Effects of Imagery Ability and Imagery Use on the Performance of  Hockey Players

Fozia Tabassum; Rabia Wali; Bilal Ahmed Baig

Fozia Tabassum Assistant Professor, Health and Physical Education, Government Degree College for Women Chung Lahore.
Rabia Wali Lecturer, Lahore College of Women University Lahore.
Bilal Ahmed Baig Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, FAHS, The University of Lahore.

Keywords: Imagery Ability, Imagery Use, Performance, Hockey players, mental visualization

Abstract

The concept of Sports Imagery Ability (SIA) and Sports Imagery Use (SIU) was considered to be the most important towards the player’s per-formance. The main objectives of the present study are to provide better understanding of relationship among imagery ability, imagery use and performance of hockey players through a statistical model and to determine the impact of gender, playing level and experience on imagery ability, im-agery use in sports. A sample of 58 hockey players (males=41, females=17) were selected from National Hockey Camp (NHC), Government College University (GCU), and Lahore College Women University (LCWU). The (adopted) Sports Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ), the Sports Im-agery Questionnaire (SIQ) and Field Hockey Performance Measurement Scale (FHPMS) were used for data collection. Cronbach’s Alpha, Descrip-tive statistics, correlation, regression and t-test statistics were applied for analysis. Data reliability was 0.87. SIA, SIU and performance levels of the participants were above moderate level. Male had higher SIA and SIU as compared to their counterpart. The SIA level of NHC players was at first, GCU players at second and LCWU players at third. SIA, SIU and perfor-mance of the players were significantly (p<0.01) and positively correlated with each other. SIA and SIU had positive and significant (P<0.05) im-pact on performance of players. Gender had no significant (P>0.05) effect on SIA, SIU and performance. Age had no significant (p<0.05) effect on SIA and performance but it had a significant (p<0.05) effect on SIU. Uni-versity, club, and national playing levels had no significant (p<0.05) effect on SIA, SIU, and performance, however, international explorer had signifi-cant (p<0.05) effect on performance. Experience had a non-significant (P>0.05) effect on SIA and performance but it had significant (p<0.05) effect on SIU. National hockey players reported that gender and age had no association with imagery ability. Imagery ability and imagery use had pos-itive correlation with performance, but both these had no association with the level of playing. This study will be helpful to identify the best types of men-tal practices that are very effective in enhancing the players’ performances.