Question

Unlike other mental skills, imagery tends to get a "bad rap" because it doesn't always LOOK cool. I've even heard it referred to as "Hocus Pocus." Assuming that you're convinced that imagery works, how could you (as a Coach or leader) convince your team that imagery is an important part of their training regimen?

Answer 1

Imagery is a powerful weapon used by sports person in their plays. It can be used prior to the game, during the game or may be after the game performance got finished. Mental imagery is the imagination of an individual to put himself in a situation which is different from the reality.

It is not always true that mental imagery is always beneficial to the individual. Sometime negative mental imagery also occurs. These consist of mental images which denotes failure amd unwanted outcomes.For example : when an actor do a typical role for a movie then he totally lost in that character, he start imagine, feeling and behaving like that character in their real life also. This imaginations are as stick to their personality that start affecting their personal life. To such thinking they can't even able to control. For to get out of such roles sometimes they need a psychologist help.

When and where an imagery is being used, what is being imagined may vary greatly between individuals. Image range may vary according to the duration and complexity. For example, if some athelete is trying to make image of one step of the game, it is very easy for his to make a image or may be all the atheletes can be able to make the same image. but on the othe rhand is these were told to imagine the whole race or a group of actions then it may be difficult for them to imagine and retain in their memory. At the same time all the atheletes may have different images in their minds.

Sports psychologist often assist psychologists in creating an imagery practice as to increase their performance. It is done by combination of all the sensesat a time such as, visionary, auditory, olfactory, taste and touch. These create an emotion hook to the situation itself. Studies have shown that practicing imagery along with regular practice enhance the performance as well as the motivation to win. Aitionally, imagery can maintain performance levels in the absence of physical practice sch as, in case of injury. Imagery helps in developing new strategies and plans to win.

A factor that strongly affect the imagery is the individual difference. Every individual has the capacity to think but not at the same level. The sports psychologist should keep this thing in his mind while giving imagery training to the athelets.