Imagery A form of simulation. It is similar to a real sensory experience but the entire experience occurs in the mind.

Imagery should involve as many senses as possible. Kinesthetic sense is particularly important to athletes because it involves the sensation of bodily position or movement that arises from the stimulation of sensory nerve ending in muscles, joints, and tendons. Visual sense is what you see. Auditory sense is what you hear. Tactile Sense is what you feel. Olfactory Sense is what you smell.

Besides using you senses, learning to attach various emotional states or moods to you imagined experiences is also important.

Imagery in Sport: Where, What, When, and Why

Where Practice Competition

When Practice – Before – During: used most – After: underutilized Outside of Practice: athletes use more frequently than during practice Competition – Before : used most – During – After: underutilized Injuries: Used less than practice of competition

Why

What Surroundings Nature of Imagery – Positive – Negative Type of Imagery – Visual, kinesthetic, auditory, and olfactory.; Imagery Perspective – Internal imagery refers to imagery of the execution of a skill from your own vantage point – External imagery you view yourself from the perspective of an outside observer.

How Imagery Works

Psycho neuromuscular Theory Vividly imagined events innervate the muscles in somewhat the same way that physically practicing the movement does. When you vividly imagine performing a movement you use neural pathways similar to those you use in actual performance of the movement

Symbolic Learning Theory Imagery may function as a coding system to help people understand and acquire movement patterns. Participants using imagery performed consistently better on tasks that were primarily cognitive.

Psychological Skill Hypothesis Imagery can improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and enhance confidence

Bioinformational Theory Based on the assumption that an image is a functionally organized set of propositions stored by the brain, the model holds that a description of an image consists of two main types of statements: response proposition and stimulus proposition. – Stimulus proposition: statements that describe specific stimulus features of the scenario to be imagined. – Response proposition: statements that describe the imager’s response to the particular scenario, and they are designed to produce physiological activity.

Triple Code Model 1.(I)Image it self: “The image is a sensation but it is internal at the same time. It represents the outside would and its objects with a degree of sensory realism which enable us to the real world.” 2.(S) Somatic response: the act of imagination results in psycho physiological changes in the body. 3.(M) Meaning of the image

Uses of Imagery Improve Concentration Build Confidence Control Emotional Responses Acquire and Practice Sport Skills Acquire and Practice Strategy Cope with Pain and Injury Solve Problems

Key to effective Imagery Vividness – When using imagery, involve as many senses as possible and recreate or create the emotional feelings associated with the task or skill you’re trying to execute. Controllability – Whether a person uses an internal or an external image appears to be less important than choosing a comfortable style that produces clear, controllable images.