Mental Preparation and Training
Mental training is important for the athlete, whether striving to do his/her personal best or competing against others. Mental imagery is very effective. The mind cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined. Practice is practice, regardless of whether it is mental or physical.
Ask the athlete to sit in a relaxed position, in a quiet place with few distractions. Tell the athlete to close his/her eyes and picture performing a particular skill. Each is seeing him/herself on a large movie screen on a bocce court. Walk them through the skill step by step. Use as much detail as possible, using words to elicit all the senses — sight, hearing, touch, and smell. Ask the athlete to repeat the image, picture rehearsing the skill successfully — even to the point of seeing the ball going along the court and stopping next to the pallina.
For example, to visualize a nice, smooth "pointing shot," ask your athlete to see him/herself stepping into the court and preparing to roll the bocce ball up the court. Look as he/she holds the bocce ball in hand, ready to take that first step. Then watch as he/she takes that first good straight forward step with the ball swinging back in the arm and then coming forward in a nice and smooth feeling and motion. Watch as it leaves the hand and travels directly toward the target area and the athlete sees as it finishes next to the pallina and claims the point. Listen to the crowd as they clap for such a good shot.
Some athletes need help to start the process. Others will learn to practice this way on their own. The link between performing the skills in the mind and performing the skills on the court may be hard to explain. However, the athlete who repeatedly imagines him/herself correctly completing a skill and believing it to be true is more likely to make it happen. Whatever goes into one's mind and one's heart comes out in the actions.
