ABSTRACT
Motor skills acquisition tends to pass through three stages. These stages do not have sharply defined borders, but rather a blending or merging of behaviours, much like the colours transition in a rainbow. The three stages of motor learning are: cognitive, associative and autonomous or initial, intermediate and advanced. Although the naming conventions of the stages of motor learning vary, nearly all are tri-phasic. Motor learning is also cyclic. Skill learning begins with a goal, proceeds through learning and practising, and ultimately achieves success or failure. The cognitive stage of learning is first. The associative stage of learning is second. This stage involves the consolidation of the separate and serial movements that were attempted in the cognitive stage. The autonomous stage is third. The athlete has complete or nearly complete control of the skill. Information flows through the various stages listed, and nested within the three stages of motor learning.
