Impacts of Mental Imagery on the Performance: A Case Study of Male University Football Players of the University of Layyah

Abstract

Mental imagery (MI) or visualization, mental rehearsal is a very effective mental skill that activates neural pathways to improve athletic performance that is similar to the actual execution of the skill. In this case study, the impact of 6 weeks of structured mental imagery training on football specific performance of 20 male university football players from University of Layyah, Pakistan was investigated. The participants were tested using a pre-test/post-test experimental design, where baseline testing was conducted on the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) and a skill battery of football skills including decision-making, shooting accuracy and dribbling. Interventions of guided focused sessions on skill, strategy, goal, affective and mastery imagery, three times weekly for 15-20 minutes per session. There was a significant increase in LSPT scores (p < 0.05) and in the overall skill performance post-treatment. The study emphasizes the practical use of MI in Pakistani university which can be constrained due to limited physical training facilities. Results support mental training as an element of sports science education and suggest that future long-term studies using imagery in team training and female athletes should be conducted.

Keywords: Impacts, Mental Imagery, Performance, Football players, Case Study, The University of Layyah.