Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was twofold: to examine the importance of the temporal location of mental preparation in relation to physical practice, and to investigate the effects of varying the length of the mental preparation interval on subsequent performance. Subjects were 105 male university students who performed a 3-min timed basketball shooting in which they attempted to make as many shots as possibel from outside a 15-foot perimeter. After a baseline performance assessment, subjects were randomly assigned to a 1-min, 5-min, or 10-min mental preparation condition. Subjects were instructed that they could use any mental preparation technique of their choise. In addition, they were randomly assigned to practice mentally either prior to or after a 3-min physical practice period before attempting the shooting task. This was done twice making a total of three trials. The three different amounts of mental preparation time and two temporal locations of mental preparation created six conditions. In addition, there was also a physical practice control group. Thus the design was 7 x 3 (mental preparation strategy x trials) with a priori contrasts. Results revealed a significant trials main effect with all groups improving their shooting performance across the three trials. No significant between-group main effects or interactions reached significance. Results are discussed in terms of Genovs (1976) mobilization readiness research and implications for pre-game warm-up and preparation period are provided. Verf.-Referat