Flow describes a mental state in which people seem to flow when they demonstrate a productive and motivated effort. This study sought to understand the significance that rugby athletes attribute to the flow state, the perception of the phenomena in the sports practice and the implications on performance. For that, 8 male athletes participated in the study, representing the juvenile and adult teams submitted to a semi-structured interview. The results indicated that flow occurs in situations that present balance between personal skills and challenges in sports activity. Success in the game, positive emotions, support/encouragement, recognition and overcoming were aspects that marked the experience elected as special. Making use of psychological strategies, high levels of concentration, feeling prepared for the game and positive emotions were cited as fundamental in achieving flow in the game. On the other hand, some aspects, besides causing harm, interrupted the flow: negative emotions, not perceiving one's self as prepared for the challenge, concentration problems, intragroup difficulties. Negative emotions and the feeling that one is not prepared for the challenge were aspects mentioned only by juvenile athletes. The athletes´ speech showed that although they could not describe the flow, they had already experienced this psychological state.

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a relação entre a carga de treinamento e o estado de humor durante um macrociclo. Vinte nadadores velocistas de alto rendimento, de ambos os sexos, foram avaliados pela Escala de Percepção Subjetiva de Esforço (PSE) e pelo Perfil Brums. A carga de treinamento foi determinada com a multiplicação dos quilômetros nadados (volume) semanalmente pela resposta da PSE semanal. A correlação de Pearson foi usadaparaverificar a relação entre a carga de treino e o estado de humor. Os resultados mostraram correlação positiva da carga com a fadiga e negativa com o vigor (p < 0,01). Assim, foi possível concluir que a carga de treinamento determinada pela relação entre o volume e a PSE se relaciona com os estados emocionais, o vigor e a fadiga de nadadores.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between training load and athletes mood states during a macrocycle. Twenty sprinters swimmers of high performance, of both sexes, were evaluated through the Rating of Perceived Exertion (PSE) and the Brums Profile (BR). The training load was determined multiplying the weekly kilometers swam (volume) by the score of the PSE. The Pearson correlation was used to verify the relationship between the training loads and the emotional states. Results showed a positive correlation with fatigue and negative correlation with vigor (p < 0.01). Thus, it was concluded that the training load determined by the relationship between volume and PSE is related to emotional states, vigor and fatigue.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la relación entre la carga de entrenamiento y el estado de ánimo durante un macrociclo. Veinte nadadores velocistas de alto rendimiento, de ambos sexos fueron evaluados a través de la Escala de Percepción Subjetiva del Esfuerzo (PSE) y el perfil Brums. La carga de entrenamiento se determina multiplicando kilómetros nadó (volumen) semanalmente por la respuesta del PSE semanal. La correlación de Pearson fue usada para verificar la relación entre la carga de entrenamiento y el estado de ánimo. Los resultados mostraron una correlación positiva entre la carga y la fatiga, y negativa con el vigor (p < 0,01). Por lo tanto, se concluyó que la carga de entrenamiento determinada por la relación entre el volumen y la PSE está relacionada com los estados emocionales, el vigor y la fatiga.

O propósito deste estudo foi verificar a relação entre o fluxo e as formas de motivação estabelecidas pela teoria da autodeterminação, a autoeficácia, a habilidade percebida e a orientação às metas. Os participantes foram atletas de voleibol do gênero masculino que responderam aos seguintes instrumentos: Avaliação Demográfica, Escalas de Motivação Esportiva, Orientação Tarefa-Ego no esporte, Escala de Autoeficácia Individual para o Voleibol, Escala de Habilidade Percebida e Escalas da Percepção do Fluxo. Os dados foram coletados em três jogos. Os resultados revelaram que a média do fluxo dos atletas foi baixa. Observou-se relação negativa com os componentes da motivação extrínseca e amotivação, e uma relação positiva entre o fluxo e autoeficácia na segunda fase, e entre o fluxo e a habilidade percebida na segunda e terceira fases do estudo. Em relação à orientação tarefa, a relação foi negativa na segunda fase e positiva na terceira fase, jogos de campeonatos estadual e regional, respectivamente.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the flow and the forms of motivation established by the theory of self-determination, the self-efficacy, the perceived ability and the goal orientation. Participants were male volleyball players who responded to the following instruments: Demographic Evaluation, Sport Motivation Scales, Task-Ego Orientation in Sport, Scale of Individual Self-efficacy for Volleyball, Perceived Ability, and Scales of Flow Perception. Data were collected during three games. The results showed that the average flow of the athletes was low. There was a negative relationship between the components of extrinsic motivation and amotivation, and a positive relationship between the flow and the self-efficacy in the second phase, and between the flow and the perceived ability in the second and third phases of the study. Regarding the task orientation, the relationship was negative in the second phase and positive in the third phase, in state and regional championships, respectively.