With the summer term coming to a close, Miss Newman held a Sports Goal Setting Workshop for students last week with a view to thinking ahead to the upcoming sporting season in September.

Goat setting is a mental training technique that can be used to increase an individual’s commitment towards achieving a personal goal. Having a short, medium or long-term goal can encourage an individual to work harder, to be more focused on the task and to overcome setbacks more easily.

The session looked at short term (a time frame of one week to one month), medium term (one month to one to two years) and long term goals (the ultimate aim of what you want to achieve, with a time frame of one to five years, or longer).

Usually your short and medium term goals help you try to achieve your long term goal.

We looked at SMART goal setting principles in all the goals we create – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

Our Tips on Setting Goals:

• Use SMART goal setting principles in all goals you create.
• Make sure to phrase your goals positively.
• Goals are created for an individual – they are personalised to YOU!
• Write down your goals and place them in spaces where you will see them DAILY.
• Discuss your goals with your coach/parent/trainer – shared focus on what to strive for.
• No goal is too small or ‘less important’.
• Set goals for all aspects of sport: Tactical,  Physical, Skills, Emotional/Psychological

We finished the session with tips from eight Olympians on setting goals. 

You can use all the principles in your academic goals too – they are not just relevant to sport!  We are looking forward to hearing how students have applied these tips over the summer.