Finding the "FLOW" state for kids in sports

Came across this interesting talk on TED:

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness - where he talks about how the right combination of Skill & Challenge is required for a state of Flow. 

In the Sports context, some call it the "Zone" 

The state where people seem to effortlessly achieve stuff. When they keep getting energy from inside them. When each obstacle is viewed as an interesting challenge.

The state where you enjoy the doing for the sake of doing. Not for any outcome.

And in the process, get happier, achieve higher goals and are at complete peace with yourself.

So, how do we help kids in sports find the Flow?

The typical types of kids we see in sports:

1. Talented kids - with high skills. They know they are good. Never lose an opportunity to try.
2. Average kids - who can do a lot better but are not willing to try.
3. "Slow" kids - who do not have the skill and - after a few tries - have stopped trying.

In most sports programs - in-school as well as after-school - this classification is seen as permanent. And hence, only the talented kids - who are proactive in playing more - get all the attention, equipment, training, opportunities etc.

The other kids are not even trying - so, very often, it is not even a situation that demands conflict resolution.

However, the Skill Challenge matrix below - created by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - gives a neat structure for thinking about the problem.

And some implementable solutions for getting all kids to engage with sport and discover the state of Flow.

1. For the "Slow kids":

• If there is anxiety about the sports sessions i.e. they want to be there but are unsure about their abilities:
• Reduce the Challenge level of the sessions. Focus on improving their skills so that they move from Anxiety state to Control state.
• Once they have reached the Control state, increase the Challenge while keeping the Skill levels high so that they achieve Flow.

• If the kids are worried about how they will perform:
• Improve their skills so that they move to Relaxation/Control state.
• Then increase the Challenge levels to achieve Flow.

• If there is apathy: i.e. they just do not care about the sessions.
• Focus on improving their skills so that they move to the Relaxation state. They start enjoying the sessions because they can actually do the stuff that is expected of them.
• And then, increase the Challenge levels for them to move to Control & then, Flow.

2. For the Average kids:

• If they are bored with the activities:
• Increase the Challenge levels and you start them into Flow directly.
• If they are in a state of arousal, i.e. they think they should be able to handle the session but are unable to do the activities expected of them:
• Focus on improving their skill and get them to Flow directly.

3. For the Talented kids:

• Across all categories, there is only one solution. 
• Keep the challenge levels high. These kids love a challenge. 
• Keep improving their skills as you increase the challenge levels.

It is possible to get all children to enjoy the state of Flow in sports.

It just takes a structured program that can modulate the challenge levels & the skill learning levels according to the child you are dealing with.  The structured program will, in-turn, need individual assessments, ability to track each child over a time-period, well-defined norms for skill & challenge levels, adequate & appropriate props  that provides the ability to cater to the needs of the different categories of children.

Just having an age-appropriate program is not enough. It has to be "skill-appropriate" session!

But it is possible.

Most adults today have memories of apathy & boredom when they talk about their PE/sports sessions!

Over the last 5 years, EduSports has been able to move nearly 200,000 children - from 350 schools - across India from the Apathy/Boredom state to the Relaxation/Control state.
And many from Anxiety/Worry state to Control state.
And many to the Flow state.

At EduSports, we like to refer to the journey towards the "Flow" state in sports as the "Magic of Sports".

It has not been easy helping children go through the journey.

Limited time, limited space, limited budgets, academic pressures, parental apathy etc.

But it is possible - within the child's school's context & constraints. And there are enough school leaders who understand the value.

The magic of the journey and the joy of children finding the Flow state makes it all worth it.

Now, for the next 5 years and a million kids in the Flow state. :)