SMART GOALS for Archery What are they Why use them How do you write them June 2007 By Coaches L. D. Falks & Steve Cornell

Goal Setting & Goal Getting “Without goals, training is unfocused and ineffective. Clearly defined and realistic goals mark the pathway to success for the athlete and the coach.” Coach Laval D. Falks “You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there.” Yogi Berra

Types of Goals Short Range: Attainable in less than a year Can be goals that have been worked on for years and are now soon attainable May be goals which lead, in the short term, to longer range goals Many short range goals are sub-parts of larger longer range goals

Types of Goals Intermediate Range: Attainable in 1 to 3 years Made up of many short range goals Take time to develop May be dependent on greater maturity or increased skill

Types of Goals Long Range: Not attainable in less than 3-5 years Big goals Things which take much work Formed by combinations of intermediate range goals Career oriented

Types of Goals As goals are reached, students and coaches must reevaluate stated goals and decide upon new short, intermediate and long range goals The student and coach must constantly reevaluate their stated goals and decide upon new and more elevated long range goals over time

Goal Characteristics Outcome Based Goals Performance Based Goals Process Based Goals

Outcome Based Goals Usually result oriented Out of your direct control They point to where you want to go…they don’t show you how to get there Must be joined with Performance Based Goals Example of Outcome Based Goals I want to win the National Target Championships. I want to make the US World Team at the next selection shoot I want to win the ASA Classic

Performance Based Goals Generally score oriented Result of Process Based Goals Must be joined with Process Based Goals to work Are where you want to go Characterized by achieving “personal bests” Example of Performance Goals I want to beat my average @ 70 meters in The Gold Cup this year I want to shoot a personal best FITA National Target Championships I want to shoot above 400 at the ASA State Championship

Process Based Goals The path to success Lead to your Outcome Based Goals Must start with honest self-assessment Characterized by mastering certain skills Improve weak and strong areas alike Can be easily measured and defined Example of Process Based Goals Within the next month, I will finalize my bow hand position I will execute every shot in both practice and matches by properly using the BEST Method in less than six month

Why SMART Goals? Goals give us something to work toward and to keep us focused on an outcome SMART Goals help us define exactly what the future will look like and what steps we need to take to get there

Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely/Trackable SMART Goals Are Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely/Trackable

Making SMART Goals Specific Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do The What, Why, and How of the SMART model WHAT are you going to do-Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build WHY is this important to do at this time-What do you want to ultimately accomplish HOW are you going to do it Ensure the goals you set are very specific, clear and easy to define Instead of setting a goal to shoot better, set a specific goal to increase your average score by 10 points

Making SMART Goals Measurable If you can't measure it, you can't manage it The goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, the project is a success Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change Be specific! "I want to increase my average score by .5 points per arrow in the next 12 months." shows the specific target to be measured. "I want to shoot better scores" is not as measurable. Continued…

Making SMART Goals Measurable Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set When you measure your progress, you stay on track, meet your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals

Making SMART Goals Attainable Do I have the ability if given enough time If a goal is too far out of your reach, you probably won't commit to it Your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from giving it your best Will I have support from family and friends Do I have access to proper coaching Will my resources (equipment, money, place to shoot, time, etc) be enough Set goals so that they are arranged as stepping stones to the next level

Making SMART Goals Realistic Do I have the work ethic to complete the goal The goal needs to be realistic for you given the time and resources available Do I believe in myself enough to persist Set goals that you can attain with some effort Too difficult : you set the stage for failure Too easy: reaching the goal is meaningless Do I have the time and money Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement

Making SMART Goals Timely/Trackable Set a timeframe for achieving the goal A deadline gives you a clear target to work towards Without a deadline the commitment is vague You feel you can start at any time There's no urgency to start taking action Time must be measurable and realistic Making specific goals allows you to track them

To see if your goals are realistic try the bracketing method Goal Bracketing To see if your goals are realistic try the bracketing method What’s easy for you to achieve right now Too Low In between Realistic What’s impossible for you at this point in time Too High What’s easy for you to achieve right now 305 Too Low In between 312 Realistic What’s impossible for you at this point in time 355 Too High

Smart Goal Example Short Range Goals (1 year) Commit this summer to shoot 4 days a week, and average 150 arrows each practice Meet with my coach at least once a week Do SPT every week night for ½ hr By the end of this year I want raise my average by 5% Last year’s average: 90M: 200 70M: 248 50M: 250 30M 293 Average FITA: 995 Average 3D 378 Average Field 498

Smart Goal Example Intermediate Range Goals (1 to 3 years) I want increase my personal best by 10% Take the Basic Instructor Course next summer Increase my FITA score to 1100 in the next 2 years Place in the top 3 at the ASA Classic

Smart Goal Example Long Range Goals (3 or more years) Earn a position on the RA Program Make the World Team 4 years from now Make the next Olympic Team Become a Community Coach Win the NFAA Outdoor nationals

Coach’s Role in Goal-Setting Advise athletes and help with setting goals Guide athletes to set appropriate goals Review athletes’ goals Insure that athletes’ goals and parents’ goals for athlete don’t conflict Set certain goals for athletes Continued…

Coach’s Role in Goal-Setting Make sure that goals are clearly defined and understood Review goals with athlete to insure that athlete understands them Make sure that the goals are appropriate for the athlete Monitor performance and keep track of achievements Continued…

Coach’s Role in Goal-Setting Maintain training logs and advise students when goals are reached Athletes may want to check off a goal too early The goal must be reach and the achievement must be sustained before the goal can be checked Training logs are empirical data that can be used as evidence of accomplishment Use training logs to track goals and determine where more effort is needed

Athlete’s Role in Goal-Setting Set realistic goals and work toward reaching them Athletes must set and own their goals Athletes must not allow influence of what family, friends or what they think the coach wants to influence their goal setting If athletes don’t own their goals they won’t work as hard to achieve them Continued…

Athlete’s Role in Goal-Setting Monitor goals and reevaluate or change them when necessary This is the key to advancing through the goals list It gives a sense of accomplishment Allows for a reward system for recognizing achievement Continued…

Athlete’s Role in Goal-Setting Confer with the coach about goals and make sure that they are clear and timely Athletes must feel that they can talk about their goals with their coach The coach’s ideas and advice should give the athlete a clear vision of the path to success The coach should know the athlete’s ability and whether the goals are appropriate Keep personal log to track progress

Good Goals Goals must be realistic and attainable Goals should be arranged as stepping stones Goals must be related to performance and advancement in the sport Goals must be SMART

Goal Setting Worksheet Create 5 goals of each Type (Short Range - Intermediate Range - Long Range) For each Goal, in the box to the right of the Goal write the Characteristic of the Goal. Is it based on Outcome, Performance or Process? After you list each Goal’s characteristic, prioritize it within its group. Archer’s Name: _____________________________________ Date: __________ Coach’s Name: _____________________________________ Priority Short Range Goals Characteristic Priority Intermediate Range Goals Characteristic Priority Long Range Goals Characteristic

Remember Keep personal log to track progress Goals must be realistic and attainable by the student Goals should be arranged as stepping stones so one goal advances the student to the next set of goals Goals must be related to performance and advancement in the sport Achievement as measured by reaching specific goals is measurable and affords a greater satisfaction than just winning a tournament or beating another archer Continued…

Remember Shooting a personal best score during a tournament is more satisfying and measurable even if the archer doesn’t win while doing it A specific goal can be checked off and another can be set Goal setting can be used for more than just Archery Setting goals that are too easy to reach is as bad as not having goals at all Goal setting can be use in all aspects of your life School Work Relationships Keep Your Goals SMART