Abstract
With the growing popularity of esports, performance psychology consultants – and players themselves – are looking at how esports athletes can perform better. Many esports are team-based, meaning that performance depends not just on an individual’s skill level, but on how well each individual works with their teammates. While several group dynamics processes have been identified in esports settings that could play a role in team performance, these processes may also affect individuals. Esports athletes can use imagery to simulate partner and team interactions to help improve their individual performance, in turn helping their team succeed. This article will outline relevant group dynamics processes that affect esports teams and individuals, discuss how esports athletes can combine imagery with group dynamics, and close with several recommendations for using imagined teammates to enhance effort and performance.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- Why imagery use in esports?
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- Translating the applied model of deliberate imagery use to esports
- Practical assessment and application of imagery techniques in esports
- Developing imagery ability in esport athletes using layered stimulus response training
- Getting the most out of imagery: PETTLEP and ESports
- Imagery for game strategy in esports
- Using imagery to build confidence in esports
- Using imagery to build team confidence in esports
- An imagery-based intervention for managing anxiety in esports
- VR training and imagery training in esports
- Using imagined partners to enhance esports performance
- Coaches as teachers and facilitators of esports imagery use
- Imagery use in esports: future research directions and unique considerations
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- Why imagery use in esports?
- Articles
- Translating the applied model of deliberate imagery use to esports
- Practical assessment and application of imagery techniques in esports
- Developing imagery ability in esport athletes using layered stimulus response training
- Getting the most out of imagery: PETTLEP and ESports
- Imagery for game strategy in esports
- Using imagery to build confidence in esports
- Using imagery to build team confidence in esports
- An imagery-based intervention for managing anxiety in esports
- VR training and imagery training in esports
- Using imagined partners to enhance esports performance
- Coaches as teachers and facilitators of esports imagery use
- Imagery use in esports: future research directions and unique considerations