The effects of practice in mind training program on standing shot and jump shot performance of state netball players / Nur Asmidar A Halim

Previous researchers found that systematic imagery - physical practice also known as Practice in Mind (PIM) training does help to resolve physical and psychological problem in sport skills performance. Therefore, the present study was done to investigate the effectiveness of PIM training on netball standing shot and jump shot performances. Twenty state level netball shooters with 3 to 5 years playing experiences participated in this single-blind experimental study. Participants were randomly assigned into 2 different groups: (i) PIM training group (combined imagery - skill practice) and (ii) control group (only skill practice) with 10 participants for each group. Both groups completed 18 training- sessions in a 3 times a week for 6 weeks intervention program. Participants in PIM training group performed 10 imagery practices together with 10 skill practices (standing and jump shooting). The control group only performed 10 skill practices. Pre, post, and retention test were conducted prior to the 10 standing and jump shooting task 3.2 meters distance from goalpost. A mixed between-within ANOVA revealed that there was significant different of PIM training group versus control group for both standing shot (p < .05) and jump shot (p < .05) after 6 weeks. However, no significant different was observed after retention (week 12) for both groups. Based on the finding, it is suggested this present study will be beneficial to the athletes in terms "of educating them about the importance of systematic imagery training to increase shooting performance in netball and for further improvement on their shooting techniques. Hence, the netball association, coaches, and athletes should be educated with the importance of imagery training such as PIM training and should not focus on their skills only to be successful but also their psychological training. Future studies are warranted to explore potential benefits of PIM training by focusing on a larger exposure and other netball specific motor-abilities.