Using imagery to build confidence in esports

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this article is to provide strategies for using imagery to build confidence in esport athletes. Because confidence is a belief and strongly influenced by success and failure, mental training using imagery should be designed to create and sustain an agile mindset to accept events that shake confidence and enable athletes to respond productively to adapt and restore self-belief. Esport athletes should start small with short but frequent sessions of polysensory imagery practice of simple skills and strategies to build imagery skill and confidence. Imagery practice should be similar to competition, in terms of physical posture, setting, and equipment. Confidence-building imagery strategies include creating and rehearsing optimal performance plans as well creating imagery scripts for productive responses to mistakes, losing, tilting, and worrying about the skills and decision-making of teammates. Uses of imagery can be periodized to optimally develop confident performance and responses, prepare for specific opponents or tournaments, and assess prior performances using a growth mindset to enhance self-belief.