Implicit or Explicit Learning in Soccer

Implicit or Explicit learning in soccer?

How you answer questions like "What is the best age to learn?" or "Are you ever too old to learn?" depends on your vision on learning. In my profession (which is closely related to Motor Learning) and based on my own vision on learning, I actually find the following questions more interesting to answer:

- How do we learn most effectively?

- How do we put this into (soccer) practice?

 A few weeks ago I started the martial art Shantung Kuntao. This combat sport, which has its roots in the former Dutch East Indies, is all about control, efficiency and the development of explosive power. Concentration, control and precision play a major role.

After the first few lessons, I did feel too old. Not too old to learn, but the muscle aches in places where I had never experienced muscle aches confronted me with my age. But no, you are never too old to learn. Sure, the learning process and development will slow down at a certain age in terms of physical condition. Unfortunately, my body is less flexible and recovers more slowly. But other aspects such as a better developed meta-cognition and more experience contribute positively to the learning process.

Back to my vision on Learning. In soccer we speak of motor learning as: the acquisition of motor (soccer) skills in combination with decision making. A decision precedes all behavior and actions (with and without ball, attacking and defending). In a complex sport such as soccer, players are constantly making and implementing decisions. It is important to know this, in the development of players. There are different views on motor learning (and learning to play soccer) and its applications. These differences provide interesting discussions, reflections and further developments in the field of learning.

My definition (and goal) of motor learning (soccer):

“A change in a player's ability to perform skills (behavior and actions with and without the ball) under varying and new circumstances. These changes create awareness and a relative permanent improvement in performance as a result of training and experience."

 How can we facilitate (train, develop) the changes as effectively as possible so that they are sustainable? In other words, when does a player learn?

A player has learned if:

- the information, knowledge, skills and behavior acquired is sustainable and will last (retention)

- the information, knowledge, skills and behavior acquired is flexible and adaptive (transfer)

- the experience gained leads to a change in behavior

The above is not (always) directly observable but should be seen as a long-term process. Indeed, you never stop learning!

When it comes to different views on learning to play soccer and the appropriate learning strategies, Implicit / Explicit learning is the most discussed strategy.

 For the application of this learning strategy it is therefore important that players learn with a certain form of retention, transfer and behavioral change (see above).

 Let's compare Implicit and Explicit.

Implicit: without explicit wording, the process by which knowledge of the complex environment is acquired in an unconscious way.

 Explicit: fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied, conscious process in which verbal instructions are given.

 Implicit / Explicit learning leads to Implicit knowledge (knowing without knowing) and Explicit knowledge (knowledge relating to facts and rules).

 Advantages

Implicit:

- More sustainable than explicit

- Skills can be retained longer

- Working memory is less taxed; possibility to perform secondary task

- Increases flexibility

 Explicit:

- Learn quickly and effectively

- Indispensable to achieve a high level of performance in complex tasks (soccer)

- Increases transfer to new circumstances

 Disadvantages

 Implicit:

- Slower way of learning

- Less good performance

- Limited transfer options

- Only advantageous at low pressure of performance

- Due to a lack of explicit knowledge, more often distracted by noise or disturbing information

Explicit:

- Disruption of movement pattern when thinking about a movement (e.g. stress situation)

Both learning strategies have their advantages and disadvantages. Given the complexity of soccer, it is advisable to use both strategies and find a good balance between both. After all, it's not about isolated skills. Whether and how players learn depends not only on your vision, application and learning strategy with regard to motor learning, but also on the individual player, the trainer / coach, the environment, culture, ...

With all forms of practice, training and coaching, it is therefore important to ask how we can allow players to learn and develop most effectively. A useful tool to facilitate a good balance between implicit / explicit learning is the TSM Variation Model (see Figure 1)

Based on a chosen learning objective, various challenges (player, environment, team task, coaching, rules) can be placed on the players that stimulate behavior and actions. The challenges can be offered both Implicitly and Explicitly.

As an example of the “challenge” Environment:

- The shape of a field (wide) to implicitly stimulate flank play

- Field with demarcated flanks with mandatory occupation of 1 player (explicit)

What does the above have to do with my Shantung Kuntao experience and effective learning? The sport was completely new to me. I did not know anything about the background of the sport and the required movements and skills. The context was also completely new. Still, I have been able to pick things up. This certainly has to do with previous experience in other sports and from my coaching. From these experiences a certain transfer is possible to Kuntao. Due to the good balance between Implicit and Explicit coaching from my teacher, I learn new skills, and how I can develop and apply them. I also learn the purpose of the (series) movements. This creates awareness about the How and Why. By repeating the movements, I am better able to apply them again at the next training session.

The behavioral change is also taking place slowly. I have to, otherwise I’ll get punched in the nose. What is learned is effective.

Even at my age I learn!

(for a more detailed explanation on “How Players Learn” see the Learning Cycle blog)

Roger Bongaerts