Setting Goals

Any day that I spend coaching, whether it is baseball, skiing or something else I always set goals for each athlete as well as for the team. Setting goals allows for the athletes, team as well as me as a coach to experience success. By setting goals for athletes it keeps things simple so to allow for full understanding and a benchmark for your athletes to strive for during the season.

Setting goals for practice as well as game day is important because it provides athletes and coaches the opportunity to reach success. Goals need to be realistic for each athlete, coach or team. Goals need to be realistic so that athletes can attain them and feel confident.

Long term goals are equally important as short term because it allows for the athletes to make realistic steps towards reaching a long term goal. If goals are realistic it allows for athletes to be motivates to work at something and continue striving to get better.

Long term goals are often team goals. So when you make short term goals for players it should work towards the overall long term goals. Short term goals may be things like players hitting over .400 or a player learning to hot a curve ball, a running back rushing for 1000 yards for the season. Long term goals are things like make the playoffs, finish greater than 500 or have a team ERA under 3.00. Goals can be anything that will help an athlete, team or program succeed.

Discussing goals with players and teams allows for stronger chemistry because everyone knows as a team what they are working towards. By taking time at practice to discuss this than the kids can help with finding a happy medium between challenging and still attainable and unrealistic.

By setting goals for players as well as the team it gives the kids a better sense of a “team” because it gives them a common goal to work towards. Personal goals allows for the kids to be more interested at practice and more enthusiastic. Goals will help make the season more fun because it allows for athletes as well as coaches to experience success.