摘要：Introduction: Among the various team sports water polo is a sport suited to the development of motor skillsin their technical, space and rules of the game where the time of analysis, evaluation, processing andexecution is limited compared to other team sports and may be particularly suitable in the period 9-10 yearsto acquire the specific techniques of the game. Aim: The aim is to evaluate the effects of motor imagerypractice in training. The motor imagery is a cognitive process of mental simulation of actions in absence ofmovement. There are two methods to improve skills learning through motor imagery: in first person and Inthird person. The biological basis on which the motor imagery theory is founded, is formed by: mirrorneurons. Methods: It is an experimental approach and it consists of two steps. Both groups were videotapedin the execution of sport skills and evaluated, through a check list made by water polo indicators: positioningphase, counter-movement, movement of shooting in 4 level of descriptors by technicians every four months.A sample of water polo team of children ( 9-10 years old) splitting in control and experimental groups, aftera pre-assessment, performed by technicians, about technical skills through an evaluation grid prepared "adhoc" on technical fundamentals taken into the study to form two homogeneous groups (Experimental group n= 10, control group n = 10). Experimental group using modeling video performed by a athletes of NationalItalian water polo Team could lead to significant changes in technical skills. Results: Data recruit at starting,ongoing and final training program and their analysis, evaluation and comparison by control group showpercentage of 9% better outcomes. particularly, at final training shows a minimum improvement 3.2% thanongoing phase that gives a maximum improvement 9.6%, while a substantial balance in the control groupwith a medium improvement of 3.2% in every phase of training program. Discussion: In this study two basicaspects of the performance are examined: the motor execution and the motor imagine. Both share the sameneuro-motor mechanism: the motor imagery. Concerning the water polo it can be useful during the trainingand the race. So providing the athletes and trainers of a means which uses the motor imagery as a possibleapplication for the improvement of the performance. Conclusions: So in conclusion, the study aims to providea standard training feasible on a large scale to train the cognitive and physical abilities of an athlete andprovide a support tool in the race in order to improve performance, optimize time and to reduce the marginof error.
