A new book chapter about mental imagery in sport written by SPRINT Project team members Professor Jennifer Cumming, Georgia Bird, Kirsty Brown, Maria Kolitsida and Dr Mary Quinton has recently been published by Routledge.
The book, entitled ‘Routledge Handbook of Applied Sport Psychology; A Comprehensive Guide for Students and Practitioners’, is available to purchase in hardback and as an e-book via the Routledge website here.
Image description: A photo of the newly published book with a blue SPRINT Project octopus plushie placed next to it.
The book aims to showcase the breadth and depth of current thinking and evidence in modern applied sport psychology. From counselling psychology to theoretical models, psychosocial factors, and mental skills training, the reader can expect to gain a holistic perspective of the current evidence around the tools and skills needed to effectively support athletes as they navigate the sporting world.
The imagery chapter written by SPRINT Project team members (chapter 56 in the book) is contained within the broader theme of mental skills. Defined as the ability to represent or hold an image in your mind’s eye, imagery is a key mental skill that athletes can master to overcome pre-performance anxiety and produce personal best performances, alongside numerous other benefits. The chapter provides an overview of the revised applied model of deliberate imagery use (RAMDIU) to discuss why, what, who, where, and when and how athletes' image. It also covers different applications of imagery, including layered stimulus response training (LSRT) and guided imagery scripts.
Other topics covered within the mental skills section of the book include:
Arousal management
Motivation and goal setting
Attention in sport
Self-talk
Confidence
Self-regulation
Pre-performance routines
Psychological characteristics of optimal performance
Are you wondering what it is like to be involved in writing and publishing a chapter in a book? Find out from SPRINT Project PhD Researcher Kirsty Brown below!
"It was such a cool experience to be involved in writing the imagery book chapter as it's different to anything I've done before. It was great to learn how writing a book chapter differs from a journal article. The coolest part has been receiving a physical copy of the book!"
Interested in finding out more about mental imagery? Access this Sprint Project blog here where you can learn about how everyone, not just top athletes, can use this skill to cope well with stressful situations.
You can also check out our free interactive resources page here where you can learn about other important mental skills and strategies.
Image credit: Routledge.