elnaz shaban

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low contextual interference with high contextual interference on acquisition, retention and transfer of basic gymnastics skills in children with three to six years old. The study population included 52 children three to six years old enrolled in gymnastics school from which 20 children were selected randomly. Jumping skills (open-leg jack, closed-leg jack, pistol) balance skills (simple, stork, angel) and Tumbling forward skills (closed leg, open leg, one leg) were displayed by experienced coach and then they participated in the pre-test. Performing all pre-tests were filmed and, based on total average rating of three official refers, the subjects respectively were replaced in two groups of low contextual interference and high contextual interference(n=10). The low contextual interference group practiced only one of the skills in each session and at the end of the session acquisition post-test was taken and 48 hours later at the start of the next session the post-test of retention and transfer of last session were done and then they practiced the next skill. The high contextual interference group, practiced all the skills for the nine session in each session. At the end of the ninth session, they had acquisition post-test and 48 hours later, the retention and transfer post tests were taken. The data was analyzed by MANCOVA with alpha set at 0.05. Results showed that there were significant differences between the two block and random practice groups in all three skills of balance, jumping and tumbling(P