Visualization, "see it and become it," works when blended with physical practice.
In "Ten Minute Toughness" Jason Selk advocated for a "highlight reel" as part of daily mental practice.
An AI take:
There’s solid evidence that visualization (mental imagery) improves sport performance.
What the research shows (high level)
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Meta-analyses consistently find that imagery boosts performance across skills and sports, and works best combined with physical practice (not as a replacement). ResearchGate+2ScienceDirect+2
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Recent systematic reviews/meta-analyses focused on motor imagery in sport likewise report positive, reliable effects on execution quality and outcomes. MDPI+1
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Sport-specific syntheses show gains in targeted skills (e.g., service accuracy in racket sports). PMC
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Randomized trials document improvements in speed/agility/reaction or technical execution when imagery is added to normal training. PubMed
A few practical takeaways you can use with athletes
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Pair imagery with physical reps (e.g., brief pre-practice or pre-point “highlight reel”), rather than doing imagery alone. Effects are larger in combo. ResearchGate
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Keep it brief and frequent (e.g., ~3–10 minutes, several times weekly). Some newer syntheses suggest total weekly “dose” matters, but brevity plus consistency is workable in team settings. MDPI+1
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Script process cues (footwork, timing, breathing) rather than outcomes (“win the possession”). This aligns with how imagery most often helps performance under pressure. MDPI
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Train imagery skill (vividness, controllability); athletes with stronger imagery ability benefit more, but ability itself can be improved with practice.
What belongs in our playing and our coaching highlight reels?
The "Core Four" development areas are skill, strategy, physicality, and psychology/resilience training. Most coaches have unequal experience among those four elements.
When we aren't as skilled in one area, we can "outsource" parts by finding assistants with complementary skills or outsource (e.g. strength and conditioning) to specialists.
Lagniappe. Former long-time Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most often described a player as "fiddling and diddling" with the ball. Jay Wright explains why that's a failing strategy.
Really good stuff here from Jay Wright
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 27, 2025
“The most open you will ever be is when you first catch the ball….The habits of most players is to catch and dribble or catch and hold”
Great teaching point
(Via @Coach_PatCasey 🎥)
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