By Kelly O'Brien, NFF Center for Youth Development Through Sport, Springfield College
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will end up in the stars." - Les Brown
Now that the football season and academic year have begun, it is a good idea to consider your goals for the upcoming months. Do you want to complete more passes or make more tackles? Do you want to run for 1000 yards? Do you want to achieve a certain GPA or an 'A' in Biology? These are just a few examples of the goals you might want to set for yourself.
A goal is a standard or level of proficiency that you work toward or want to attain. Goals keep us focused and they can also increase our motivation and effort. There are many different types including outcome, performance, and process goals. Outcome goals focus on results. For example, achieving an 'A' in biology or winning a championship. Performance goals allow you to increase your own personal standards of performance based on previous experiences. Perhaps last season, you ran for 300 yards and this year you want to increase that number to 400 yards. Maybe you want to complete all of your homework assignments instead of missing one or two.
Finally, process goals focus on the steps you need to take in order to attain the desired outcome. More specifically, how are you going increase your total yardage? What new skills or strategies are you going to need to learn in order to achieve this goal?
The key to effective goal setting is to be SMART. Goals should be:
Specific
Measurable
Action-oriented
Realistic
Time-appropriate
An athlete who wants to run a mile in five minutes has a goal that is both specific and measurable. If you can currently run the mile in five and a half minutes, then shaving 30 seconds off that time is realistic. You also have to consider the amount of time this athlete has to complete the goal. Four months, rather than four weeks, is an appropriate time frame. Furthermore, you also want to consider both long and short-term goals. Earning an 'A' in Biology is an example of an outcome goal. However, you also need to plan the smaller steps that you need to take to get an 'A.' These process goals may include attending each class, taking notes, and turning in assignments complete and on time. It is helpful to think of this process in terms of a goal setting ladder. Each step you take brings you closer to your ultimate goal.
In order to keep yourself on track, make your goals visible. Write them on a piece of paper and post them on the inside of your locker or on the cover of a notebook where you are sure to see them on a regular basis. It is also important to verbalize your goals. Let other people know the goals that you want to achieve. These people can also act as your support team. Team members may include friends, family, a coach, or a guidance counselor. They can provide you with information, encouragement, and assist you with strategies to achieve your goals.
It is much easier to set goals than it is to keep them. Problems often arise that may throw you off track or challenge you to keep your goals. These problems are called roadblocks. Roadblocks can typically occur in four areas:
Lack of knowledge: Do you have all of the information that you need to achieve your goal? Lack of skill: Do you have the physical or mental skills needed to achieve your goal?Lack of self-confidence: Do you have the self-confidence to achieve your goals?Lack of social support: Do you have a social support team, such as friends or family, that will encourage and assist you during the process?If you can answer yes to these questions, then you are well on your way to success. Otherwise, you may have to set a new goal to achieve the knowledge, skill, self-confidence, or support that you need.
Information adapted from: Petitpas, A., Champagne, D., Chartrand, J., Danish, S., & Murphy, S. (1997). Athlete's Guide to Career Planning. Illinois: Human Kinetics.
This information was taken from the NFL/NFF Coaching Academy program that was designed under the leadership of Dr. Dan Gould at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and Dr. Steve Danish at Virginia Commonwealth University. The program is designed to further educate youth and high school coaches in not only the areas of football skills and strategy but also the game's character building and social benefits.
Whether it's a strategy for keeping a team academically eligible, the development of a life skills curriculum for a coaching clinic, or the latest research on sports in society, the NFF Center for Youth Development through Sport at Springfield College in Massachusetts has the answers. While supporting Play It Smart remains the primary focus of the staff's attention, the NFF Center is quickly becoming a source of information on using sport to develop the qualities of leadership and academic excellence in America's young people.
For more information about the NFF Center, click here.
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