What role does sensory feedback play once athletes develop skills?

The role of sensory feedback in skill development is integral, especially as athletes progress. Initially, sensory feedback, which includes the physiological responses and perceptions related to performance, plays a crucial role in learning and refining skills. As athletes become more proficient, their ability to rely on their internal sensory feedback becomes more pronounced, potentially leading to a decreased reliance on external feedback sources such as coaches.

In this context, sensory feedback, while still necessary, may not hold the same level of prominence as it did when the athletes were in the early stages of skill acquisition. Skilled athletes tend to develop a strong internal sense of their performance, allowing them to self-correct and make adjustments based on their sensory experience rather than solely depending on external coaching input.

This evolving dynamic reflects a natural progression in skill development where the athlete’s autonomy in interpreting and responding to their bodily sensations becomes a key factor in achieving higher levels of performance. Thus, while sensory feedback remains essential, it tends to become less dominant as athletes gain expertise.