Positive transfer means that practice on one activity results in improvements on another activity. Two hypotheses have been proposed as to why it occurs.
First, the identical elements theory proposes that positive effects increase as a function of the similarities of the components of motor skills and the context in which they are performed.
Second, the transfer-appropriate processing theory states that the amount of positive transfer is related to the similarity of the cognitive processing activity involved in the two situations.
For example, an experienced discus thrower usually learns the rotational shot put quickly because of the similarities both in movement qualities and mental processing.