“A key basketball skill is imagery. The best players “see” situations before they happen so they can be prepared” Dr. Jack Ramsay

Imagery is one of the greatest tools used in basketball.

It can be used to enhance performance through mental preparation.

Imagery can also be effective when learning a new basketball skill or improving on existing skills through mentally practicing it over and over in your head.

What is Mental Imagery?

Mental imagery and visualization are not abstract concepts but quantifiable and well documents in sports psychology.

According to sports psychology, mental imagery is the “cognitive rehearsal of a task in the absence of overt physical movement.”

In other words, everything that can be visualized is a form of mental imagery.

Imagery can be:

• Internal- Imagining the execution of a skill from your viewpoint                                                                                                                 • External- Viewing yourself from the point of view of a third person

Most athletes use mental imagery naturally, though often not systematically or purposefully.

Like physical skills, mental skills such as imagery need to be practiced so it is second nature when the pressure is on.

Imagery Techniques For Success

All top-performing athletes know the importance of imagery. They are aware that they must first succeed in their minds before succeeding on the court.

Imagery is not something you can do one time and expect it to be effective. It is a skill that needs to be developed over time.

It requires consistent practice and commitment. Practicing about 10 to 15 minutes every day, if not more, will firmly embed those images in your mind.

You program and prepare your subconscious to move towards success by seeing yourself succeed.

Here are some techniques you can use to master mental imagery in basketball:

• Communicate your goals: Those who write down their goals regularly achieve success significantly higher than those who do not. By doing this, you can easily imagine them for inspiration. Share your goals with teammates to help hold you accountable.

• Imagine your final goal: Continuously reimagining and repeating those goals to yourself will help with the visualization process. Learn how to focus your mind on your goal. After that, your goal is the only thing in your head that gets your full focus.

• Envision the whole process required to achieve your goals: Get as detailed as possible, concentrate on the entire process of achieving your goals. Visualize the goal setting, the planning, the preparation, internal discussions, and the final goal. You will be best prepared for success if you visualize the obstacles you’ll face along the way and how you will overcome them.

• Feel success and experience it: Visualize performing at your absolute peak and anchor the experience to the actual competition. You must know the joys of success and live them every time you imagine.

• Connect to your ideal learning state: Rehearse and prepare based on your visualizations, bring them to life, start testing them in practice, achieve small wins first, and build on them.

Imagery is Backed by Research

There is a link between imagery and optimal performance.

According to research by an associate professor in the Kinesiology, Phillip Post, imagery enhances the performance of well-rehearsed skills.

The research suggests that imagery effectively enhances athletes’ skill acquisition of tasks with more significant cognitive elements, such as tasks requiring decision-making or remembering a sequence or pattern.

Mastering imagery will enhance your performance and elevate your game.

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