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Goal Setting

August 25, 2008

By Craig Winship of Ridgeland High School

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It is time to begin thinking about what our goals and your goals for the season will be. How will we know if we've had success if we do not decide what would be successful? It all starts with proper goal setting. A goal is a dream that is achievable, measurable, has a time limit and is in writing. It is very important to put all of those things into your personal goal.

Example One: "I want to get better at shooting" is not a good goal. It is not measurable nor does it have a time limit.

Example Two: "I want to be able to shoot five out of ten shots from the 18 yard line into the 90s by the start of after school workouts." That example is measurable, has a definite time limit and is in writing. Keep in mind that your goals should be something that you can control and is worthy.

Example Three: "I want to start each junior varsity game." This would be a bad goal if there are only 11 players on the junior varsity. Also, you cannot control who starts anyway.
When we begin working out on a limited basis at the end of the month, I would like you to have 5 personal soccer-related goals, 5 personal non-soccer goals and 5 team goals set. If your goals are that important to you, write them down and put them where you can see them daily.

Coach Lawrence Fine told a story about a kid who wrote down her goals and made three copies. One she put on her nightstand so it would be the first and last thing she saw each day. One she taped next to her mirror so it would be staring her in the face. The last she hung on her dressing room locker so all her teammates could see it and hold her accountable.

Put some careful thought into your goals. Discuss them with your parents and friends. Use this as a way to help motivate yourself when you don't want to work or practice is many days away. Use this to help you determine if you are successful.

A good soccer player will always strive to reach her goals. What will you strive to be this year?

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