Imagine This!

This chapter delves deep into how to use imagery and visualisation in a number of beneficial ways to improve performance. The five main types of imagery are defined, along with their uses, through the Motor Imagery Integrative Model: motor learning and performance improvement; enhancing motivation, self-confidence and state-management; their effects on strategies, tactics and pre-race plans; and their use in injury rehabilitation. Imagery skills are important for making key performance differences. Imagery is highly trainable, and two unique exercises, together with an athlete demonstration, assist in rapidly improving skills in exploring and changing visual perspectives. The enduringly useful PETTLEP model is described in detail, together with action observation, motor and dynamic imagery, and a new combination of action observation and kinaesthetic imagery (AOKI). Examples are given of using all approaches in race preparation and planning in mountain running and steeplechase. Visual imagery plays a key role in the processes in other chapters and is revisited again (e.g. ideal performance states, staying on track, mindfulness and hypnosis).