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Title / Apply motor control and learning principles
Level / 5 / Credits / 4
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: apply concepts and principles of motor control to exercise prescription; apply concepts and principles of motor learning to exercise prescription; and apply motor learning principles to fitness programme development for special needs groups. This unit standard is designed for people who will, with little supervision, be prescribing exercise for clients in and associated with fitness facilities, recreation programmes and sports.
Classification / Fitness > Exercise Prescription
Available grade / Achieved
Guidance Information
1Motor control as a discipline is defined as an area of study dealing with the understanding of the neural, physical and behavioural aspects of movement (Schmidt, R.A. Motor Control and Learning: A behavioral emphasis. Champaign Il.: Human Kinetics. Latest Edition). Motor control as a process is defined as process associated with the reception and processing of information from the environment and from the body; the use of such information to select and control movements, and the organisation of the central nervous system to produce coordination of many individual muscles, joints and body segments in movement (Schmidt, R.A. Motor Control and Learning: A behavioral emphasis. Champaign Il.: Human Kinetics. Latest Edition).
2Motor learning as a discipline is defined as an area of study focusing on the acquisition of skilled movements as a result of practice (Schmidt, R.A. Motor Control and Learning: A behavioral emphasis. Champaign Il.: Human Kinetics. Latest Edition). Motor learning as a process is defined as a set of processes associated with practice or experience leading to relatively permanent changes in skilled behaviour. (Schmidt, R.A. Motor Control and Learning: A behavioral emphasis. Champaign Il.: Human Kinetics. Latest Edition).
3Special needs groups include:
life cycle stages - children and adolescents, older people and seniors, ante- and post-natal women; people with activity limitations imposed by - asthma, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac insufficiency and injury, visual impairment, hearing impairment, common motor disabilities including epilepsy and head injuries, and undergoing functional rehabilitation.
Outcomes and performance criteria
Outcome 1
Apply concepts and principles of motor control to exercise prescription.
Rangebreadth of knowledge includes – role of nervous system components in movement, information processing, information processing capacity, attention, memory, feedback, elements of the peripheral nervous system, reflexes, motor patterns, muscle recruitment, skill acquisition.
Performance criteria
1.1Description of the interaction of nervous system components in movement is used to analyse how movements are generated.
Rangenervous system components include – neocortex, cerebellum, spinal cord, motor (efferent) nerves, sensory (afferent) nerves, visual system, auditory system, proprioception (kinaesthesis), proprioceptors (muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs, joint receptors).
1.2Analysis of types of movement and skill matches motor control requirements to movement and skill types.
Rangemovement and skills classification – gross and fine, discrete, serial, and continuous, open and closed, posture, balance, planned movements, locomotion;
motor control principles – Laws of Simple Movement, phases of movement preparation and execution.
1.3Analysis of sources and types of information establishes their role as inputs to motor control and learning.
Rangeperception (sensory systems), attention, feedback, memory (working or short term and long term).
Outcome 2
Apply concepts and principles of motor learning to exercise prescription.
Rangeconcepts include – information processing, information processing capacity, attention, open and closed loop systems, feedback, memory (working or short term and long term), motor programmes, reflexes, muscle recruitment.
Performance criteria
2.1Explanation of basic motor learning concepts establishes their relevance for description and analysis of human movement.
2.2Analysis of skill acquisition is carried out by application of motor learning principles.
Rangelearning and performance variables, stages of motor learning, retention, specificity, transfer.
2.3Analysis of instructional and environmental factors (conditions of practice) in terms of motor learning principles shows how these can facilitate motor learning.
Rangeinstructional factors – rate of instruction, frequency of instruction, duration of instruction, type of instruction;
environmental factors - additional sources of information, presence of other exercisers.
2.4Development of movement patterns in children is analysed in terms of motor control and learning principles.
Rangestages of development, motor learning limitations, characteristic movement patterns.
Outcome 3
Apply motor learning principles to fitness programme development for special needs groups.
Performance criteria
3.1Description of motor control and learning literature identifies sources relevant to exercise prescription for special needs groups.
Rangetextbooks, periodicals, libraries, interloan systems, databases, computer network forums.
3.2Research of a variety of sources obtains motor control and learning programme development information for two distinct special needs groups.
Rangespecialist literature, academic sources, health professionals, government departments, support groups.
3.3Motor control and learning information for two distinct special needs groups is presented in the form of exercise programme guidelines.
Rangeprogramme guidelines – skill requirements, learning environment, distribution of instruction and learning periods, instruction and feedback methods, exercise content, equipment and facility requirements, assistance requirements, safety constraints, relevant outcomes.
3.4Consultation with special needs groups allows group members to evaluate programme guidelines and provide input.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 27 June 1996 / 31 December 2020
Revision / 2 / 8 February 2000 / 31 December 2020
Review / 3 / 17 December 2001 / 31 December 2020
Review / 4 / 23 November 2017 / 31 December 2020
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0099
This CMR can be accessed at
Skills Active Aotearoa LimitedSSB Code 101576 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut