The Impact of Mental Imagery Training on the Acquisition of the Human Wheel and Handstand Skills among Second-Year Female Students in Artistic Gymnastics

Abstract

The Importance of the Research, Its Problem, and Objectives. The importance of the research lies in the fact that physical education is an integral part of general education, and since the physical education lesson represents the sound foundation upon which other branches of education are built, the significance of the research becomes evident in that the research topic has an educational dimension concerned with female students and how to master artistic gymnastics movements through the use of mental exercises. This is in addition to the importance of mental training, which is considered one of the exercises that simulate the actual performance of the motor skill.

As for the research problem, it can be summarized in the use of mental training in mastering artistic gymnastics movements, in an attempt to change the traditional method followed in delivering the physical education lesson at the intermediate stage .The objectives of the research are to identify the effect of using mental training on mastering the cartwheel and handstand movements among intermediate-stage female students, and to prepare mental exercises for mastering the cartwheel and handstand movements among intermediate-stage female students .Methodology The researcher used the experimental method for its suitability to the nature of the problem. The research population consisted of intermediate-stage students at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences for Women, University of Baghdad. The research sample was randomly selected, comprising (20) female students, who were divided equally, by random assignment, into two groups (an experimental group and a control group).

Conclusion .The most important conclusion reached by the researcher was that mental exercises have an effect on mastering the cartwheel and handstand movements among intermediate-stage female students.

Recommendations The researcher recommended adopting mental exercises in all other sports activities, given their positive impact on the mastery of motor skills and their role in reducing the time and effort required for skill acquisition, as well as conducting further research on mental training for the remaining educational stages.