Abstract:

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of mental imagery skills on darts shooting performance according to circadian rhythm. The research has been carried out with 24 subjects between the ages of 18-22. After the pre-test measurements of the participants were taken, they were divided into three groups: the mental imagery morning group (ZCS), the mental imagery afternoon group (ZCÖS), and the control group. After the pre-test measurements, the subjects, who were assigned to the mental imagery groups, were given a mental imagery program for 30 minutes a day, 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening for 15 days. The post-test measurements were made on the day after the mental imagery training program was completed. Pos test measurements were taken between 9.00-10.00 am in the ZCS and control groups and between 14.00-15.00 in the afternoon in the ZCÖS group and recorded as data. The data obtained were analyzed by using the SPSS 23.0 statistical program. In the analysis process, along with descriptive statistics, Paired Samples t-Test was used for in-group analysis and One-Way ANOVA test was used for inter-group analysis, and Tukey HSD Test was used to determine the differences between groups. As a result of the research, a positive improvement was observed in the darts performances of the mental imagery training groups, while this improvement was found to be statistically significant in the ZCS group (p <0.05). Besides, considering the darts shooting performance between groups, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the ZCS group (p <0.05). As a result, it can be said that mental imagery training increases the performance in sports that require closed skills such as darts, and this performance is affected by the hours of the day and shows circadian characteristics.

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