Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Flow Experience pp 51–64Cite as

Flow in Sport

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Sport offers rich opportunities to experience flow by posing both mental and physical challenges. Studies specifically investigating flow in sport were first published in 1992. Since then a body of empirical research has emerged in this area, which this chapter aims to review in terms of: (i) the methods commonly used to study flow in sport (i.e., interviews, questionnaires, and the Experience Sampling Method); and (ii) key research themes (i.e., the experience, occurrence, controllability and correlates of flow in sport). In turn, current issues within this field are examined, and recommendations are made for future research, including the need to build towards a causal explanation of flow, and potential refinement in understanding how athletes experience these optimal states.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aherne, C., Moran, A., & Londsale, C. (2011). The effect of mindfulness training on athletes’ flow: An initial investigation. The Sport Psychologist, 25, 177–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aubé, C., Brunelle, E., & Rousseau, V. (2014). Flow experience and team performance: The role of team goal commitment and information exchange. Motivation and Emotion, 38, 120–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakker, A., Oerlemans, W., Demerouti, E., Bruins Slot, B., & Karamat Ali, D. (2011). Flow and performance: A study among talented Dutch soccer players. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12, 442–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernier, M., Thienot, E., Codron, R., & Fournier, J. (2009). Mindfulness and acceptance approaches in sport performance. Journal of Clinical Sports Psychology, 4, 320–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, B. W., Van Raalte, J. L., Darwyn, E., & Van Raalte, N. S. (1991). Peak performance and the perils of retrospective introspection. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13, 227–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cathcart, S., McGregor, M., & Groundwater, E. (2014). Mindfulness and flow in elite athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 8, 119–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catley, D., & Duda, J. (1997). Psychological antecedents of the frequency and intensity of flow in golfers. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 28, 309–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chavez, E. (2008). Flow in sport: A study of college athletes. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 28, 69–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crust, L., & Swann, C. (2013). The relationship between mental toughness and dispositional flow. European Journal of Sport Science, 13, 215–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1975). Beyond boredom and anxiety. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1992). A response to the Kimiecik & Stein and Jackson papers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 4, 181–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Larson, R. (1987). Validity and reliability of the experience-sampling method. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 175, 526–536.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Manzano, O., Theorell, T., Harmat, L., & Ullén, F. (2010). The psychophysiology of flow during piano playing. Emotion, 10, 301–311.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delle Fave, A., Bassi, M., & Massimini, F. (2003). Quality of experience and risk perception in high-altitude rock climbing. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 15, 82–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fournier, J., Gaudreau, P., Demontrond-Behr, P., Visioli, J., Forest, J., & Jackson, S. (2007). French translation of the flow state scale-2: Factor structure, cross-cultural invariance, and associations with goal attainment. Psychology of Sport and Exericse, 8, 897–916.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harmat, L., de Manzano, O., Theorell, T., Högman, L., Fischer, H., & Ullén, F. (2015). Physiological correlates of the flow experience during computer game playing. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 97, 1–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haworth, J. (1993). Skills-challenge relationships and psychological well-being in everyday life. Society & Leisure, 16, 115–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodge, K., Lonsdale, C., & Jackson, S. (2009). Athlete engagement in sport: An exploratory investigation of antecedents and consequences. The Sport Psychologist, 23, 186–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackman, P., Van Hout, M., Lane, A., & Fitzpatrick, G. (2014). Experiences of flow in jockeys during flat-race conditions. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. doi:10.1080/1612197X.2014.956327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S. (1992). Athletes in flow: A qualitative investigation of flow states in elite figure skaters. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 4, 161–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S. (1995). Factors influencing the occurrence of flow state in elite athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 7, 138–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S. (1996). Toward a conceptual understanding of the flow experience in elite athletes. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 67, 76–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1999). Flow in sports: The keys to optimal experiences and performances. Champaign: Human Kinetics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., & Eklund, R. C. (2002). Assessing flow in physical activity: The flow state scale-2 and dispositional flow scale-2. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 24, 133–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., & Eklund, R. (2012). Flow. In G. Tenenbaum, R. Eklund, & A. Kamata (Eds.), Measurement in sport and exercise psychology (pp. 349–358). Champaign: Human Kinetics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., & Kimiecik, J. (2008). Optimal experience in sport and exercise. In T. Horn (Ed.), Advances in sport psychology (3rd ed., pp. 377–399). Champaign: Human Kinetics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., & Marsh, H. (1996). Development and validation of a scale to measure optimal experience: The flow state scale. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18, 17–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., & Roberts, G. (1992). Positive performance state of athletes: Towards a conceptual understanding of peak performance. Sport Psychologist, 6, 156–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., Kimiecik, J., Ford, S., & Marsh, H. (1998). Psychological correlates of flow in sport. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20, 358–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., Thomas, P., Marsh, H., & Smethurst, C. (2001). Relationships between flow, self-concept, psychological skills, and performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 13, 129–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S., Martin, A. J., & Eklund, R. C. (2008). Long and short measures of flow: Examining construct validity of the FSS-2, DFS-2 and new brief counterparts. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 30, 561–587.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kawabata, M., Mallett, C., & Jackson, S. (2007). The flow state scale-2 and dispositional flow scale-2: Examination of factorial validity and reliability for Japanese adults. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9, 465–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, J., Bless, H., Blomann, F., & Kleinböhl, D. (2011). Physiological aspects of flow experiences: Skills-demand-compatibility effects on heart rate variability and salivary cortisol. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47, 849–852.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kent, M. (2006). The Oxford dictionary of sports science and medicine (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimiecik, J., & Stein, G. (1992). Examining flow experiences in sport contexts: Conceptual issues and methodological concerns. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 4, 144–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koehn, S. (2013). Effects of confidence and anxiety on flow state in competition. European Journal of Sport Science, 13, 543–550.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kowal, J., & Fortier, M. (1999). Motivational determinants of flow: Contributions from self-determination theory. Journal of Social Psychology, 139, 355–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landhäußer, A., & Keller, J. (2012). Flow and its affective, cognitive, and performance-related consequences. In S. Engeser (Ed.), Advances in flow research (pp. 65–86). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, P., Maynard, I., & Thomas, O. (2005). Effects of hypnosis on flow states and cycling performance. The Sport Psychologist, 19, 164–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A., & Jackson, S. (2008). Brief approaches to assessing task absorption and enhanced subjective experience: Examining ‘short’ and ‘core’ flow in diverse performance domains. Motivation and Emotion, 32, 141–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, J. (2011). A realist approach for qualitative methods. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls, A., Polman, R., & Holt, N. (2005). The effects of individualized imagery interventions on golf performance and flow States. Athletic Insight, 7, 43–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pain, M., Harwood, C., & Anderson, R. (2011). Pre-competition imagery and music: The impact on flow and performance in competitive soccer. The Sport Psychologist, 25, 212–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pates, J., & Maynard, I. (2000). Effects of hypnosis on flow states and golf performance. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 91, 1057–1075.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pates, J., Oliver, R., & Maynard, I. (2001). The effects of hypnosis on flow states and golf putting performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 13, 341–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pates, J., Cummings, A., & Maynard, I. (2002). The effects of hypnosis on flow states and three-point shooting performance in basketball players. The Sport Psychologist, 16, 34–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pates, J., Karageorghis, C., Fryer, R., & Maynard, I. (2003). Effects of asynchronous music on flow states and shooting performance among netball players. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 4, 415–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pates, J., Cowen, A. P., & Karageorghis, C. I. (2012). The effect of a client-centered approach on flow states and the performance of three elite golfers. International Journal of Golf Science, 1, 113–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peifer, C., Schulz, A., Schächinger, H., Baumann, N., & Conny, H. A. (2014). The relation of flow experience and physiological arousal under stress – can u shape it? Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 53, 62–6b9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, W. (2001). An examination of flow state occurrence in college athletes. Journal of Sport Behaviour, 24, 83–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schüler, J., & Brunner, S. (2009). The rewarding effect of flow experience on performance in a marathon race. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 168–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seifert, T., & Hedderson, C. (2010). Intrinsic motivation and flow in skateboarding: An ethnographic study. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 277–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stavrou, N., & Zervas, Y. (2004). Confirmatory factor analysis of flow state scale in sports. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2, 161–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stavrou, N., Jackson, S., Zervas, Y., & Karteroliotis, K. (2007). Flow experience and athletes’ performance with reference to the orthogonal model of flow. The Sport Psychologist, 21, 438–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, G., Kimiecik, J., Daniels, J., & Jackson, S. (1995). Psychological antecedents of flow in recreational sport. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 125–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swann, C., Keegan, R., Piggott, D., & Crust, L. (2012a). A systematic review of the experience, occurrence, and controllability of flow in elite sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13(6), 807–819.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swann, C., Keegan, R., Piggott, D., Crust, L., & Smith, M. F. (2012b). Exploring flow occurrence in elite golf. Athletic Insight, 4, 171–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swann, C., Crust, L., Keegan, R., Piggott, D., & Hemmings, B. (2015a). An inductive exploration into the experience of flow in European Tour golfers. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 7, 210–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swann, C., Piggott, D., Crust, L., Keegan, R., & Hemmings, B. (2015b). Exploring the interactions underlying flow states: A connecting analysis of flow occurrence in European Tour golfers. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16, 60–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swann, C., Keegan, R., Crust, L., & Piggott, D. (2016). Psychological states underlying excellent performance in professional golfers: “Letting it happen” vs. “making it happen”. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 23, 101–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, C. (2010). Experiencing flow: Is doing it together better than doing it alone? Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 3–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yarrow, M. R., Campbell, J. D., & Burton, R. V. (1970). Recollections of childhood: A study of the retrospective method. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 35, 1–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. A. (2000). Professional tennis players in the zone. In S. J. Haake & A. Coe (Eds.), Tennis science and technology (pp. 417–422). Malden: Blackwell Science.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Early Start Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

    Christian Swann

Authors
  1. Christian Swann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christian Swann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    László Harmat

  2. Department of Education, University of Aarhus, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Frans Ørsted Andersen

  3. Department of Education, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

    Fredrik Ullén

  4. School of Health Professionals, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, East Sussex, United Kingdom

    Jon Wright

  5. School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, East Bourne, East Sussex, United Kingdom

    Gaynor Sadlo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Swann, C. (2016). Flow in Sport. In: Harmat, L., Ørsted Andersen, F., Ullén, F., Wright, J., Sadlo, G. (eds) Flow Experience. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28634-1_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation