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PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE GOAL SETTING
16.06.2021

PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE GOAL SETTING

Do you know how to set goals correctly? In this article, you can find some principles which can help you achieve your goals.

1. Make goals specific, observable and in measurable terms 
Setting general goals such as improving your shooting percentage in basketball is easy but it becomes hard to determine how to go about doing this without specific criteria or directives. Specifying how and when to do things can help to this end. A measurable goal is one you can quantify, in the sense that you know exactly how close you are to achieving that goal. Observable goals are those that can be measured and are specific. 

2. Clearly identify the time constraints 
Asking players to improve their shooting percentage will be ineffective unless you have a specified date or event to work towards. Is this goal to be accomplished by the end of practice? The end of the week? By playoffs? Well stated goals should be timely.

3. Use moderately difficult goals 
Moderate goals are better than easy or very difficult goals because it pushes athletes to work hard and extend themselves in order to meet the goals. They are also more satisfying when attained.

4. Write goals down and regularly monitor progress 
Goals are ineffective if forgotten. Write them down being as specific as possible. Keeping a journal or a publicly posted goal monitoring chart can help athletes and coaches with the monitoring process. 

5. Use short-range goals to achieve long range plans 
As shown in the above diagram, goal setting is much like climbing a mountain. The long range goal of reaching your main goal requires strategic short-term goals setting.

6. Set practice as well as competition goals 
It is important for the team and the coach to recognize the critical importance of effective practices to prepare for competition. Practice goals should match competition performance goals as often as possible. Goals related to work ethic and attitude during practice are essential. Showing up on time ready to practice, entering warm-up with enthusiasm and paying attention to the coach and team captain are examples. Additionally, complementing one another on good effort can promote team cohesion and a supportive environment that is fun to be involved with. Practice goals should also involve using mental skills such as imagery which can help with skill learning, strategies, presentation and working through competitive anxiety.

7.  Make sure goals are internalized by the athlete 
It is important that athletes feel in control (self-determined) of their goals. Ensuring that athletes accept and internalize goals is one of the most important features of goal setting. If athletes set their own goals, they will most likely internalize them. Sometimes when coaches set goals for athletes, they aren’t taken seriously.

8. Consider personality and individual differences in goal setting 
Coaches should also keep in mind that athletes’ personality characteristics can determine the effectiveness of goal setting. Whether or not a player is ego oriented (compares their performance to that of others) or task oriented (compares her performance to herself) could determine the extent to which they will be able to internalize goals. 

9. Set positive goals as opposed to negative goals 
Whenever possible, set goals in positive terms by focusing on behaviors that should be present rather than those that should be absent. This can help athletes focus on success rather than failure. 

10. Identify a goal-achievement strategy 
It is important to understand the difference between setting goals and identifying a strategy that will help you accomplish your goals. 

11. Seek support for your goals 
Significant others in the life of an athlete can help ensure goals are achieved. In addition to the team coach, this usually includes other coaches, family, friends, teachers and teammates. Effort should be made in educating these individuals about the types of goals that you are setting for yourself and the importance of their support in encouraging progress towards the goals.

12. Set team as well as individual performance goals 
Performance for the team can be set just as easily as for individuals. Coaches should also consider involving the team in setting some of the various types of goals. 

Article from: Association for applied sport psychology https://appliedsportpsych.org/resources/resources-for-athletes/principles-of-effective-goal-setting/