“I get that ball and I am running…like nothing else is there with me”: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of rugby players’ experience of flow during game-play

Background: This research examines the flow experience of rugby players following game-play. A flow experience is when an individual becomes completely immersed in the task at hand, as the task is challenging enough to push the individual to perform at their optimum skill level. Limited research focuses on flow in competitive, team-based environments and the implications this has for team dynamics and wellbeing. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five rugby players from the Old Northamptonians rugby club and was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: Participants’ accounts highlighted three main aspects of flow which appeared to be relevant to competitive gameplay. This included communication, which was dependent on player position and role; perception of control, which focused on gaming restrictions and mind set; and time distortion; which was dependent on experience and perception of in-game challenges. Discussion: These findings help explain how rugby players individually experience flow, as well as how coaches may experience a flow states at the same time, but have a different perception of the experience. This research has implications for helping to promote flow experiences and to encourage individuals to become more aware of when they are experiencing flow, both in rugby game-play and in other aspects of their lives.