Using Imagery to Learn and Master Physical Skills
Learning physical skills is one of the more commonly known uses of imagery. Athletes can mentally rehearse anything from shooting free throws to driving golf balls to performing gymnastics routines in order to learn, fine-tune, or automate these skills. As a coach you can help athletes use imagery to improve their physical skills by integrating imagery into practice. For example, after listening to a coach's instructions or observing a demonstration, athletes can imagine themselves performing a desired skill before physi- cally practicing it. Immediately after executing a skill effectively, athletes can create a vivid image of their performance while it is fresh in their memory, thus helping etch the mental blueprint into the mind After a practice session, they can use imagery to review key points.