Impact of Mind Gardens Strategy on Long Distance Shooting in U16 Basketball

Raheeq Mahmood; Ammar Jabar

doi:10.47134/jpo.v2i2.1893

Authors

Raheeq Nezar Mahmood Baghdad Education Directorate Third Karkh
Ammar Hussain Jabar Ashour University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47134/jpo.v2i2.1893

Keywords:

Basketball Performance, Cognitive Training, Long-Distance Shooting, Mind Gardens Strategy

Abstract

The study conducted in order to analyze the role of the Mind Gardens Strategy to develop long distance shooting from the basketball players in under 16 age group. 24 subjects from a local basketball club were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group trained by the Mind Gardens Strategy and the control group trained in the traditional way. There were three main tests in the experiment: the Five-Area Shooting Test, the Long-Distance Shooting Speed and Accuracy Test, and the Long-Distance Shooting Under Pressure Test. The results showed that the experimental team achieved performances significantly superior in the three tests, being those related to the capacity of shooting more accurate, faster and with higher success under pressure. The experimental group showed significant increases in shooting accuracy (23.93%), and shooting speed and accuracy (33.28%), and performance under pressure (34.58%). On the other hand, the control group showed less significant developments, highlighting the effectivity of Mind Gardens Strategy in the development of shooting performance when compared to the traditional one. These results indicate that the exercise employing dual cognitive training schemes, such as the Mind Gardens Strategy, on basketball training program may be useful for improving long-range shooting performance. The study highlights the relevance of cognitive tactics in sports coaching, especially among young persons involved in sports.

References

Abdulhussein, A. A., Saad Dheyab, A., Abdulkareem, O. W., Hussain Mutar Albadri, E., Hammood, A. H., Fadel, M., Musa, A. H., Kadhim, M. J., Abdulmageed, T. S., Hadi Jasim, A., Atiyah, H., Muayad, G. S., & Naser, A. A. (2024). An Electronic System According To The Cooperative Method And Its Impact On Defensive Movements In Youth Basketball. International Development Planning Review, 23(1), 1253–1266. https://idpr.org.uk/index.php/idpr/article/view/242

Abdulkareem, O. W., & Ali Hassan, M. F. (2025). impact of mental games on improving shooting accuracy among young basketball players in Iraqi clubs. Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, 4(3), 342–351. https://doi.org/10.55860/OHNP7224 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55860/OHNP7224

Ansari, A. (1968). Educational psychology: A cognitive view.

Awad, K. T., & Hegazy, A. M. (2015). The effect of using digital mind mapping on cognitive achievement and performance level of some basic skills in handball. Turkish Journal of Kinesiology, 1(1), 25–31.

Bornstein, M. H. (1986). Frames of Mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. JSTOR. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3332707

Cao, S., Geok, S. K., Roslan, S., Sun, H., Lam, S. K., & Qian, S. (2022). Mental fatigue and basketball performance: a systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 819081. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.819081

Huang, M.-Y., Tu, H.-Y., Wang, W.-Y., Chen, J.-F., Yu, Y.-T., & Chou, C.-C. (2017). Effects of cooperative learning and concept mapping intervention on critical thinking and basketball skills in elementary school. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 23, 207–216. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2017.01.002

Kanthack, T. F. D., Bigliassi, M., Vieira, L. F., & Altimari, L. R. (2014). Acute effect of motor imagery on basketball players’ free throw performance and self-efficacy. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 16, 47–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2014v16n1p47

Lu, F. J. H., Gill, D. L., Lee, Y.-C., Chiu, Y.-H., Liu, S., & Liu, H.-Y. (2020). Effects of visualized PETTLEP imagery on the basketball 3-point shot: A comparison of internal and external perspectives. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 51, 101765. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101765

Meyers, A. W., Schleser, R., & Okwumabua, T. M. (1982). A cognitive behavioral intervention for improving basketball performance. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 53(4), 344–347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1982.10605259

Omar-Fauzee, M. S., Daud, W., Abdullah, R., & Rashid, S. (2009). The effectiveness of imagery and coping strategies in sport performance. European Journal of Social Sciences, 9(1), 97–108.

Paivio, A., & Clark, J. M. (2006). Dual coding theory and education. Pathways to Literacy Achievement for High Poverty Children, 1, 149–210.

Rahman, M. H., & Islam, M. S. (2021). Immediate effect of mental imagery training on accuracy of basketball free-throws in Bangladesh. Journal of Advances in Sports and Physical Education, 4(4), 68–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/jaspe.2021.v04i04.004

Raiola, G., Tafuri, D., & Gomez Paloma, F. (2014). Physical activity and sport skills and its relation to mind theory on motor control. Sport Science, 7(1), 52–56.

Salimbayat, A. (2025). The Effects of Visualization and Mental Imagery on Vertical Jump Performance in Basketball Players: A Systematic Review. Available at SSRN 5324854. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5324854

Sirnik, M., Erčulj, F., & Rošker, J. (2022). Research of visual attention in basketball shooting: A systematic review with meta-analysis. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 17(5), 1195–1210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221075740

Slimani, M., Bragazzi, N. L., Tod, D., Dellal, A., Hue, O., Cheour, F., Taylor, L., & Chamari, K. (2016). Do cognitive training strategies improve motor and positive psychological skills development in soccer players? Insights from a systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(24), 2338–2349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1254809

Vickers, J. N. (2016). Origins and current issues in Quiet Eye research. Current Issues in Sport Science, 1, 1–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15203/CISS_2016.118

Xiang, Y. (2024). Theory of Multiple Intelligences. In The ECPH Encyclopedia of Psychology (pp. 1530–1531). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7874-4_1331 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7874-4_1331

Zhang, M., Li, F., Jiao, J., Liang, W., Gomez, M.-A., & Scanlan, A. T. (2025). Effects of Different Training Methods on Open-Skill and Closed-Skill Agility in Basketball Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine-Open, 11(1), 1–18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00842-9

Zureigat, A., Al-eliwah, S., Fattah, O. A., Alzughailat, M., & A’mir, O. (2023). Exploring the Effect of Six Weeks of Mental Visualization on the Three-Shot Accuracy in Basketball. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 26(3).