Summary
Modern elite athletes often employ mental rehearsal and imagery tactics. When it comes to mental preparation, it is among the most famous and often used approaches. How exactly does it work? In what ways does it benefit you? Pay attention to the topic.
What is the nature of mental imagery?
Visualizing a scenario, doing an action, or reliving an event in one’s mind is known as mental imaging. The athlete has to go into the zone by using all of their muscles. It is possible for the athlete to have a visual mental picture of himself doing the identical motions. This kind of learning may also be kinesthetic, meaning that the learner experiences both the visual and tactile aspects of the motions (e.g., impulse, elevation, receipt). As a last step, the athlete might use their sense of hearing, smell, or taste to conjure up mental imagery. This means that the athlete’s whole body and senses are engaged in mental images.
How mental imagery functions
Prior to its practical use, mental imagery had previously been the focus of several investigations, with the first tracing back to the period of World War II. The efficacy of the method was studied by psychologists. This study proved that practicing a gesture in one’s mind enhances its execution in the actual world. Sportsmen and women may greatly benefit from using images in conjunction with training to enhance their performance. Because of this, mental imagery plays a significant role in the training of numerous sports. This is the case, for instance, in the following sports: figure skating, diving, and basketball free throws. Mental imaging is a powerful tool for athletes of all skill levels, from novices to elites.
How can one practice mental imagery?
One technique that might open up new possibilities is mental visualization. To get the most out of it, however, you need to know how to use it correctly.
First things first: figure out what the athlete requires. Which aspect (technical, emotional regulation, strategy, etc.) does he need to improve upon in order to play at his best?
So, let’s begin by asking: why is it necessary for him to use mental imagery? Then, depending on his requirements, he will choose the appropriate film or sequence. Thus, he serves as the film’s producer, performer, and viewer all rolled into one.
After that, the athlete and the psychologist will work together to decide what the athlete wants to see in the video. Put another way, it might be a very basic sequence like the athlete’s primary movements, or it can be a more intricate sequence like the grasp of the racket, the sound of running footfall, the bending of the knees, etc.
After the athlete finds the film’s content, the psychologist tweaks the mental images somewhat to make it better. For instance, one may alter the film’s pace, color, create freeze frames, etc.
In what situations might mental visualization be useful?
You can use mental images whenever you want. When used in conjunction with exercise, it enhances the athlete’s focus and performance. Before really doing anything, a coach could have a player picture it in their minds. By using this strategy, the player may sharpen his attention on the task at hand and the game itself.
With practice, the player will learn the technique and feel more comfortable using it. Some coaches may have their teams practice a 10-minute mental visualization exercise before a major game. They are encouraged to envision the crowd’s response and commotion, their own arrival onto the field, the game’s progression, etc., in order to calm their nerves and focus more on the game.