Goal Setting

Dick Hannula, one of the most successful high school swimming coaches in the country said, “Motivation depends in a very large part on goal setting. The coach must have goals. The team must have goals. Each individual swimmer must have goals – real, vivid, living goals. Goals keep everyone on target. Goals must be high enough to excite you, yet no so high that you cannot vividly imagine them. Most must be attainable, but just out of reach for now.”

Goal setting is a way of bringing the future into the present so you can take action now. Goals improve performance. Goals improve the quality of practices. They clarify expectations and help increase self-confidence by seeing yourself get better. Goals also increase the motivation to achieve. 

Professional golfer Greg Norman said, “Setting goals for your game is an art. The trick is in setting them at the right level, neither to low nor too high. A good goals should be lofty enough to inspire hard work, yet realistic enough to provide solid hope of attainment.” 

An acronym for setting goals is S.M.A.R.T 

·       Specific

·       Measurable

·       Achievable

·       Realistic

·       Time-Bound



From "Mind Gym" by Gary Mack and David Casstevens