The effect of mass & distributed practice on performance and learning of discrete simple and complex skills in volleyball

The present study has been carried out to examine the effect of mass and distributed practice on performance and learning of discrete simple and complex skill in volleyball. The subjects included 40 female participants in the summer training classes in 2011 with the average age of 14-17, after carrying out the pretest they were divided into four equal groups. The simple group performed the massed practice in 30 consequent attempts, and for the distributed practice carried out 30 attempts with the rest of 60 second between every 10 attempts. And the complex group carried out the massed practice with the rest of 60 second and for distributed practice with 3 minutes rest between every 10 attempts. The duration of the course was supposed to be 4 weeks and 3 sessions for a week. The average score of the 12 sessions of practice, the acquisition test and 48 hours after the test of retention and transfer were recorded. The results of repeated measures analysis of variance and bilateral variance with the significance level alpha 0.05 indicated that the four groups showed progress in acquisition, retention and transferring of both simple and complex skill in volleyball. On the other hand, concerning the kind of skill and the method of practicing there was a significant difference in the retention and transfer test, so that expressed progress in learning the simple group skill in massive from and in learning the complex group skill which was practiced in an interval from, and in progress was significant in the retention and transferring the progress. In conclusion, the effect of massed and distributed practice in retention and transferring the discrete skill was different concerning to the kind of skill