The document discusses the use of imagery in athletic performance. It defines different types of imagery, including motivational, cognitive, general, and specific imagery. It provides examples of how imagery can be used in everyday life, athletics, and for different focuses like skills, strategy, arousal, and goals. The benefits of imagery include increased strength, arousal control, stress management, and more. Factors like perspective, ability, and scripting affect the effectiveness of imagery. Measurement tools can provide feedback on imagery ability.

3. -Imagery is

5. Everyday Life Situations
-Interviews
-Dating
-Relaxation
Athletics
-Game situations

6.  Negative Imagery:
*Nervous
*Focusing on preventing
failure instead of creating
success
 Over-Confident Imagery:
*Only goal-oriented
*Doesn‟t focus on the actual
performance; only result
 Positive Imagery:
*Visualizes the entire
process
*Prepared
*Focused

7. Motivational Cognitive
Goal Oriented – Focus on the Skills – Focus on actual
Specific
end result. performance during event.
Arousal – Focus on setting in Strategy – Focus on specific
General
order to stimulate the body. strategies to implement in
competition.
Note: While all are important in their own specific ways; the best
way to utilize the power of imagery and achieve peak
performance is to combine all four focuses during the process of
imagery.

10. 1. Partner up with someone
2. Face each other
3. Person A extends dominant arm in front of body, palm up, on to partners
shoulder
4. Person B cups their hands onto partners elbows
5. Person A must fully extend the arm, and Person B pushes down to see how
much it takes to bend the elbow
6. Both try this
7. Then return to original position
8. Now imagine your arm is a thick iron bar, unbendable, indestructible
9. Keep imagining this bar and how nothing can influence its position
10.Person A must indicate they are „ready‟ by lifting their finger, with eyes
remained closed and still imaging iron bar
11.Now Person B must attempt to bend the arm again
Notice how much stronger your partner is the second time.
Imagery is a powerful tool. We can increase our resisting strength in a matter of
seconds, imagine how this could influence your performance!?

12. -External
-Future
-Preparatory mental rehearsal
-Routine practice!

14. •
•
•

15. “Before I play a match, I try to -Mental preparation
carefully rehearse what is likely
to happen and how I will react in -Strategic
certain situations. I visualize
myself playing typical points -Opponent
based on my opponent‟s style of -Muscular activation
play. I see myself hitting crisp,
deep shots from the baseline and
coming to the net if I get a weak
return. This helps me mentally
prepare for a match, and I feel
like I‟ve already played the
match before I even walk on the
court.”
Chrissie Evert – Champion
Tennis Player

17. • Internal imagery training in active high jumpers
Purpose
• To study whether internal imagery would affect the
performance of high jumpers.
Method
• There were twenty four elite high jumpers, only half of
them performed the imagery program for 6 weeks. The
high jump ability was measured before and after the
program.
• Test: jump height, take-off angle, bar clearance.

18. Results
• Both groups increased on all measurements, but
significantly the intervention group improved on
bar clearance.
Discussion
• The imagery program encouraged athletes to
visualize arching their back over the bar.
• Bar clearance is most cognitive
aspect of high jumping; which is
whyimagery benefited it.

19. THE GOOD THE BAD
-Quantitative data -Small sample size
-Repeatable -Only one sporting example
measured
-Simple
-Cannot measure image
-Effective ability
-Supportive research -Doesn‟t consider pre-
competition

23. Muscle Memory PRO

24. Directions:
1. Hold the pendulum over the
board
2. Keep eyes closed, hold still,
and “imagine” the pendulum
moving
3. Focus solely on the image of
the pendulum moving
4. If practiced correctly, your
muscles will react to your brain‟s
thoughts/images, and you will
move the pendulum
subconsciously

26. -Arousal control
-Stress management
-Goal setting
-Self-confidence
-Attention focusing
-Attention refocusing
-Increasing self-awareness
-Controlling physiological responses
-Interpersonal skills
-Recovery from injury

29. Internal External
Seeing the image from Seeing the image from
behind their own eyes; outside of your body, from
executing the skill from the perspective of an
your own vantage point outside observer
* You see only what you * Viewing yourself as if you
would actually see if you were watching a movie
were performing the
actual skill

30. •
•

32. 1. Select a specific skill in your sport, such as hitting a
backhand, vaulting over the bar, swimming the breaststroke,
or kicking a goal.
2. Now imagine yourself performing this skill at the place
where you normally practice (gymnasium, pool, field, rink,
court), without anyone else present.
3. Close your eyes for about one minute and try to see yourself
at this place, hear the sounds, feel your body perform the
movement, and be aware of your state of mind and mood.

33. No image Not clear or vivid Moderately clear Clear and vivid Extremely clear
and vivid and vivid
a. How vividly you 1 2 3 4 5
saw the image
b. How clearly 1 2 3 4 5
you hear the
sounds
c. How vividly you 1 2 3 4 5
felt your body
d. How aware of 1 2 3 4 5
your moods
Did you view it from your own eyes (internal) or from a video perspective (external)?

34. Total Dimension Score
a. Visual ___
b. Auditory ___
c. Kinesthetic ___
d. Mood ___
- This is only 1/4th of the actual test, repeat with the same scoring
system for: practicing with others, watching a teammate, as well as
performing in a contest.
-The total possible score will tell you your strengths as well as the
other aspects you need to work on.
 Example of Imagery Script  Tennis

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36. Imagery Cookbook
 Times to Practice Imagery
 Daily Practice
 Pre-performance routine
 Post-performance review
 Methods of Practicing Imagery
 Individual vs. Group Practice
 Cassette Tapes
 Highlight videotapes
 Imagery logs

37. *Goal Setting
*Time Management
*Behavior Modification
*Communication Skills
*Journal Writing
*Cognitive Restructuring
*Breathing & Progressive Muscular Relaxation
*Autogenic Training