Flow in Sports: The keys to optimal experiences and performances

Well written good info. about sports and even life’s journey.Thanks

Flow in Sports: The keys to optimal experiences and performances by Jackson and Csikszentmihalyi.This book is a great introduction to a key aspect of performance: Flow.In this very readable book the authors define the key dimensions of Flow as:1. Challenge-skills balance2. Action-awareness merging3. Clear goals4. Unambiguous feedback5. Concentration on the task in hand6. Sense of control7. Loss of self-consciousness8. Transformation of time9. Autotelic experience. (Jackson & Csikszentmihalyi, 1999, p. 16)These dimensions are build on almost 40 years of Csikszentmihalyi's work on this topic and it was interesting that in their recent research Beard and Hoy (2010) confirmed what they called the Jackson-Marsh model.This is a rich area of interest for the athlete and the researchers alike, and the payoff, Flow, is an addictive motivator.For the readers who are interested in this topic Jackson, S.A., & Eklund, R.C. (2004). The flow scales manual (Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology, Inc.) is worth reading.The rewarding aspects of Flow in a variety of situations demonstrate the nature of the positive psychology of human endeavor. This book is a must read.

Solid information, great principles, and important skills to be learn. True high performance athletes, or ones who aspire to such heights, will incorporate these skills into their daily regiment. Mental toughness doesn't come from a book, it comes from practice and developed habits. Flow in Sports is a wonderful offering to focused achievers.

As I was preparing to break a world record, this book was recommended to me by my trainer. It was one of the most effective tools in my journey toward the Guinness World Record I have broken.

The book is at odds with itself in some ways. The work of Csikszentmihalyi was to determine the quality of experiences that make life worth living. Sport activities are perfect for the challenge/skill balance in flow. However the book tends to keep slipping away from that concept to "winning" and beating the competition and reaching the top, which is not the same idea,. I decided not to use this as a textbook for undergraduate course in exercise motivation throughout life. I decided rather that the book Finding Flow captured the ideas better. Flow in sports does have a useful chart showing how challenge/skill balance can be planned in sport activities and that is a strong point in this book.

Flow in Sports by Susan A. Jackson is a well written, clear, practical manual that offers well grounded advice to any level athlete. This is the best book I have seen on the topic since the original classic by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi because it delivers the concepts without fanfare. Flow is just another practical took for the modern day athlete, the same as good nutrition and dedicated practice schedules. This tone and the plentiful, flow-accurate blurbs from atheltes in several different sports, make for a fun and exciting read. Every athelete will identify with the concepts and find inspiration to expand on the methods in their own specific sports training.

The only "sports psychology" book I've ever found helpful or whose advice I could easily put into practice. No cheesy personal stories here, just concrete ways to facilitate increased enjoyment and performance. As a mystic-turned-ultrarunner, I loved this book.

I guess it’s a good book.... but not a super fast read. Kinda boring at some parts. Came in good condition though

This book was published a decade ago (which is when I first read it) & it is still in print. That in itself speaks volumes for its importance. An in-depth analysis of the really important concept of "Flow" applied to Sports Performance but much more accessibly written than many of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's solo-written titles.Much of what is here is equally applicable within management (and everyday life) too, which Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi deals with specifically in later titles such as "Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention" and especially "Beyond Boredom and Anxiety: Experiencing Flow in Work and Play".Take time to read & digest it, its worth it!!!

Fantastic insight into flow, really going to help with dissertation.

If you want to understand what it takes to get into flow states then this is the one to have.

Letto in 2 giorni, decisamente utile ed interessante. Ottimi gli spunti da applicare indistintente a tutti i tipi di sport. Lo consiglio a chi abbia voglia di mettersi in gioco e cercare dentro di sé la voglia di farsi trascinare dal FLUSSO.

Gostei muito, pude presentear uma amiga que tinha um igual mas seu cão comeu ele todo, ela ficou ainda mais feliz !!!