Learning to Throw the Roll-Over Drop: A Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of Imagery

Abstract

The use of imagery in sports is very common among elite and non-elite athletes alike. This proposed study will be done on thirty female high school softball pitchers and will look at the effectiveness of imagery on learning to throw a roll-over drop pitch. The girls will be divided into two groups, a video group and a verbal group. The video group will watch an instructional video on how to throw a drop ball, and the verbal group will be assigned instructional reading materials containing minimal pictures. All participants will use imagery for ten minutes prior to physical practice and six times directly before pitching. It is believed that the video group will produce more vivid imagery and learn to throw better drop balls than the verbal group.