The process of goal setting creates focus in a sports-person’s training plan.
Having that focus helps to ensure that training sessions remain specific and on target to achieving recorded ambitions. Most coaches are familiar with the process but enhanced sports psychology techniques enable coaches at every level to gain a greater understanding of how setting individual goals can also help to create a motivational environment tailored to the needs of each individual.
“A goal properly set is halfway reached” – Abraham Lincoln
Coaches of team sports sometimes fall into the habit of setting team goals. When the team fails to achieve a goal, such coaches generally feel that ‘team talks’ are the answer and will try to improve on lack lustre performances by addressing the team as a whole with motivational pep talks. Although well intentioned, this approach is unlikely to be effective across the board.
What motivates any individual is very much down to personal preference in each case so what one team player finds motivational isn’t guaranteed to have the same effect on another. To be effective as a coach, an understanding of what motivates each individual player in the team is key. By giving coaches the necessary skills to develop this vital understanding will help to create a positive climate in which individual players, as well as the team, can continue to grow.
Setting individual goals is just as important in the preparation of training plans for solo competitors but less experienced coaches could fall into a similar routine of setting generic goals for groups of athletes who all perform individually – track athletics for example. A coach may have a number of 800 metre runners in his squad but they all have individual needs in terms of setting motivational goals. Without appropriate goals in place, motivation is likely to suffer and without motivation, athletes or players are unlikely to perform at their best or achieve their true potential.
Setting goals can be motivational but it is necessary to set process goals rather than outcome goals if motivation is to be maintained throughout a training plan. If winning (outcome goal) becomes everything, consider the de-motivating effect of failing to achieve each goal set. An example of a process goal might be aiming to achieve a series of passes in a team sport. The end result on the day may not be a team win but the goal of perfecting the passes has still been achieved.
Motivation can be:
Intrinsic
This can best be described as coming from the inside out. An intrinsically motivated athlete competes for the enjoyment of the sport and is rewarded by the way the activity makes them feel.
Extrinsic
Or coming from the outside in. An extrinsically motivated athlete competes for rewards from external sources. These may take the form of trophies or prize money.
The small difference between the two words can make a world of difference in terms of creating a positive motivational environment. An effective coach will not only have a good understanding of the different forms of motivation, they will also be aware of what form achieves the best results with each athlete they coach – individually.
Want to learn More About Donald MacNaughton?
http://zonedinperformance.com/
His work spans leadership and performance development in both the corporate and sporting arenas. Zoned in Performance is a business consultancy specialising in leadership development and performance psychology. Sports psychology 2 takes coaches beyond the basics of setting smart goals in the above article.
Using proven, effective and inspirational coaching techniques, Zoned in Performance helps clients unlock potential, achieve lasting breakthroughs and increase individual and team performance. http://www.sportspsychology2.com/
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