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