| Having goals can increase effort because | | | | A player must know exactly what they've |
| the players have a means of measuring | | | | got to do. That means you will both |
| their performance and contribution | | | | have to agree a set of actions that will |
| against. | | | | help the player achieve their goal. |
| SMART goals have long lasting motivation | | | | For example, an action based element |
| benefits. | | | | could read like this... "I will increase |
| When you review performance against set | | | | the accuracy of my crossing from corner |
| goals and the player has shown an | | | | kicks putting the ball into the box on |
| improvement, raise the bar a little | | | | no less than 8 out of 10 occasions." |
| higher. Each time the player will be | | | | REALISTIC |
| motivated to achieve a new level of | | | | Goal have got to be within the reach of |
| performance providing the incremental | | | | the soccer players. |
| increase is still within grasp. | | | | That's not to say that you are going to |
| If you've not been overly exposed to | | | | set "soft targets". Targets that are so |
| SMART goal setting then let's run | | | | within reach that the players aren't |
| through what we mean by SMART goals and | | | | motivated to stretch themselves because |
| how we can use them with our players. | | | | its too easy. |
| SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, | | | | However, setting realistic goals is a |
| Action based, Realistic & Time bound. | | | | tough balance, make them too easy and |
| SPECIFIC | | | | the players won't try, make them too |
| The more specific a goal is the easier | | | | hard and the players will give up |
| it is to identify when and whether its | | | | quickly because they don't believe they |
| been achieved. The goal should be a | | | | can do what it takes. |
| detailed description of what the | | | | TIMEBOUND |
| required outcome is that both player and | | | | It is very important to set definitive |
| coach want to see happen. | | | | time limits for each of the players |
| MEASURABLE | | | | goals. Remember too, that you should |
| Unless a goal is measurable, how can you | | | | build in regular reviews with the |
| establish whether there has been an | | | | players to assess their progress and |
| improvement or not? | | | | revise the goals that they have. |
| Goals should be measurable in terms of | | | | Have a go.... |
| quality, quantity, shots, tackles, runs | | | | Get yourself some paper and a pen and |
| and saves. When players can see they | | | | write down a high level goal that you |
| have made progress towards achieving the | | | | want your team to achieve following the |
| goal the motivational benefits really | | | | SMART goal setting principles. |
| kick in. | | | | Remember, keep them SMART! |
| A baseline starting point should be | | | | Claim your complimentary copy of the |
| established and the goal set from the | | | | 'Soccer Coaching Guide' provided by |
| baseline measurement. From this | | | | Junior Soccer Coach and receive hints, |
| baseline, and having the target, players | | | | tips and techniques to improve your |
| can measure how far they have come. | | | | team's performance AND your expertise as |
| ACTION BASED | | | | a coach. |