Abstract

In sports education, psychological strength is considered as an integral component in the performance of any athlete. One of the effective ways to improve many psychological attributes involves training. The sample consisted of 450 athletes divided into an experimental group (EG) (n = 225) that received eight-week imagination training and a control group (CG) (n = 225) that continued with conventional training. Data was examined using the latest version of SPSS 17.0, using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to control for pre-existing differences. Psychological strength, mental resilience, focus and concentration, confidence, and stress management are important in athletic performance. It is proposed as a method of enhancing these psychological attributes in sports education. There were differences in significance in the EG in psychological strength, focus and concentration, confidence, and stress management compared with the CG. Paired t-tests in these variables reflect p< 0.05. ANCOVA supported the efficiency of imagination training. Imagination training significantly develops psychological strength and other related attributes in athletes. In all the variables studied, the EG performed better compared to the CG, which provided evidence that imagination training is indeed a helpful tool in enhancing psychological strength and performance in sports education.