Volume 14, Issue 1 -

While imagery techniques have been included in most psychological skills training programs for elite athletes, only few studies have investigated the effects of various components of imagery such as physical, environmental, tasking, timing, learning, emotion, and perspective (PETTLEP) in the context of motor learning among novice athletes. We tested whether external PETTLEP imagery and internal PETTLEP imagery were able to improve football pass skill acquisition more than a control condition, and thus enhance motor learning among novice players. A total of 45 male adolescent novice players ( M  = 14.65 years, SD  = 1.34) were randomly assigned to the following three study conditions: external PETTLEP imagery, internal PETTLEP imagery, and a control condition. At the beginning, and four weeks after randomization, football pass skill performance was measured objectively. Football pass skill performance improved over time in all groups, but more so in the external PETTLEP imagery and internal PETTLEP imagery condition compared to the control condition. At the retention-test, the highest pass skill performance was observed in the external PETTLEP imagery condition. The findings suggest that among adolescent novice football players, compared to internal PETTLEP imagery and a control condition, external PETTLEP imagery led to the highest improvement in football pass skill performance. The PETTLEP imagery thus appears to have the potential to enhance the gross motor skills acquisition of novice athletes who seek to become elite players.

The aims of this research were to determine if metacognitive beliefs predicted Intrusive Visual Imagery (IVI) in elite athletes, and if this was consistent across performance contexts. To address these aims, 110 elite cricket and AFL players completed the 30-item metacognitions questionnaire and intrusive visual imagery questionnaire before a training session and competitive match. Regression analyses indicated that the Negative Beliefs about the Uncontrollability of Thoughts and Their Danger metacognition and Need to Control Thoughts metacognition predicted IVI in both contexts. Findings were interpreted within the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model. It was suggested that extra attentional control is exerted to prevent the conscious experience of a negative belief, which prompts an image related to the belief being experienced, which is perceived as intrusive. Results also suggested that athletes are less likely to experience IVI before competing, possibly due to greater monitoring of thoughts. Implications for these findings are discussed.

This article presents a scoping review of the published literature on mental imagery in the context of volleyball. Four online databases and one peer-reviewed journals were searched, based on the inclusion criteria. Publication information, procedures and research methods, sample characteristics, sport type and type of mental imagery were analyzed. The selection process found 52 studies, and results showed that from 1987 to 2018 the mental images, along with other psychological skills, have gained popularity in volleyball settings. The examined studies used cross-sectional and experimental approaches, and the analysis was assessed by quantitative data and/ or mental imagery training programs (with relaxation and scripts), mainly focusing on the isolated analysis of the mental imagery construct, and evaluating its use. The studies included both male and female participants, but only 11% were volleyball players. Additionally, the focus was on adolescents and young adult athletes, mostly from high school/ university or international/ elite levels. However, just two studies examined athletes under the age of 16. Considering the present study’s results, limitations, and its implications for practice (e. g. to provide the coach certification programs with specific mental imagery contents), future research directions were highlighted, such as improve mental imagery training programs for children and youth volleyball players.

Objective Motor impairments after stroke can lead to limitations in functional performance and mental health. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have mainly assessed randomized clinical trials of mental practice interventions (MPI) among stroke patients, focusing on physical outcomes. However, mentally rehearsing a motor movement might increase a patient’s self-confidence within the recovery process and thus also lead to positive effects on psychological outcomes. Therefore, we aim to investigate the effectiveness of MPI on psychological health outcomes. Methods We performed a systematic review of RCTs according to PRISMA guidelines. 16.125 records were identified through PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Cochrane resulting in 8.573 documents after duplicates were removed. After excluding 8.507 documents during title and abstract screening, 64 could be full-text screened. All clinical and randomized controlled trials designed to investigate the effects of mental practice on psychological health in adult patients after stroke were considered eligible. Results Six studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. The six included studies partly showed positive effects of MPI on psychological health such as quality of life, stroke-specific quality of life, fall-related self-efficacy, positive and negative affect but not on anxiety and depression. Overall, the methodological power is lacking. The included studies differ substantially regarding study design, sample size, intervention protocol and psychological health operationalization. Conclusions The results show inconsistent effects of MPI on psychological health. More systematic research is needed to investigate the effects of MPI on psychological health and give several recommendations for future research.

Consistent evidence suggests the effectiveness of mental imagery (MI) for improving strength training performance (STP). However, strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches infrequently encourage use of MI, potentially believing athletes perceive it to be ineffective in supporting STP Additionally, psychoeducation has been found to affect perceptions regarding information presented. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions and desires of athletes regarding the effectiveness and use of MI to support STP. The impact of an animated psychoeducation video on perceptions of effectiveness and desires to learn more about MI for STP was assessed as well. 47 NCAA Division I student athletes (various sports; female: n = 34) participated in the pre-post study. Participants’ use of MI, S&C coaches’ encouragement of MI, perceptions of MI effectiveness on STP, and interest in learning more about MI to support STP were initially assessed. Following a two-minute video, participants’ perceptions of MI effectiveness on STP and interest in learning more about MI to support STP were reassessed. Significant increases were found in participants’ perceptions of MI effectiveness to support STP (p < 0.05). No significant changes were noticed regarding athletes’ desires to learn more about MI to support STP. Although potentially uninterested in learning more about MI, student athletes indeed perceive MI to be effective, especially after provided with information. Encouragement of MI by S&C coaches to their student athletes is warranted.