What? Why? How? Navigating Diverse Perspectives on Creativity in Sport

This introductory chapter outlines the rationale, structure, and ambitions of The Palgrave Handbook of Creativity in Sport. In response to the growing interest in creativity across sport contexts, the Handbook offers a pluralistic and interdisciplinary overview of the field, aiming to stimulate dialogue, challenge conventions, and inspire new directions. Rather than seeking consensus, the editors invite readers to critically reflect on the nature, value, and application of creativity in sport, and to navigate the wide-ranging theoretical, contextual, and applied perspectives presented across the Handbook’s three parts. Besides introducing these parts, a central aim of this chapter is to trace the emergence and evolution of creativity as a researchable construct in sport – from early philosophical inquiries and
educational incentives to more contemporary interventions, frameworks and empirical studies. By highlighting overlooked contributions and mapping key developments, the chapter situates current debates within a broader historical context. In doing so, it underscores creativity as a central – yet multifaceted – dimension of sport, spanning from recreational play to elite performance. Ultimately,
the chapter seeks to cultivate a community of creative inquirers who are open to diverse perspectives and committed to advancing the field through engaged, reflective, and context-sensitive scholarship.