Imagery has proven to be successful in producing a range of positive outcomes, such as enhancing confidence, reducing anxiety intensity, perceiving anxiety symptoms as more facilitative, and improving performance (Nordin & Cumming, 2005; Short et al., 2002; Williams, Cumming, & Balanos, 2010). Despite imagery being helpful for most experiences, it can also be perceived as […]
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 […]
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 […]