What demonstrates positive skill transfer in sports?

The reason proficiency in the tennis forehand increases the likelihood of success in the racquetball forehand is rooted in the concept of positive skill transfer. Positive skill transfer occurs when learning or mastering skills in one activity enhances the performance in another, often similar, activity.

In this case, both tennis and racquetball use racquets to hit a ball, and the techniques employed in executing a forehand shot share similarities. Skills developed through practicing the forehand in tennis—such as grip, swing mechanics, timing, and body positioning—can directly translate to improvements in racquetball. This means that the muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking involved in the tennis forehand can facilitate better performance in the racquetball forehand.

The other options do not encapsulate this concept as effectively. For instance, while a proficient tennis player may have some transferable skills to volleyball, the sports are quite different in terms of mechanics and techniques. Similarly, claiming that a player good at one sport will excel at all sports lacks nuance, as not all sports share comparable skills. Lastly, while dribbling in soccer can contribute to dribbling in basketball, the nature of the dribbling techniques varies significantly between the two sports. Therefore,