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Psychological States Underlying Excellent Performance in Sport: Toward an Integrated Model of Flow and Clutch States
Open accessAbstract
This study investigated the psychological states underlying excellent performance in 26 athletes (Mage = 29 years, SD = 7.7) across a range of sports (team, net/wall, sprint, endurance, adventure) and standards (world class to recreational). Participants were primarily interviewed on average 4 days after excellent performances. The data were analyzed thematically. Distinct states of flow and clutch were reported, each of which occurred through separate contexts and processes, while athletes also transitioned between states during performance. These findings extend current knowledge of the psychology of excellent performance and are discussed in terms of implications for future research and applied practice.
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“Swann et al. (2017) describe the pathways through which flow enhances sports performance as clutch or making it happen.”
From Mindfulness and self-rated performance among novice athletes in China: a sequential mediating role of flow and cognitive anxiety (2025) · cites this paper as Swann et al., 2017
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Metadata
- Authors
- Swann, C., Crust, L., Jackman, P., Vella, S. A., Allen, M. S., & Keegan, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- University of Lincoln (GB)
- University of Canberra (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Swann, Christian
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-01-24
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 375-401
- ISSN
- 1041-3200 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-1571
- OpenAlex
- W2580965628
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 24.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Lincoln Repository (University of Lincoln) (acceptedVersion)
- Cross Connect (Southern Cross University) (submittedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Keywords
- flow experience, clutch performance, psychological state, elite athletes, performance under pressure, state transitions, sport psychology
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