Food Ration and Mental Training for the Improvement of the Free Throw Performance in Congolese Beginners Basketball Players

Abstract

Objective: Through an experimental study, the present work aims at testing the effectiveness of diet and mental imagery on the success of free throw in Congolese beginners Basketball Players. Method: 45 players participated in this experimental study in Brazzaville (Congo). These subjects were divided into 3 groups. Group I (n = 15), made up of beginner Basketball players subjected to a balanced diet to the mental training and to the practice of throwing on the ground. Group II (n = 15), made up of beginner basketball players from a local team subjected to mental training of the throw and food monitoring; Group III (n = 15), beginner Basketball Players participating in the district competitions. The variables studied were: flexion of the legs (FL), body orientation (BO), the extension of the arms (EA), and the success of shots (SS). Results: The results indicate that the best progress was made by the players in Group I: +67.7% for the squat, +38% for the orientation of the body, +45.7% for the extension of arm, and 83.7% for successful shots. Conclusion: In summary, mental rehearsal combined with a balanced diet facilitates the practice of physical and sporting activity and significantly improves learning and performance of athletes.