There are three widely recognised phases to learning a new skill:

• The cognitive phase

• The associative phase

• The autonomous phase

This is the first stage of learning where the beginner begins to understand what has to be done.

They are shown the actions and shown what the expected outcome of the actions is.

The performance of the skill improves.

There are fewer mistakes.

The beginner has some ability to understand and correct mistakes.

More use is made of information received from the senses.

The skills are performed without much thought or attention.

Greater attention is made to strategies and tactics in the activity.

Few errors occur and only minor adjustments are needed to improve performance.