What are the stages of learning a motor skill?

The stages of learning a motor skill are best described by the cognitive, associative, and autonomous model.

In the cognitive stage, learners are introduced to the skill and are focused on understanding how to perform it. This is marked by significant thinking and problem-solving as they explore the movements required and try to make sense of what they need to do.

The associative stage is where the learner begins to refine their skills. They have a better understanding of the skill mechanics and can perform it with more consistency. Practicing in this stage leads to improved performance as the individual receives feedback, which helps in making necessary adjustments.

Finally, in the autonomous stage, the skill has been mastered to a point where it can be executed with little conscious thought. The movements become automatic, and the individual can focus on higher-level strategies or other aspects of performance, such as environmental conditions or competition tactics.

Other options present different stages that do not reflect the established framework for motor learning. For instance, terms like "recreational," "competitive," and "elite" refer to the context in which skills are applied rather than the learning process itself. Similarly, while "introductory," "intermediate," and "advanced" might describe levels of proficiency, they lack the specific focus