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5 Steps to Goal Setting for Your Athlete – And Have it Become a Habit

I hate New Year’s Resolutions and the term “new year, new you”. As a coach for over 10 years, I always felt like this was a box checking routine. If everyone else was doing it, then I had to. For years now I have been all about goal setting. Goal setting for your athlete is just as important. There are many benefits and it helps the athlete develop both on and off the field. athlete goal setting

Why should you do athlete goal setting?

First, goal setting allows you to get away from the stigma of a resolution and actually allows you to put time and energy into what you want to achieve for the year. 

Second, they can be habit forming. If you want to be healthier, don’t you want to be healthier all around? 

How to get you on the right track? 5 Steps to Goal Setting

The easiest way to start your goal setting is to decide what you want to achieve in 2022. And the best method to do that is by setting SMART goals. The SMART method for setting goals includes the following from LifeHack.org

  • Specific: Target a specific area for improvement.
  • Measurable: Quantify or suggest an indicator of progress for measurable goals.
  • Achievable: Specify who will do it and how.
  • Realistic: State what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources.
  • Time-related: Specify the target date or general time frame when the result(s) can be achieved.

Here is an example of a SMART goal. 

Walk 30 Minutes a Day, 5 Days a Week

Health is wealth, and exercising for a recommended 150 minutes a week can reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, etc.[3].

You can achieve this goal by brisk walking for 30 minutes a day on Mondays – Fridays. You may further break it down to 15 minutes each for morning and evening.

The goal is specific in that you are exercising for heart health and other diseases. It is measurable because you will do this 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. It is achievable because it is on you to do this and it gives you options if you need to break it down in a day. The goal is realistic, you know you can get this done. And it is time related. 

How do you get started and stay on track?

Have your players write down 2 goals that they want to achieve during the season. The first goal can be a team goal like winning the championship and the second goal can be the highest save percentage. They have the player breakdown what they will do every day to achieve that goal. 

After the goals are written down, they need to share the goals with the team and coach. This makes the player accountable for achieving the goal. And lastly, we recommend that you hang your goals up on a mirror so you are reminded of them every morning. This allows the player to see the goals every day. 

Good luck in all your success! If you need help with goal setting, check out iSport360’s app and the goal setting function. 

Author: Amy Masters has coached for 10 years from ages 5 thru seniors in high school.

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January 1, 2022

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