Imagery practice questions.

Before a routine a gymnast sits with her eyes closed and recreates the feel of the beam under her feet, the sound of the hall and the sight of the landing mat. Which description of imagery does this match?

• Recreating an experience in the mind using several senses
• Repeating the routine physically at a reduced speed
• Focusing attention on one external cue such as the end of the beam
• Rehearsing the routine while the coach describes each movement aloud

Answer: Recreating an experience in the mind using several senses

Imagery is the creation or recreation of an experience in the mind, and it draws on more than vision; the kinaesthetic and auditory content is what separates it from picturing a still image. Physical rehearsal and externally guided practice are different activities.

A footballer imagines a free kick as though watching himself on a screen from behind the goal. Which imagery perspective is he using, and what does it emphasise?

• External imagery, emphasising the visual form of the movement
• Internal imagery, emphasising the feel of the movement from within
• External imagery, emphasising the kinaesthetic feel of the strike
• Internal imagery, emphasising how the movement looks to a spectator

Answer: External imagery, emphasising the visual form of the movement

External imagery is the observer's view and shows body position and shape, while internal imagery is the first-person view and carries the kinaesthetic feel of the movement. Reversing the two labels is the most common error on this understanding.

A hurdler reports that her images are clear and detailed, but that she repeatedly experiences herself striking the third hurdle and cannot change what happens. Which quality of imagery is she lacking?

• Vividness, because the image lacks sensory detail
• Controllability, because the image cannot be altered at will
• Kinaesthetic content, because she cannot feel the movement
• Real-time speed, because the image runs faster than the actual race

Answer: Controllability, because the image cannot be altered at will

Controllability is the ability to manipulate the image so that it shows what the athlete intends; an image that is vivid but uncontrolled rehearses the error instead of the correction. Vividness concerns the richness of the sensory detail, which here is not the problem.

A coach reads a review of mental practice research that compares physical practice alone, imagery alone, and the two combined. Which result is typically reported?

• Imagery alone produces a larger gain than physical practice alone
• The combined group improves more than either method alone
• Imagery added to physical practice slows the learning of the skill
• Imagery benefits only performers who have reached the autonomous stage

Answer: The combined group improves more than either method alone

Combined physical practice and imagery generally outperforms physical practice alone, which in turn outperforms imagery alone, so imagery supplements practice rather than replacing it. Beginners benefit as well, because much of the early gain is cognitive.

A tennis player loses three points in a row and finds her attention drifting to the scoreboard between rallies. Which use of imagery would help her most before the next serve?

• Reviewing in detail each of the three points she has just lost
• Imaging the score she wants to have reached by the end of the set
• Picturing her opponent's weaknesses over the whole of the match
• Running through her serve routine as she intends to perform it

Answer: Running through her serve routine as she intends to perform it

Imagery can be used to place attention where it is needed, and a short image of the routine she is about to carry out occupies the attention that had drifted to the score. Images of the scoreline or of past errors leave attention on things she cannot act on now.

A coach writes an imagery script for a penalty taker. Which feature makes the script most likely to be effective?

• It is worked through at half the speed of the real kick
• It leaves out the crowd noise so that nothing can disturb the image
• It stops before the ball reaches the goal so that failure is never imagined
• It includes the sound, the feel of the contact and a successful outcome

Answer: It includes the sound, the feel of the contact and a successful outcome

An effective script is polysensory and follows the movement through to a successful completion, so the image rehearsed is the one the player wants to reproduce. Stripping out the competitive setting or stopping before the outcome makes the image less like the real task.