Developing concentration

In this area the performer has to be given the chance to develop strategies that keep their mind on the performance. Visualisation or mental rehearsal is one approach.

Approach: Visualisation or mental rehearsal

In the first type of this approach, the performer tries to visualise themselves being successful at the end of the performance - what it would sound like, feel like and look like it. This memory is then stored in the brain.

Another variation using this approach is to visualise a specific skill being performed perfectly, with each part of the skill being clear and effective in the ‘mind’s eye’.

Approach	Organisation	Progression and challenge
Visualisation/Mental rehearsal	Picturing in the ‘mind’s eye’ a successful performance.	Include more performance problems so that creative or problem-solving skills need to be used. When preparing for a free throw in basketball, after successfully seeing the shot go in, a performer might then add thoughts of the fast sprint back into defence in readiness for the opposition’s next attack.

Approach	Visualisation/Mental rehearsal
Organisation	Picturing in the ‘mind’s eye’ a successful performance.
Progression and challenge	Include more performance problems so that creative or problem-solving skills need to be used. When preparing for a free throw in basketball, after successfully seeing the shot go in, a performer might then add thoughts of the fast sprint back into defence in readiness for the opposition’s next attack.

Question

Explain the two types of visualisation

Performance development - Mental factorsDeveloping concentration