Parents and coaches tune in —- if you want to help kids more quickly learn and master new sports skills, “shaping” may prove to be the answer. Shaping is a conditioning technique first introduced by psychologist B.F. Skinner that uses reinforcement to increase the frequency of a behavior. Shaping is a great technique to help kids learn the sport skills necessary to excel and reach their full athletic potential – and the good news is the technique is relatively easy to learn and use.
Skinner developed operant learning, a theoretical approach to learning that relies exclusively on patterns of reinforcement. In the most basic sense, Skinner would suggest that human beings do things that give them pleasure, and avoid things that produce pain (physical or emotional). Operant learning does not take into account a person’s inner psyche, bonding patterns, neuron activity, leadership style, or anything else — instead, it is an approach to learning that is simply about patterns of reinforcement.
Understanding shaping
Shaping is a simple technique, and begins with a target behavior identified. For example, lets say you wanted to teach your child to learn the art of bunting in baseball/softball. You might identify the end goal of being squared around, feet and shoulders set, bat in place, and a good bunt placed on the pitched ball. Assuming the child has never successfully bunted before, he or she will likely struggle with the first step to bunting – getting the body turned in to a “bunting” position. This is where your overt reinforcement can make all the difference.
When using shaping, it is important to use hearty praise and reinforcement for each successive approximation toward the end goal. Using the bunting example, you might praise the child the first time he turns his or her body in the correct direction toward the pitcher – even if he misses the bunt. Remember, you are reinforcing successive approximations and not the overall mastering the goal. After the child begins to turn his body the correct way in order to successfully bunt, make sure to not praise any efforts that get worse from this point. For example, on the second pitch if the child forgets to turn his body simply say nothing (rather than reinforce – after all, there is nothing to reinforce). On the third pitch the child might turn in the correct position again, which of course would be reinforced.
As you continue with the drill you only want to reinforce (praise) each progressively more advanced skill. If the child stagnates and only continues to move his feet, simply say nothing and carry on with the drill — you can re-introduce praise once the child completes the next skill in the goal ladder (like getting the bat into the proper position).
Shaping, in its most basic sense, is an approach to teaching that only offers reinforcement with each successive step that gets closer to the end goal. When the child fails, there is no need to criticize or punish, but simply continue with the drill and praise when each step toward the end goal is accomplished.
Below is an example of a shaping hierarchy (listed from most basic to most advanced):
1. Turn feet into bunting position as pitcher is ready to make delivery
2. Square shoulders toward the pitcher
3. Get bat into appropriate bunting position. Execute bunt successfully
Final thoughts
Shaping is a tool parents and coaches can easily use that will accelerate learning, providing for maximum sport growth. By using positive reinforcement athletes experience better focus, confidence, and resiliency, variables most closely linked with peak productivity. This approach is also useful in the sense that it does not rely on punishment, bullying, or intimidation, but instead positive relationship-building approaches.
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