Imagery is a great tool for improving sports performance and its use and benefits have been well documented. However it is thought that the weaknesses of imagery can limit the extent to which it is useful i.e. not all athletes have the ability to image successfully. Therefore it is suggested that the use of observation […]
When playing within a team sport having freedom and creativity are vital aspects of successful performance. This style can transform teams who are rigid and playing within their boundaries into fearless teams who are ambitious and have a desire to take calculated risks in pursuit of victory. Paralysis by Analysis We have all been in […]
Observation as an alternative to imagery – II In my last article (click to view) I suggested that observation could be used as an alternative to imagery. What I mean by the term observation is simply to video record the athlete in the situations that you would be asking them to imagine. Other authors on […]
We’ve all seen or heard of elite sports people performing ritual movements before competitions, from a 100m runner blessing themselves before a race, to a footballer with his lucky pants or the Golfer with his favourite putter. From the outside looking in it may seem odd and strange; however in all sports, superstitions and rituals […]
For athletes: How to create your own Performance Bubble… Pre-performance routines are the most effective means for you to control arousal levels, achieve flow, and reduce the likelihood of choking. If you find it difficult to cope with situational variables at competitions, a pre-performance routine will enable you to keep aspects of your performance consistent […]
Imagery has many uses not just in sport, but pretty much any occupation where motor (learnt) skills need to be performed to a high standard (such as surgery), as well as something as mundane as trying to remember a shopping list. Within sport it can be used for many different tasks from mental rehearsal (practicing your ‘lines’) to past […]
Imagery has been described as “an experience that mimics real experience, and involves using a combination of different sensory modalities in the absence of actual perception” (Cumming & Ramsey, 2009, p.5). Imagery is a psychological technique which has demonstrated its effectiveness in sport through positively affecting psychological states, such as decreasing anxiety and enhancing self-confidence, […]
…”although successful performance is the greatest influence on confidence, vicarious experience – imagining success or watching someone else achieve success – is also a consistent source of confidence.” – Albert Bandura While there is always talk of repetition to master skills, there seems to be little regarding visualization on the mainstream stage up until the […]