ABSTRACT
Many top athletes have discovered that “mental imagery”, or the ability to simulate in the mind information that is not currently being perceived by the sense organs, is helpful for the learning and performance of sport skills. For example, “seeing” and “feeling” oneself performing one’s skills in one’s mind’s eye is widely evident among world-class performers in rugby, athletics and swimming. When Ronan O’Gara, the Ireland and Lions’ rugby out-half, had scored a last-minute drop goal against Wales to help Ireland to win the 2009 Six Nations’ championship, he revealed how he had simulated the kick in his mind:
I picked out three numbers in the stand behind the posts. I can still picture them perfectly. That was my target. I visualized the ball going through and kept that image. I played it in my mind a few times … this is what it comes down to now. One chance.
