If you want to reach any level of success in athletics, it is important that you set goals. When you set a goal it gives you a clear vision of what you want to accomplish. This is even more true in such a complex field as speed and agility training.

Where Do You Start?

First we need to start with the big picture, an overall view that guides you in your decision making and helps you to see that you have your whole life ahead of you, no matter what happens today.  You need to establish what you want to achieve in the next season and then over your entire career.  Then we move down to things you can do today in order to begin moving in the desired direction.  Note that long-term goals assist you in where you want to go.  Short-term goals show you how you are going to get there.  In setting your athletic goals, keep in mind that if you are on a team, work with your coach to include team goals as well, but that is for another article.

Long Term Goals

First, you need to figure out your long-term goals.   Ask yourself what you want to accomplish in your athletic career?  Note, your long-term goals are not meant to be obligatory, they simply are there to make you aware of the long life ahead of you and to help you see that you have options as well. Do you want to take up this sport only for the early part of your life or do you want to make this sport your career? A suggestion for a goal in your training for speed and agility would be to decrease your 50 yard dash by half a second.

Short Term Goals

These goals are the ones you will achieve today, within a week, etc.   They are more easily accomplished and progress you towards achieving our long term goals.

Breaking Down Long-Term Goals To Get To Set Your Short Term Goals – Questions To Ask

• What are the skills needed to accomplish your goals?
• What can you do between now and the end of the season to develop those skills?
• What will you do this week to develop those skills?
• What can you do next practice to develop those skills?

Important Things to Know

• Written Goals

Note that you need to write down your goals.  Once you have written your goals down on paper,  they become real and solid.  It is what separates goals from dreams.   They increase your motivation and your mental picture of that goal is clearer.  The process of writing down goals get them “out of your head” to free up your mind from having to always think and remember them.   You will also be affirmed that you are on a mission of pursuing your goals.

• Positiveness

Set each goal as a positive statement.  For example,  “I will be diligent and careful when doing agility ladder drills”   instead of “I will not fall on my rear end when doing speed and agility drills”.   This focuses on success rather than failures because you want these behaviors to be present rather than behaviors that should be absent.

• SMART

Make sure that your all your goals are smart goals. Meaning they are specific (detailed), measurable (progress assessable), attainable (within reach), relevant (towards your purpose) and time-sensitive (make deadlines).

Keep a copy of your goals in plain sight.  Review them daily.  Setting goals will bring you success.

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