At which stage of skill acquisition do improvements come slowly and performance becomes habitual?

The correct answer is the autonomous stage, which is characterized by an advanced level of skill acquisition. At this stage, the performer executes the skill with a high degree of proficiency and minimal conscious thought. Improvements in performance become gradual and are often subtle, as the athlete has mastered the fundamentals and is moving towards refining their technique.

In this stage, the skill has become habitual, meaning that the individual can perform it consistently and automatically, even under pressure or in distracting environments. This allows for the athlete to focus on other aspects of performance, such as strategy or decision-making, rather than on the mechanics of the skill itself.

The cognitive stage involves initial learning where the learner is just beginning to understand the skill, which is marked by significant and often rapid improvements. The associative stage is where individuals make more consistent attempts at the skill but are still fine-tuning their performance. The introductory stage generally refers to a very early phase of skill learning, where individuals are getting familiar with the basic elements, concepts, or movements required.