Grow Faster With Good Goals
Research shows that people who write down their goals are 3x as likely to accomplish them.
This single fact tells us that their are levels to the science of achievement.
Very few people set goals and even fewer set goals properly.
Serious high school athletes who are doing all the right things to improve their game are often lacking in their ability to develop a distinct target and point their intention towards the proverbial mark.
Goal setting is an activation of our god-like ability to create the outcomes that we desire.
We do not know where desire stems from, but we do know it’s innate and part of us, similar to a body part.
Those who desire to succeed as athletes are just as prevalent as those who desire to succeed as dancers, singers, or doctors.
Our desires are gifts from above that point us in the direction of adventure, achievement and accomplishment.
Along with these gifts come the magic of intention or the seemingly magical ability to assert our will power.
It is within the atmosphere of our intention where we find goal setting, or the ability to clearly define the outcome we wish to occur.
Yet most high school athletes are not setting goals.
This is due to the fact that teenagers have not had much practice in directing their lives. Up until this point, their parents have usually set intentions for them.
Because of this, most high schoolers do not practice goal setting.
What follows are simple steps to get any athlete started on their goal setting journey.
As with any desire, the destination always leads us to become better as people.
Goal setting is no different, this skill will prove forever valuable at changing anyone’s belief in what is possible.
Team Goals
The goal setting exercise is often difficult for many high school athletes.
After years of having their lives planned for them, they have not had much experience in making life choices or asserting their willpower.
One super-simple way to activate this ability is to start with Team Goals.
The team setting provides familiar context which athletes easily understand.
Athletes know their teams intimately and therefore have the ability to self-assess themselves within this environment.
Also, because school teams are prone to grade-based seniority, competition naturally exists, similar to a big brother/sister situation.
This dynamic causes many players on a team to desire to one day acquire what those ahead of them have already accomplished.
For example, it’s easy for Tim to set a goal of becoming a varsity starter this year, because he saw his older teammate Fred achieve the same feat last year.
This familiar context enables high school athletes to more easily set goals that will ultimately propel them forward and cause them to become more successful at their craft.
Team goals are also a good place to start because in order to make a big impact and receive regional or national attention, it is necessary to start small or local. Players must be one of the top on their team before they can reach aspirations of being a top player in the city, state, or region.
Team goals should be based on a comparison of oneself within the team concept; for instance:
I will be one of the top three scorers on my team this year.
I will be the leading rebounder off the bench this year.
I will lead all point guards on my team in assists this year.
As a side note, it is always ok to qualify the goal within a specific subset (i.e. specific position groups, grade groups or other criteria) within the group.
Also, all of our goals need to stem from S.M.A.R.T. principles, in other words: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
This basically means good goals involve specific/realistic numbers and have a completion date.
League Goals
League goals take us one step beyond the team but still provide us with a familiar backdrop.
Leagues often encompass teams from across the city, county or area.
Goal setting is an activation of our god-like ability to create the outcomes that we desire.
Dr. Jason Parker
This larger scope will enhance players overall outlook and cause them to think bigger, however, leagues are often comprised of teams which athletes have previously competed against, meaning they have the proper context to know where they stand amongst the competition.
League goals also cause us to prepare beyond the team dynamic and allow athletes to continue progressing from year to year. Even after they have achieved high levels of success within their team setting, they will continue to ascend amongst athletes in a broader scale.
Leagues can be defined as a District, Conference, Region, or even the entire state.
League Goals look similar to Team Goals, only slightly altered to remain realistic given the league setting.
I will be a top 3 rebounder in the league this year
I will make the All-Conference team this year.
I will lead all bench players in our District in scoring this season.
Me Goals
After working in the familiar context of the team and the league, the student will have ample practice in setting good goals.
Next we shift to aims involving the student’s internal character.
Things such as body language, consistency, work ethic and specific skills should be identified in this area.
Me Goals are aimed at desired behaviors which the athlete wants to manifest.
I am committed to having excellent energy at all times.
I am crazy consistent in my ability to work hard.
I will serve as a team leader and step up to any challenge
As you can see, Me Goals are less quantifiable and a lot like affirmations, promoting the character player’s want to develop.
Me Goals promote the character traits necessary to manifest the Team and League goals.
Conclusion
No matter how any player chooses to set their goals, simply setting them is the main thing.
Writing goals down and reviewing them as often as possible will increase goal achievement, according to research.
Always remember that reviewed goals = a renewed grind.
The more often we review our goals, the more often we renew our commitment to getting out and getting after them.
Good luck setting good goals!
