Goal setting is a useful tool for coaches and players, providing them with a starting point from which to work from. What are they trying to accomplish individually and as a team? When developed properly and regularly followed up and evaluated, goals help give a purpose, a meaning, motivation, self-confidence and most of all increase better performances.
There are many different types of goal settings when it comes to selecting the appropriate one for you or your team. Goals can be separated into long-term, intermediate and short-term. These in turn can be labelled outcome, performance and process goals. Most often athletes and coaches develop outcome goals. These are goals that are measured by the outcome or result between teams or individuals (eg winning a match or making a team). Performance or process goals focus on improving your performance relative to previous performances (eg making a score, tackle, improving your percentage of free-kicks). All are relevant and can be used in all training programmes. What ever type of goal you or your team are working towards, they can all be SMARTER:
• Specific – Goals need to be specific and clear
• Measurable – Each goal needs to be measured for achievement
• Agreed – Players need to accept their goals as worthwhile.
• Realistic – Goals should be realistic in terms of achieving what is attainable
• Time – Goals must have a timescale, this helps to keep focus on the task at hand.
• Evaluate – Goals must be monitored and reviewed to access progress.
• Record – Goals must be written and recorded as this helps to reinforce and visualise the task.
Other tips for goal setting include setting goals not only for competition but for practice, developing them in a positive language as opposed to using negative terms ( eg ‘ I will stay calm and focused on my kicking, shutting out the crowd’ versus ‘I will not let the crowd wind me up so to put me off my kicking’). Writing-up and pinning up your goals in places that will be regularly seen is also a useful idea (eg bedside locker, side pocket of kit bag etc).
Last but not least a crucial key is identifying the goal type that best suits you and your team. Performance or process goals are often more likely to be achieved rather than outcome goals. Performance goals are useful in improving your performance and are compared against your own previous performance. This is more realistic and indeed measurable. If your goal is viewed in the context of winning or losing, you and your team are susceptible to becoming frustrated and de-motivated as you may feel yous have done your best but only to have been beaten by a better team on the day. The defeat could even possibly have been out of your control as there are many external factors at play in a game eg referee’s decision, no luck, coaches selection, weather etc. Through improving your performance and achieving performance based goals, it is more likely that you and your team will achieve your ultimate outcome goal.
