On Episode 3, Erin chats about SMART goal setting: how to set goals of all shapes and sizes that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Mental skills are an important, albeit underrated, contributor to athletic success and goals play so many roles in an athletic setting. They’re challenging yet motivational, they contribute to confidence and rewarding once achieved. Goals are not one size fits all: they can be set in many shapes and sized. Result goals refer to a specific outcome; a ribbon, placing, or score. Result goals are quantitative. Performance goals are the process: your personal best, skill execution. Short-term goals take days, weeks, or months to achieve while long term goals take months to years, though the actual length of the goal is relative. We can also set BIG goals- goals that are going to take a lot to achieve, career accomplishments, and smaller goals- stepping stones towards our bigger goals.

Goals are a necessary tool for any athlete, but they’re not a free-for-all. Goals should be set with an accountable standard, just as they hold their athlete accountable. Enter the S.M.A.R.T. Model. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound. Specific: what do you want to achieve? Measurable: How will you track your progress. Achievable: is this goal within your capability? what steps will you take to achieve this goal? Relevant? Why does this goal matter? Time-bound: what’s your deadline?

It’s one thing to set a goal, it’s another thing to follow through. The SMART model is a great way to determine if your goals are worth achieving. This model can be applied to all goals: performance goals, result goals, long and short term, big and little.