One of the best parts of human experience is that great feeling that comes with achieving something important to you. Athletes can get a buzz from:
* Closing out that tough match
* Improving on-field agility after months of concentrating on footwork
* Fully returning to peak performance after an injury
None of these things happen by chance or accident. They are the result of careful planning, strategy and execution to reach a clearly defined target.
Success is measured when you Hit Your Target or Reach Your Goal
During the off season many athletes reflect on the season just completed. They decide what things they want to change and/or to achieve next season. Many will set goals or make resolutions, but for some the process stops there. At the end of next season, they will be puzzled why they have got to the end of yet another year without reaching their goals.
Sound familiar? Don't leave your destiny to chance.
Use this guide to hit your targets this season!o
"Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for. It is a thing to be achieved." (William Jennings Bryan, 1860-1925. Lawyer & Politician)
Sail Toward Triumph
When you set out on any journey, be it your sporting career, your education or your life, you need to set a direction for a destination. Like the rudder on a boat., setting goals helps keep you on course for your preferred destination. You may go off course from time to time in turbulent waters, but you will keep returning to the course. When going on a long journey, you will make stops along the way and use a map to plan your journey.
Without goals, you don't know where you are headed.
Without goals, you don't know if you are moving forward.
Without goals, you don't know when you have arrived.
Would you travel on a boat if you didn't know where it was going?
REACH FOR THE TOP
Successful Goal Setting
* Keep your goals POSITIVE and SIMPLE.
> "To hit 75% of high backhand volleys in the court" rather than "To avoid hitting high backhand volleys out."
* Make your goals RELEVANT.
> Think carefully about what you really want or need to achieve and set goals to meet your needs.
* Keep your goals SPECIFIC:
> "To move around faster between bases on a baseball field "is too vague, but can be specified better: "To improve my time between 1st and 3rd base by 1 second per month until I reach my target time of 15 seconds."
* Keep your goals MANAGABLE.
> Divide ambitious or long-term goals into smaller, achievable or short-term goals.
* Make your goals MEASURABLE.
> You will then know how you are progressing and when you reach them.
* Focus your goals on PERFORMANCE not outcome
> Athletes tend to focus on the outcome (win or lose) rather than performance or the process without considering that the outcome is not entirely within your control. For example your opponent may play flawless tennis on match day.
> When you focus on what you can do in the process, often the outcome you want will follow.
* Make your goals ACHIEVABLE with some work and effort.
> Goals should be "just right": not so easy that they are of no real value, nor so difficult that they result in frustration.
* WRITE DOWN your goals.
> This works as a reminder and helps you stay focused.
* Set REALISTIC target dates
> Target Dates help keep you on track towards achieving your goals.
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." (unknown)
Action Plans
Action plans are strategies used to reach the goals and may be modified or adjusted if they are not working according to plan. Without action plans, goals are just a list of "wishes". You may as well ask your fairy godmother for help!
Example Goal = To improve my goal shooting percentage to 80% by February
Example Action plan:
* Perform prescribed shoulder exercises to improve power & coordination
* Work with the coach to improve technique in training
* Practice an extra 30 free throws at the start of every practice
Stick with it!
To achieve goals requires work and commitment. Regularly evaluate your progress. If you are not as far along as you would like, maybe you set the goal too high and you need to modify your goal or your action plan to achieve it. Expect many "learning moments" along the way. (some people incorrectly call them "failures") . "Giving up" is not an option!
Thanks to Dr. Rick Jensen,
PRO U™ Consultant,
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
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