The improvement of athletes’ imagery ability and physical self-efficacy for the growth of athletic achievements in sport model

Abstract

Finding successful solutions to the problems of psychological preparation of athletes is not possible without an understanding of the defining components of the psychological preparation process. Practice and research show that insufficient attention is paid to promoting the psychological preparation of athletes during the training process. It is one of the most important contradictions affecting the psychological preparation of athletes. The development of the psychological training model-Improvement of Athletes’ Imagery Ability and Physical Self-Efficacy for the Growth of Athletic Achievements in Sport Model is expected to have positive effects on athletes' psychological preparation, development of imagery ability and physical self-efficacy and help them achieve higher success in sports. The purpose of the developed model is to improve the level of imagery ability and physical self-efficacy of athletes, which will improve their achievements. This model can be used by sports coaches, sports psychologists, athletes, as well as other sports specialists in the training process to promote the growth of athletes. Several methods were used in the process of developing the model: research and analysis of literature sources, Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ), Self-Efficacy to Regulate Exercise Questionnaire (SEREQ), and mathematical and statistical methods. The sample of respondents consisted of 207 athletes (women and men) aged 18 to 34 years, who represented individual and team sports. The Improvement of Athletes’ Imagery Ability and Physical Self-Efficacy for the Growth of Athletic Achievements in Sport Model is based on scientific findings, the results of factor analysis, as well as evaluation of the statistically significant correlation between athletes’ imagery ability, physical self-efficacy, and sports achievements. The model consists of interrelated factor structures and five variables. The "Psychological preparation" factor is the overarching factor that combines the following internal factors of the model: "Imagery for Maximum Performance"; "Imagery for Optimization of Skills and Abilities"; "Physical Self-Efficacy", while the "Growth of Athletic Achievements" variable is influenced by all factors of the model.