Did you know that you can daydream your way to a better performance? I can hear all the parents saying now, "I wish...". But it's true. Daydreaming, or in its more structured and jargonistic form of visualizing, can allow you to plan your movements in your head before you hit the field.

If there's an area you'd particularly like to improve in, plan what you need to do, think about it, work it all out in your head, and then practice it. I'm sorry, but yes, you do still need to actually practice. The point is though, that by thinking, planning & visualising first you are teaching your brain and your body what it is meant to do. Then all you have to do is put those lessons into practice.

In the same way, thinking positively about the practice and game ahead will also help you play better. If you find yourself thinking, "That's too hard, I can't do that..." STOP! Think instead, "Okay, that might be hard, but I can do it" and then start visualising how you're going to go about it.

You can help your visualising [thinking/daydreaming... what ever you want to call it] by watching sport on television (preferably the same sport you play). Concentrate on the player in "your" position and take notice of what they do. Later, you can replay the game in your head and put yourself into "your" player's boots. If you can record the game, even better, then you can watch again and look for any moves that you might have missed the first time around.

These techniques can work, but you must give them a decent effort. Once will not do it. Whenever you can and especially before/during training and gametime will definitely put you on your way to improved skills and even better games. And remember, thinking positively about what you can do will help you to achieve your goals.