The Impact of Imagery on Self-efficacy and Volleyball Spike Performance: Mediating Role of Positive Self-talk

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of imagery on self-efficiency and spike implementation of girl volleyball players in Tafresh, considering the mediating role of positive self-talk. For this purpose, in a non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group design, 45 female football players aged 17-25 with sports record of 6 months to 2 years were selected out of high schools and universities in Tafresh. They were distributed in 3 groups on the basis of spike skill level, imagery ability and the level of Self-efficiency. The first group imagery and physical practices program, the second group imagery and positive self-talk and physical practices and the third group without any programs took part in an experimental course three days a week for 12 sessions. For data collection, sports imagery questionnaire (Hall et al., 1998), feeling of sufficiency scale (Bandura, 1994) and volleyball spike standardized test (AAHPERD) were used. Data analysis was done at a meaningful level of 0.05 through variance analysis with repeated measurements and Tukey posthoc (HSD) test. The results of the research showed that imagery along with physical practice leads to spike improvement and self-efficiency but if imagery is associated with positive self-talk, effectiveness rate of imagery will be increased.