Coaches teach their players to use this relaxation technique all the time. Players not only take deep breathes in tense situation, but before performing any action. The player mentally rehearses the action before performing the action. By visualizing ahead of time, the player's learning cycle is greatly accelerated.
Good coaches ask their players to see actions and skills ahead of time.
Any visualization can be performed with the eyes opened or with the eyes closed. To make the visualization more interesting and more fun, ask the player to imagine themselves doing the action from different angles and from different distances. This Copyrighted brochure teaches coaches how to combine the physical sport's actions with the mental sport's process. Sport's Parents and New Coaches receive detailed information on ways to talk to athletes that create body awareness, relaxation, goal setting, visualization, overcoming failure, concentration, dealing with anxiety, and using simple slogans. I am a brand new coach and know virtually nothing about the game except what I learned over thirty years ago in elementary school.