A Comparison of Imagery Used by Dance Teachers,Figure Skating Coaches,and Soccer Coaches

Abstract

Many dance teachers and coaches use mental imagery in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of their teaching and coaching. Coaches and dance teachers often direct athletes/dancers to use imagery during practice, competition, and performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the imagery used by dance teachers, figure skating coaches, and soccer coaches. Forty-nine subjects were given the Imagery Use Questionnaire for coaches and dance instructors. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each of the questions pertaining specifically to imagery use. Correlational analyses were conducted on selected items, and t-tests were undertaken on all imagery use items to examine differences in responses between dance teachers, figure skating coaches, and soccer coaches. Variables were then selected on the basis of the correlation analyses and t-tests for inclusion in a discriminant function analysis. The purpose of this analysis was to reveal on which variables in the questionnaire the groups were most distinctly different. The results indicated that on several variables (use of kinesthetic imagery, metaphorical imagery) there were significant differences in the manner in which dance teachers, figure skating coaches, and soccer coaches used mental imagery.