Visualization technique

Mental imagery, can help youth fencers improve their performance.

• Be specific: Imagine your technique in as much detail as possible, including the sights, sounds, and feelings. 
• Feel the emotions: Try to feel the emotions you would experience if you were actually performing a fencing technique. 
• Repeat: Repeat the imagery regularly, especially before and after fencing practice. 
• Use your senses: Good imagery involves reproducing the fencing bout experience using multiple senses. 
• Combine with real sensations: Imagine yourself performing and move your body along with the imagery. 
• Visualize the outcome: When mentally rehearsing your performance, visualize the event how you want it to unfold. 
• Stop and re-start: If your mental images turn negative, stop, rewind, and restart. 

Mental imagery can be used:

• Before practice: Set a positive tone and mental pathway for the practice.
• During practice: Take brief visualization breaks to recalibrate and reinforce skills.
• After practice: Revisit key moments to reinforce positive outcomes or reimagine different approaches