Sport Psychology Institute Northwest

Visualization key in cross country

Visualization, the process of seeing with the minds eye an event before it occurs, has always been important in the field of sport psychology. Recent coaching tactics educating athletes in visualization techniques from Santa Clara University’s cross country team have proven effective in improving performance. SCU coaches, through guided meditation, guide their runners through the course the day before a race. “The visualizations work because they make me more comfortable with the course. When I get to the starting line the day of the race, I will feel like I've run the course several times because I've already been there in my head," said Shannon Bell, a first-team all-WCC runner.

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