MENTAL PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE   Daniel M. Landers & Rafer Lutz Arizona State University   It has been known for some time that mental practice by way of imagery or visualization techniques can enhance sport and motor performance.  Although mental practice does not produce as large an effect as does physical practice, the performance effects are better than having no mental practice at all.  In this presentation, the literature on the amount of mental practice needed to optimize performance will be addressed.  Some new findings, which examine systematic variations in the amount of mental practice that is given beyond a constant level of physical practice, will be presented.  In addition, research dealing with the content of the mental practice (i.e., internal or form focused vs. external or outcome focused imagery) will also be reviewed and recommendations for teachers and coaches will be made concerning the amount and type of imagery needed for athletes at different skill levels.