The Use of Imagery Assisted Virtual Reality for Pitch Recognition in NCAA Division One Softball

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the combination of imagery and virtual reality to create Imagery Assisted Virtual Reality on pitch recognition. This study investigated the effect of Imagery Assisted Virtual Reality on sport imagery ability, pitch recognition, pitch recognition self-efficacy, and sport confidence. The study was conducted with eleven NCAA Division One softball players at a Midwestern University. This study’s results indicated a significant increase in global imagery ability and affect imagery ability. Imagery can be described as experience that mimics real world experiences through the combination of using different sensory modalities in the absence of actual perceptions (Williams & Cumming, 2014). One uses visual, auditory, kinesthetic (touch), smell, and taste to create a picture simulating real world environments and scenarios. Imagery can be used to enhance various aspects of performance by mentally preparing someone for upcoming competition or helping an athlete focus specifically on a task (Holmes & Collins, 2001). For this study, virtual reality was defined as a first-person filmed, computer presented, immersive simulation of a real environment consisting of a monoscopic 360-degree image and stereo sound experienced through a head mounted display (Ross-Stewart, Price, Jackson, & Hawkins, 2018). However, it is not the hardware alone that creates a meaningful experience to those who use it; but it is how one interacts within the virtual world that creates an impactful experience (Steuer, 1992). The incorporation of imagery techniques like PETTLEP (Smith, Wright, Allsopp, & Westhead, 2007) and imagery script development (Williams, Cooley, Newell, Weibull, Cumming, 2013) create that impactful experience to assist athletes in improving their performance and psychological skills. The use of Imagery Assisted Virtual Reality can benefit athletes that are new to imagery, currently using imagery, or have used imagery in the past by giving them the ability to practice imaging and the ability to make improvements on their imageability abilities (i.e. skill, strategy, affect, etc.).