Comparison of the Flow Status of Amateur and Elite Wrestlers

Abstract

Using positive psychology for optimal performance and reaching the peak of performance in sports has always been considered. However, there is no accurate understanding of some mental experiences such as flow. This study aimed to compare the flow status of amateur and elite wrestlers. The statistical population of this study consisted of 56 wrestlers in the sixth freestyle and Greco roman wrestling world cup championships (2020) and 56 amateur wrestlers from different random cities of Iran. To measure the experience of athletes, the Flow State Scale was used. The results showed that the overall flow score of elite wrestlers was significantly higher than amateur wrestlers. Also, independent t-test indicated among the nine dimensions of flow, challenge-skills balance, action-awareness merging, clear goals, unambiguous feedback, concentration on the task at hand, sense of control, loss of self-consciousness in professional was significantly higher than amateur wrestlers. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between professional and amateur wrestlers regarding the dimensions of transformation of time and autotelic experience. Further research focuses on the flow status of athletes as a component of psychological factors that are expected to be related to skill level is needed. Therefore, it can help sports coaches and psychologists bring athletes to the peak of performance and optimal performance.

Keywords

• keywords: amateur wrestlers
• elite wrestlers
• flow status
• positive psychology