Sports require constant work towards success which is why teams and players often implement goals going into sports seasons. These goals serve as a guide throughout the season, allowing athletes to grow and have success during this time.
According to the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, there are principles for effective goal setting. While these principles vary, there are similarities between their principles and the SMART goals. SMART goals are goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. The AASP recommends writing down goals and regularly reviewing the progress that has been made toward the goals.
Often teams set large goals such as making it to state, or winning state, but setting such a large goal requires work. This is where short-range goals come into play. Short-range goals are often much more attainable, but make the climb to the long-term goals much easier.
Student athletes at Bellarmine have made it a priority to set both team and personal goals, in order to perform their best. Senior softball player Halle Bjorkman says her goal is to, “Have a consistent hitting, and high base percentage and batting average…make solid contact at the plate.”
Woman’s lacrosse captain Lila Stewart said, “To get 100 goals for my high school career this season.
Senior track runner Ava Harrison said, “This season, I really want to set a PR in both the mile and the 800.”
The specificity of these goals makes them both tangible, and concrete to achieve. Notably, these goals are process goals that, in turn, are the steps to achieve outcome goals.
According to senior Patrick Bliss,“win our league championship” and “go to the state title game” are both outcome and team-wide goals of the boys lacrosse team.
Furthermore, these athletes have noted their personal experience to beginning a season with goal setting. Senior golfer Adeline Kelly said, “It gives you something to look forward to, and something to compete for. Outside of actual competition.”
Harrison said, “It definitely motivates everyone to work towards something, I think for all runners, setting a time goal helps you stay on track for improving…So you’re always getting better when you set goals, even if they don’t seem approachable.”
According to these athletes, they additionally recognize the importance of goal setting and how it drives them to success and pushes them to perform at their highest level.
Goals influence aspects of play and competition, driving athletes to do their best in order to achieve these season goals. And these SMART goals will, hopefully, allow teams to have a great season, as they work toward larger goals by taking small steps.
