The Role of Verbal Cues in Skill Learning

Abstract

Verbal cues are concise phrases, often just one or two words, that are used as an alternate method of communicating task information. Research in motor learning and sport pedagogy has examined the effects of verbal cues in directing attention to critical task stimuli and information, recalling series of motor activities, and initiating movement sequences. The purpose of this paper is to address the theoretical bases of verbal cues, review recent cueing research, and offer suggestions for designing and implementing verbal cues in physical education and sport settings.