Visualization Practice Spreads in Sports (Click for Full Article)

Found this great article about 'Visualization' in sports and its increase by David Quick of THE POST and COURIER. If you would like to read the full article click the title or click here > (CLICK HERE)

 

Visualization practice spreads in sports, but it’s useful off the field and court as well

David Quick Email @davidquick   

Aug 18 2015 12:01 am

Football placekickers, baseball pitchers and basketball players have something in common besides being athletes: major league pressure, often for many to witness.

You can see the strain in the eyes in the placekicker who must nail a field goal for his team to win in the final minute of a game, the relief pitcher who must get a final out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the basketball player on the foul line who must sink his or her free throws seconds before the buzzer sounds.

      

All those situations are as mental as they are physical. Athletes have been using the practice of visualization for decades to ease anxiety. In fact, the exercise is becoming more formalized and practiced by entire teams. 

But athletes aren’t the only ones who can use visualization, and various forms of it to deflect pressure and win their non-athletic game.

Extensive research has shown that when someone visualizes an action, neurons in their brain fire in a fashion similar to when they are physically doing the task. Visualization techniques not only ease anxiety but improve motor skills, moods and provide an increase sense of confidence...

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