Goal Setting for Athletes

MUSINGS FROM A COACH - 12 NOVEMBER '24

This week I'd like to discuss goal setting for athletes. This can be a tricky task as it often involves our ego, self-esteem and even our tenacious and bold attitude. Should we be conservative and make all our goals easily reachable? Or should we reach for the sky and set very challenging goals? There are many answers because there are many factors to consider!

Let's discuss the types of goals. I learned the following terms from Certified Mental Performance Consultant Dr. Amanda Leibovitz (https://epicwellnessco.com/about/) (a former Team MPI Coach!) which helps us better understand different 'types' of goals. Outcome Goals. These are goals we set that can be affected by things outside of our control. Some examples are: "I want to podium" or, "I want to nail this exact time". We know we do not have any control over our competition and we do not have control over weather or unforeseen mechanical or irregular body conditions. These are great goals to set only if we understand that we are not fully in control of the conditions required to achieve them. Performance Goals. These are goals we set based on our execution of a plan. In other words, these goals are directly controlled by us. Some examples are: "I want to execute my pacing strategy as planned" or, "I am ready to change my plan based on certain conditions that may arise". These are goals that we have more control over achieving them.

Process Goals. These are goals set more on the micro level - day to day and week to week that help us get to our Performance and Outcome goals. "I am committed to executing my weekly training plan from my Coach" or "I will always massage roll and stretch before I run". Committing to these goals are a bridge to achieving larger goals.

I'd like to add one other goal to these that I break down into three subsets: Event Goal. Dream Goal. This is a goal we can set for an event that if everything in our control and out of our control went our way, what we hope we could do on that day.

Honest Goal. This is a goal we set based on an honest assessment of where we think we will be by the event date.

Right Now Goal. This goal is based on what we could do right now, at the moment we set the goal. For all three of these, we are actually incorporating Dr. Leibovitz's goals within each one. But the only way these three can work is to be completely honest with where you are "right now". If your "Dream Goal" is always replacing your "Honest" and "Right Now" goal, then you will forever be disappointed as your goals are just to high to achieve based on where you are. Let's implement this now. Pick one of your upcoming events next year and create your Deam Goal, your Honest Goal and your Right Now goal. Then, go back and refine them by separating Outcome Goals and Performance Goals. Finally, set your Process Goals to help achieve the other goals. Every so often, maybe monthly or bi-monthly, reassess where you are and update your three goals.

Finally, if you don't achieve your goal, ask yourself if it was a Dream Goal or an Honest Goal? Was it an Outcome Goal or a Performance Goal? I think you'll find that you may have achieved more than you think!

Gratefully,  

Mark CEO Team MPI