{"id":10690,"date":"2016-05-11T13:39:32","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T11:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/uncategorized\/visualization-in-sports\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T23:17:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T21:17:08","slug":"visualization-in-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"Visualization in Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

We believe that you have heard someone mention the importance of visualization in sports many times by now, read about the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance. In this article, we will aim to better explain what visualization is, how it works, and provide practical guidelines for using this technique.<\/p>\n

Visualization in practice<\/h2>\n

First of all, it is necessary to clear up a common misconception that often misleads people about this technique. Namely, visualization is not mere daydreaming or simply imagining yourself practicing your sport. It is much more than that; it involves the full mental activation of the brain regions responsible for executing complex motor actions, just as if the action were taking place in the physical world<\/strong>. In other words, if we visualize a specific movement, play, or action while following certain rules, the exact same areas of the brain will be activated as when we actually perform that movement, play, or action in the real world. <\/p>\n

Functional brain imaging reveals precisely this activity of the motor areas of the brain during visualization. Also, during visualization, a shift in brain activity from the left hemisphere (logical thinking) to the right hemisphere (creative imagination) has been observed, which further facilitates the vividness of visual imagery. <\/p>\n

There are several theories supporting this claim: the psychoneuromuscular theory, symbolic learning theory, and information theory. They differ from each other to some extent, but fundamentally, by learning or refining a skill through visualization, the creation of myelin\u2014which “serves” to transmit information between neurons faster\u2014is stimulated. The more we work on visualization, the more myelin the brain creates, and the stronger the connections between neurons become. <\/p>\n

Simplified, we can imagine a steel chain made of many links. In the beginning, each of these links was fragile (learning a skill); after a series of training sessions, the links become thicker, stronger, and more resistant to breaking. The skill becomes more refined, more resistant to forgetting and mistakes. The links are primarily strengthened through training, but also through visualization. <\/p>\n

Grounding in scientific research<\/h2>\n

Thus, in one study on visualization, a group of basketball players was divided into 4 teams.
\nGroup A practiced free throws for 20 minutes a day, Group B visualized free throws for 20 minutes a day, Group C did nothing, and Group D both practiced free throws and visualized free throws.<\/p>\n

Of course, Group C showed no progress after 20 days; in fact, their free throw percentage decreased.<\/p>\n

Group B (visualization) improved their free throw percentage slightly less than Group A (free throws), while Group D (free throws + visualization) showed the best results. This supports the fact that visualization is by no means a substitute for training, but it is definitively a powerful tool for improving abilities. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h3>\n

Rules of visualization<\/h2>\n

At the beginning, we mentioned that in visualization, we need to follow certain rules or guidelines so that visualization would be more than mere daydreaming.<\/p>\n

The first of these rules is the clarity of the image<\/strong>, or the richness of details. It is necessary to try to recall as many details as possible in the visualization – everything we see, hear, everything we can smell and feel. This creates the prerequisite to “trick” our brain into believing that what we are visualizing is actually happening. When we work with our athletes, we endeavor to prompt them to see the exact identical image of the hall or field they are on, to hear the crowd, the cheering, the coach’s instructions, the sounds of the whistle, and to try to feel the smell of the hall, pool, or racetrack. <\/p>\n

Kinesthetic sensations<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Other kinesthetic sensations<\/strong> are also very important, such as contact with the surface, the feeling of wearing the jersey or sneakers, touch with the ball or equipment, and physical contact with another person. All of this gives a strong impression that we are truly in a realistic situation. It is not uncommon for the muscles of an athlete who is visualizing to actually twitch, or for athletes to feel tired after visualization. All of this is proof that the athlete has truly immersed themselves in their own visualization. <\/p>\n

Control<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It is a prerequisite for our visualization. Under our control is everything that we visualize – our movements, actions, and reactions. If we make a mistake in the visualization, we can freely rewind a few scenes back and repeat that movement, correct it, or perform it very slowly, paying attention to every detail. What is definitively under our control are our emotions that we want to feel and connect to a certain moment in the visualization. By doing so, we increase the probability that we will experience the same emotions in reality, on our sports battlefield. <\/p>\n

Perfection of performance <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Another prerequisite for proper visualization. This is a rule over which lances are often broken. Namely, visualization should always be realistic, that is, in accordance with our capabilities, and oriented toward visualizing precisely what we want to achieve rather than what we want to avoid. Namely, if we were to visualize what we want to avoid, then we would be reinforcing mistakes, not proper execution. However, this does not mean that in our visualization, we will be a perfect executor of our intentions and movements, “flying” across the field with superhuman abilities. It is necessary to control our reactions to potential mistakes in the visualization as well. A good performance in our visualization raises our self-confidence and sense of efficiency in that action, along with the already mentioned strengthening of mental motor behavioral patterns. <\/p>\n

Perspective <\/strong><\/h4>\n

It is possible to apply an internal perspective (from one’s own eyes) and an external perspective (as if watching ourselves from a bird’s-eye view, from the stands, or on TV). The internal perspective is more useful for movements and actions where precision of execution, timing of execution, and planning in relation to spatial arrangement are important, while the external perspective is more useful in the early stage of adopting highly complex movements and correcting execution technique. Sometimes athletes, depending on the stage of executing a movement or action, will gain the greatest benefit if they use both perspectives in mental training. We endeavor to teach our athletes to use the internal perspective as much as possible from the start, for the simple reason that it is the only perspective they have during the game itself. <\/p>\n

Focus points<\/h4>\n

Finally, it is necessary to insert a few focus points<\/strong> into the visualization, that is, 2-3 elements (technical\/tactical) on which we will direct our attention for proper execution. Through visualization, it is important that we control our thoughts as well and direct them toward the right things so that this can later be transferred to the field. <\/p>\n

In our work so far with several hundred athletes from over 40+ different sports, both individual and team, we have gone through the visualization technique with everyone. Of course, each sport has its own laws, but visualization is always a useful technique of mental preparation. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Types of visualization<\/h2>\n

It is possible to work on the visualization of technical elements,<\/strong> such as free throws, corner kicks, an uppercut, a serve, or a stroke in swimming.<\/p>\n

Also, work is done on tactical elements<\/strong>, such as coming to the net, combinations of punches, a counterattack, or playing out an entire point or play.<\/p>\n

Regarding the types of visualization <\/strong>themselves, we differentiate them by the speed of execution and duration.<\/p>\n

Some of them are \u201creal-time\u201d visualization – <\/strong>the one that takes place in a duration approximately equal to the actual duration of the action. An example of this visualization is the preparation for a serve in tennis, which is temporally limited to a maximum of 20 to 25 seconds, depending on the level of competition and the age of the athlete. The purpose of this visualization is training certain movements, rituals, and behaviors that the athlete needs to complete within the given time as part of their preparation. <\/p>\n

Sometimes accelerated visualization<\/strong> is also done\u2014the athlete endeavors to put the visualization into a higher gear and visualize it precisely as assigned, so that they can perform it perfectly at the usual speed in competition. Also, in accelerated visualization, the cognitive process of thinking does not come to the fore as much, and the emphasis is on adopting automatism. <\/p>\n

We use slowed-down visualization<\/strong> when we want to correct a certain wrong movement or adopt a completely new one. The athlete endeavors to visualize as if in \u201cslow motion,\u201d frame by frame, in order to properly execute the desired action. <\/p>\n

We use prolonged visualization<\/strong> just as “over-covering” is used in the training of certain sports. The duration of an unusually long point\/action is trained so that the athlete gets used to such situations, which are rare but do happen. Also, exceptional concentration and the ability to react are developed, along with the obvious benefit that in reality, due to physical fatigue, we cannot frequently practice such situations. An example of this visualization would be an extremely long point in tennis, lasting 2-3 minutes. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

You are ready for visualization<\/h3>\n

We hope that by now, reading this article, you have broken the misconception that visualization is mere daydreaming and imagining. Above all, visualization has its laws and rules, and order is required as well. It is not enough to close one’s eyes and visualize; rather, it is necessary to stick to a certain schedule. <\/p>\n

Often, we assign athletes to keep a visualization table or log, in which they keep notes on what they did, how much they worked, how satisfied they are with the visualization, and what the potential difficulties were.<\/p>\n

Also, in certain sports of speed, it is possible to use a stopwatch, where over time our visualization becomes of equal duration as the actual performance.<\/p>\n

In some sports, we also recommend the use of a \u201cgym boss\u201d or the popular Tabata timer, so that sound signals would mark game periods and pauses. The described technique is also used when practicing the pre-routine of the competition itself, when the athlete goes through the path from the locker room in their mind, meets their opponents, looks at the referees, arrives at the arena, prepares for the performance, and the like. <\/p>\n

All of the above serves better focus, getting used to pressure, controlling our emotions and thoughts, and consequently, better performance.<\/p>\n

Duration of exercises<\/h3>\n

When an athlete starts working on visualization, a shorter duration of quality visualization is to be expected, and therefore the athlete starts with about 10 minutes, 3-4 days a week. The athlete chooses the time in which they will work on their mental preparation and relaxes before the visualization or puts themselves into the emotional state required for a good visualization. <\/p>\n

Let us not forget that this is, above all, a technique that is learned and in which one progresses. For some, it goes better at the start, while others need a longer time for progress, but every athlete can become very good at this technique. With progress, the scope and volume of visualization increase. <\/p>\n

Visualization training sessions are planned and programmed, and they are adapted to the periodization of training or competition, which is done in agreement with the athlete and\/or coach. Thus, visualization training sessions can last about 10 minutes a day, but also more than 1 hour a day. Athletes perform their visualizations in the peace of their own home, but gradually also at their sports venue, so that the context would be as similar to the real one as possible. <\/p>\n

Also, athletes endeavor to adopt and adhere to a certain pattern of visualization within their competitive and pre-competitive routine, which they will use every time and before every competition. This gives the athlete security and a routine in executing their mental preparation. <\/p>\n

\u201eIf I\u2019m gonna play against this defender, I\u2019m gonna think how good he is, which side is he better, how fast is he, which is his better leg\u2026I\u2019m gonna try to visualize how I will play against him, how I\u2019m gonna drible\u2026.and that is something I do for every match and every player.\u201c,<\/em> Pele<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We believe that you have heard someone mention the importance of visualization in sports many times by now, read about the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[102,103],"tags":[124,125,108],"class_list":["post-10690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-athletes","category-esport","tag-esport","tag-focus","tag-mentalni-trening-techniques"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVisualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Visualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mentalni Trening\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mentalnitreningcom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-05-11T11:39:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-06T21:17:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije-300x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Visualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije-1024x1024.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/166330b68c7c037e57c8cf758b8036e5\"},\"headline\":\"Visualization in Sports\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-05-11T11:39:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-06T21:17:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2020,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"esport\",\"Focus\",\"Mentalni Trening Techniques\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Athletes\",\"esport\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/\",\"name\":\"Visualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-05-11T11:39:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-06T21:17:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg\",\"width\":1414,\"height\":1414,\"caption\":\"how athletes progress with visualization, mentalni trening blog\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/athletes\\\/visualization-in-sports\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/home\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Athletes\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/category\\\/athletes\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Visualization in Sports\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Mentalni Trening\",\"description\":\"Mentalni trening za sporta\u0161e, trenere i timove\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Mentalni Trening j.d.o.o.\",\"alternateName\":\"Mentalni Trening\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Mentalni-Trening-favicon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Mentalni-Trening-favicon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Mentalni Trening j.d.o.o.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/mentalnitreningcom\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/mentalnitreningcom\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@mentalni_trening\\\/featured\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/166330b68c7c037e57c8cf758b8036e5\",\"name\":\"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53410b7dcf02bd42b71aaa5199db3c71adb4acbeab8138e433653ee9b346a750?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53410b7dcf02bd42b71aaa5199db3c71adb4acbeab8138e433653ee9b346a750?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/53410b7dcf02bd42b71aaa5199db3c71adb4acbeab8138e433653ee9b346a750?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107\"},\"description\":\"Osniva\u010d i vlasnik Mentalnog Treninga j.d.o.o., sportski psiholog s posebnom dopusnicom Hrvatske psiholo\u0161ke komore za rad u psihologiji sporta i tjelesnog vje\u017ebanja. \u010clan Stru\u010dnog razreda za psihologiju sporta i potpredsjednik Sekcije sportskih psihologa pri HPK. Predava\u010d na specijalisti\u010dkom studiju za izobrazbu budu\u0107ih sportskih psihologa. Diplomirao psihologiju na Filozofskom fakultetu u Zadru, magistrirao na Filozofskom fakultetu u Zagrebu. Od 2014. radi s profesionalnim sporta\u0161ima, reprezentativcima, olimpijcima i esport timovima Tier S razine.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/o-nama\\\/clanovi-tima\\\/luka-skrinjaric\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mentalnitrening.com\\\/en\\\/author\\\/luka-skrinjaric\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Visualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening","description":"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Visualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening","og_description":"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.","og_url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/","og_site_name":"Mentalni Trening","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mentalnitreningcom\/","article_published_time":"2016-05-11T11:39:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-06T21:17:08+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije-300x300.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Visualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening","twitter_description":"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije-1024x1024.jpg","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/"},"author":{"name":"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/166330b68c7c037e57c8cf758b8036e5"},"headline":"Visualization in Sports","datePublished":"2016-05-11T11:39:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-06T21:17:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/"},"wordCount":2020,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg","keywords":["esport","Focus","Mentalni Trening Techniques"],"articleSection":["Athletes","esport"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/","url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/","name":"Visualization in Sports | Mentalni Trening","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg","datePublished":"2016-05-11T11:39:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-06T21:17:08+00:00","description":"The importance of visualization in sports - on the potential improvement of focus, emotional control, and consequently, sports performance.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/mentalni-trening-vizualizacije.jpg","width":1414,"height":1414,"caption":"how athletes progress with visualization, mentalni trening blog"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/athletes\/visualization-in-sports\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/home\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Athletes","item":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/category\/athletes\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Visualization in Sports"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/","name":"Mentalni Trening","description":"Mentalni trening za sporta\u0161e, trenere i timove","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Mentalni Trening j.d.o.o.","alternateName":"Mentalni Trening","url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mentalni-Trening-favicon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mentalni-Trening-favicon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Mentalni Trening j.d.o.o."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mentalnitreningcom\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mentalnitreningcom\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@mentalni_trening\/featured"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/166330b68c7c037e57c8cf758b8036e5","name":"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53410b7dcf02bd42b71aaa5199db3c71adb4acbeab8138e433653ee9b346a750?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53410b7dcf02bd42b71aaa5199db3c71adb4acbeab8138e433653ee9b346a750?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53410b7dcf02bd42b71aaa5199db3c71adb4acbeab8138e433653ee9b346a750?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Luka \u0160krinjari\u0107"},"description":"Osniva\u010d i vlasnik Mentalnog Treninga j.d.o.o., sportski psiholog s posebnom dopusnicom Hrvatske psiholo\u0161ke komore za rad u psihologiji sporta i tjelesnog vje\u017ebanja. \u010clan Stru\u010dnog razreda za psihologiju sporta i potpredsjednik Sekcije sportskih psihologa pri HPK. Predava\u010d na specijalisti\u010dkom studiju za izobrazbu budu\u0107ih sportskih psihologa. Diplomirao psihologiju na Filozofskom fakultetu u Zadru, magistrirao na Filozofskom fakultetu u Zagrebu. Od 2014. radi s profesionalnim sporta\u0161ima, reprezentativcima, olimpijcima i esport timovima Tier S razine.","sameAs":["https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/o-nama\/clanovi-tima\/luka-skrinjaric\/"],"url":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/author\/luka-skrinjaric\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10690"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10825,"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10690\/revisions\/10825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mentalnitrening.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}