Athletics & Wellness
Juniors (Ages 8-11)
10 min
Setting Goals That Actually Work
Write a simple, specific athletic goal.
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1
What's a Goal?
A goal is something you want to work towards in a sport or activity. Think of it like a target you are aiming for. Having a goal gives you a reason to practice and helps you see how much you are improving.
2
Be Specific, Not General
The best goals are specific. A specific goal tells you exactly what you need to do. Instead of saying, "I want to get better at basketball," a more specific goal is, "I will practice making 10 free throws every day."
3
Make It Something You Can Do
A good goal should also be achievable, which means it's something you can actually do with practice. A goal to become the best player in the world tomorrow is too big to start with. A better goal is, "I will practice my footwork for 10 minutes after school."
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Challenging
You are starting a new sport that feels very difficult, like rock climbing or figure skating. What is the BEST goal-setting strategy for your very first day?
0.Set a goal to be better than everyone else in the class.
1.Set a very small, specific, effort-based goal, like "I will try to keep my balance for 5 seconds" or "I will listen carefully to every instruction."
2.Set a big outcome goal, like "I will climb the hardest wall by the end of the day," to push yourself.
3.Avoid setting any goals because it's too hard and you might fail.
Challenging
A soccer team agrees their goal is to "have more energy." After two weeks, nothing has changed. What is the most likely reason this goal is ineffective?
0.The players don't actually want more energy.
1.The goal is not specific or effort-based; it's a vague feeling.
2.Having energy is not important in soccer.
3.The coach gave them a bad goal.
Easy
What is a goal?
0.Something you want to work towards.
1.A rule in a game.
2.The end of a race.
3.A piece of sports equipment.
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