Why set goals
- Goals improve and optimise performance, increase motivation and focus, and help performers stick to training.
- Performance goals are about personal performance, such as improving your own 5 km time. They are in the performer's control.
- Outcome goals are about the result, such as winning a race. They depend on others, so they can be demotivating if missed.
SMART targets
- Specific: clear and linked to the performer's sport, such as "improve my first-serve percentage".
- Measurable: the progress can be measured, such as "from 50% to 60%".
- Achievable: the goal can be reached with effort.
- Realistic: it fits the performer's situation, such as the time and facilities they have.
- Time-bound: it has a deadline, such as "by the end of the season".
Using goals well
- Review goals regularly and adjust them if needed.
- Goals that are too easy don't motivate; goals that are too hard lead to failure and lower confidence.
Key terms
- SMART
- Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.
- Performance goal
- A goal about the performer's own performance, compared with their previous ones.
- Outcome goal
- A goal about the result, such as winning.
- Motivation
- The drive to succeed.
- Time-bound
- Having a deadline.