Motor Imagery Accuracy and Its Correlative Influence on Penalty Kick Kinematic Precision in First-Year Physical Education Students at Bilad Al-Rafidain University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26400/Sep./69/10Keywords:
Mental Imagery, Scoring Accuracy, Penalty Kicks, Football (Soccer)Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the level of mental imagery among first-year undergraduates at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Bilad Al-Rafidain University, assess penalty kick scoring accuracy among the sampled participants, and examine the correlational relationship between mental imagery modalities and penalty kick accuracy. Hence, the significance of this investigation lies in exploring how cognitive imagery influences execution precision in this cohort.
The researcher employed a descriptive correlational approach suited to the research problem. The target population comprised first-year students at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Bilad Al-Rafidain University, for the academic year (2024/2025), distributed across four academic sections (N = 186). The sample was randomly selected via the lottery method from Section (A), which initially included (42) students; after excluding repeating, deferred, and active collegiate athlete students, the final sample size comprised (n = 35) students.
The primary findings demonstrated the substantial role of visual imagery in enhancing penalty kick accuracy in football, alongside a high positive correlation between auditory imagery and scoring precision. Conversely, elevated emotional arousal during skill execution was associated with decreased shooting accuracy. The study recommends integrating structured mental practice into football training curricula, conducting specialized coaching clinics on psychological preparation and mental skills training, and educating coaches on the practical implementation of multimodal imagery to optimize motor performance in football.
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