Mental Imagery
Mental imagery involves the athlete imagining themselves performing a specific activity using all of their senses. The images will have the athlete performing successfully and feeling satisfied with their performance.
What can mental imagery be used for?
Mental Imagery can be used to:
When should mental imagery be used?
To become proficient at using imagery, you have to use it whenever you train. In every training session, before you execute a skill, first imagine it. Experience yourself moving through the actions in your mind, as you would like them to occur. In competition, use imagery before the start of the event and see your self performing successfully.
How is mental imagery used?
In a game such as golf, you can use mental imagery before every shot. In a continuous sport such as cycling, you can use mental imagery before the start of the race.
How can focus be maintained?
You have probably seen an athlete become angry during an event. The athlete is focusing on the mistake that occurred and, that cannot be changed. This leads to a negative attitude and not, on how to improve their performance, right now.
"Pattern breaking" routines are used to shift the athlete from a negative to a positive attitude. A "pattern breaker" is a word or phrase that helps to change the negative attitude to a positive one. Over time, the athlete will begin to recognise when negative thoughts are happening and will use the "pattern breaking" word or phrase to get themselves to get back on track.
What are the benefits?
Mental Imagery can be useful in a number of circumstances:
Combined with relaxation, it aids in:
Research has revealed that mental rehearsal practice is effective for the preparation of an action.
"You only achieve what you believe"
What can mental imagery be used for?
Mental Imagery can be used to:
- Familiarise the athlete with a race course, complex routine, etc.
- Motivate the athlete by recalling images of their goals for that session, or of a success in the past.
- Improve skills or sequences that the athlete is learning.
- Minimize negative thoughts by focusing on positive outcomes.
- Refocus the athlete if the current performance is sub par. Using imagery of a previous positive performance can help get the athlete back on track.
- Visualize success where the athlete sees themselves performing well.
- Prepare the athlete with a complete mental run through of their performance. For example, a downhill skier at the top of a run imagining going through the course before the horn goes off.
When should mental imagery be used?
To become proficient at using imagery, you have to use it whenever you train. In every training session, before you execute a skill, first imagine it. Experience yourself moving through the actions in your mind, as you would like them to occur. In competition, use imagery before the start of the event and see your self performing successfully.
How is mental imagery used?
In a game such as golf, you can use mental imagery before every shot. In a continuous sport such as cycling, you can use mental imagery before the start of the race.
How can focus be maintained?
You have probably seen an athlete become angry during an event. The athlete is focusing on the mistake that occurred and, that cannot be changed. This leads to a negative attitude and not, on how to improve their performance, right now.
"Pattern breaking" routines are used to shift the athlete from a negative to a positive attitude. A "pattern breaker" is a word or phrase that helps to change the negative attitude to a positive one. Over time, the athlete will begin to recognise when negative thoughts are happening and will use the "pattern breaking" word or phrase to get themselves to get back on track.
What are the benefits?
Mental Imagery can be useful in a number of circumstances:
- develop self confidence.
- develop pre-competition and competition strategies which teach athletes to cope with new situations before they actually encounter them.
- help the athlete to focus attention or concentrate on a particular skill that is being acquired.
- in competition.
Combined with relaxation, it aids in:
- the promotion of rest and recovery.
- the reduction of stress reactions such as muscular tension.
- establishing an appropriate level of arousal prior to competition.
Research has revealed that mental rehearsal practice is effective for the preparation of an action.
"You only achieve what you believe"