms of planning and achieving student learning in physical education, important variables that influence this goal include task organization, quantity and quality of practice, task structure, communication with students or feedback, appropriateness of the skills, and motivational climate. With respect to the construct of quality practice…

Different types of diving entries were filmed both above water and underwater to help identify factors which enable divers to enter the water without apparent splash. Anthropometric measures of subjects were taken to determine body streamlining. Results are presented. (Author/DF)

Female fast pitch softball batters served in an examination of the dynamic characteristics of the bat during the swing through the use of three-dimensional cinematographic analysis techniques. These results were compared with those from previous studies of baseball batting. Findings are listed. (Author/DF)

Results from a study involving 80 undergraduates indicate that acquisition and retention of a motor skill, developed through practice of a movement timing task, were facilitated by distributed practice on the continuous task, but by massed practice on the discrete task. (IAH)

This study identifies critical elements of the front dive half-twist that judges are likely to look for when they score springboard diving competitions. Videotapes of divers at a 1979 intercollegiate diving meet were made and analyzed, using grid scoring procedures, to isolate components of the dives that would help predict judges' scores.…

An important component of the value of sport is the experiences it provides. A group of adolescents were monitored to observe their reactions to organized sport, informal sport, and physical education class. Degrees of enjoyment and positive experience in these areas are discussed. (Author/DF)

A study compared the abilities of gymnastics teachers, physical education teachers, and education majors to analyze filmed gymnastic performances and detect errors. While gymnastics teachers identified the most errors, physical education teachers did little better than the education majors did. (Authors/PP)