title: Time interval moderates the relationship between psyching-up and actual sprint performance.
abstract: This study attempted to test whether the strongest effect of psyching-up (PU) strategy on actual sprint performance can be observed when the strategy is used immediately (or almost) before performance compared with when there is a delay between PU and performance. To do so, 16 male sprinters (age, 20.6 ± 1.3 years; body mass, 77.5 ± 7.1 kg; height, 180.8 ± 5.6 cm) were enrolled in a counterbalanced experimental design in which participants were randomly assigned to 10 sessions (2 [Experimental Condition: imagery vs. distraction] × 5 [Time Intervals: no interval, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes]). Before performing the experimental tasks, participants rated: (a) the Hooper index, (b) their degree of self-confidence, and (c) after the completion of the experimental test; they rated their perceived effort. Findings showed that the imagery significantly improved sprint performance. Specifically, the imagery enhanced performance on the phase of acceleration (0-10 m) and on the overall sprint (0-30 m) when used immediately before performance and at 1- and 2-minute intervals but not for 3- and 5-minute intervals. These findings support the hypothesis that the potential effect of the PU strategy on performance vanishes over time. The pre-experimental task Hooper and self-efficacy indexes did not change across the 10 experimental sessions, reinforcing the view that the observed performance changes were directly caused by the experimental manipulation and not through any altered status of the athletes (self-efficacy, fatigue/recovery, and stress). The potential mechanisms underlying such a process and practical applications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1Tunisian Research Laboratory Sports Performance Optimization National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia; 2University of Manouba, ISSEP Ksar Saîd, Tunis, Tunisia; 3Laboratory ACTES (EA 3596), Department of Sport Sciences, University of French West Indies and Guiana, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France; 4Department of English Literature, High Institute of Languages of Tunis, University of Carthage, Carthage, Tunisia; 5Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Aberystwyth University, Dyfed, United Kingdom; and 6Research and Education Center, Aspetar, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Sarra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammoudi-Nassib
authors.forename: Moktar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chtara
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nassib
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Briki
authors.forename: Sabra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammoudi-Riahi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tod
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamari
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011897:Random Allocation; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult