Flow or being in the zone is a mental state when an athlete becomes completely absorbed in the activity they are performing and performs at a high level. When an athlete experiences flow or is in the zone, they are totally immersed in what they are doing, they feel calm, confident and in control of things, they perform in a fluid and intuitive manner, and they tend to lose track of time.
Flow tends to happen in sporting situations where an athlete faces a challenge that they consider is stretching but manageable and where they lose self-consciousness, enjoy performing, and experience a sense of mastery. The experience of flow while competing which is the result of hard work and repetitive practice makes performance satisfying, worthwhile, and enjoyable, and motivates an athlete to want to continually improve their skills and seek new challenges.