An alternative application of imagery in youth sport: Promoting the transfer of life skills to other contexts

Abstract

Significant sport psychology research has been devoted to the positive effects that sport participation can have on youth outcomes, including social, emotional, and physical skills (Gould & Carson, 2008; Petitpas, Cornelius, Van Raalte, & Jones, 2005). Central to this concept is the idea that learning that occurs during sport participation will actually transfer these valuable life skills to other non-sport contexts in a youth's life (Danish & Nellen, 1997). This article proposes imagery as one potential strategy for facilitating this transfer of learning process from a youth development framework. Several practical suggestions for youth coaches on the application of imagery techniques for life skill utilization in and out of sport are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Imagery
• life skills
• transfer