Learning How to Prepare Athletes for Peak Performance: Use of Mental Imagery Training as a Psychological Strategy to Enhancing Motor Learning, Retention and Transfer of Sport Rifle Marksmanship

Authors

  • Khaled Taktek Laurentian University 935 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, P3E 2C6
  • Nathaniel Zinsser U.S. Military Academy West Point, NY 10996
  • Lynn Fielitz U.S. Military Academy 727 Brewerton Road West Point, NY 10996
  • George Corbari U.S. Military Academy West Point, NY 10996
  • Sandi Miller U.S. Military Academy West Point, NY 10996
  • Robert St. John Royal Military College of Canada Kingston, Ontario, K7K 7B4

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12922/jshp.v7i1.140

Keywords:

Training and Performance

Abstract

This article is intended to (a) compare the effects of mental imagery and physical practice only on the learning and transfer of an open motor skill; (b) identify the mental imagery modality (visual, kinesthetic, or temporal) which is most efficient for sport rifle marksmanship; and (c) determine the relationship between movement image vividness and motor performance. Seventy students from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, participated in this study. They used their dominant hand to shoot (live-fire shooting) rotating targets. This study comprised four principal phases, namely the pretest, treatment, posttest (retention) and transfer. The results demonstrated that the retention performance obtained by each group using mental imagery combined with physical practice was equivalent to that produced by physical practice only. Furthermore, each group using visual or kinesthetic mental imagery combined with physical practice showed significantly superior performance than physical practice only during the transfer. These results may be explained by three functional evidences, namely behavioural, central and peripheral (Feltz & Landers, 2007; Holmes & Collins, 2001).

Author Biographies

  • Khaled Taktek, Laurentian University 935 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, P3E 2C6

    Department: School of Education, Faculty of Education.

    Rank: Full Professor.

  • Nathaniel Zinsser, U.S. Military Academy West Point, NY 10996

    Department: Center of Enhanced Perfomance

    Rank: Associate Professor

    Director

     

     

  • Lynn Fielitz, U.S. Military Academy 727 Brewerton Road West Point, NY 10996

    Department of Physical Education

    Rank: Associate Professor

    Associate Director of Instruction

     

  • George Corbari, U.S. Military Academy West Point, NY 10996

    Department: Center for Enhanced Performance

    Rank: Performance Enhancement Instructor

  • Sandi Miller, U.S. Military Academy West Point, NY 10996

    Department: Center for Enhanced Performance

    Rank: Performance Enhancement Instructor

  • Robert St. John, Royal Military College of Canada Kingston, Ontario, K7K 7B4

    Department of Military Psychology & Leadership

    Rank: Associate professor

    A/Head

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Published

2019-04-03

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2019): Journal of Sport and Human Performance

Section

Original Research Articles

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