Perceptual Training in Soccer: An Imagery Intervention Study with Elite Players

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an ecological imagery intervention program would affect perception (i.e., exploratory activity and prospective control of future actions) in three elite soccer players. The imagery was adjusted to the unique action opportunities typically experienced by each player in games. A single case, multiple baseline across participants design was implemented and close-up video analyses were conducted from a series of league games. Post-intervention questionnaires and interviews were also carried out to support the video analyses. Two of the participants appeared to increase their visual exploratory activity, but only one of the participants marginally improved his performance with the ball. It was concluded that elite players can improve components of perception through ecological imagery training, but it is questionable to what extent this leads to improved prospective control of actions. It is recommended that future imagery and/or perceptual training research addresses specific types of actions more directly.

A poster presentation, based on this study, won First prize in the FEPSAC Award 2003 for young scientists in sport psychology, on the occasion of the XI FEPSAC congress held 22–27 July in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The study was done as part of the author's doctoral project, under the advice of Leif Isberg and Glyn Roberts. Rune Giske and two anonymous reviewers provided valuable comments on the manuscript. Martin Lund, Svein Roger Pettersen, Bjørn Frode Strand, Harald Rutle, and Hans Jørgen Kure assisted in data collection and data analysis. A special thanks goes to the three players, their coaches, and the fourth player helping to establish contact with this team.

Notes

Note: Seven-point scale (1 = not at all, 4 = somewhat, 7 = very much).