Objectives: The influence of mental imagery training on the performance of adolescent basketball players in free-throw task was examined using an experimental design and the results revealed significantly better improvement among players who practiced using mental imagery compared to the control group. Methods: The training program was based on adjusted MIIMS imagery model, and 81 basketball players (aged 13-17) from five junior competition-level teams were divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group, where players practiced free throws only physically. Players from both groups underwent a total of 14 training sessions at the end of practices during a 7-week period. Their performance in a free-throw task was measured pre- and post-intervention along with multiple factors that could influence changes in performance. Results: Comparison of groups with both parametric and non-parametric tests revealed a significant improvement in the experimental group and non-significant improvement in the control group. Furthermore, correlation and regression analyses discovered several statistically significant factors that might influence the performance change. Conclusions: The findings not only help in understanding the role of imagery in training routines of young athletes, but they also reveal several methodological implications for future research.
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